Hibiscus

My Neighbourhood X
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Found along Punggol Field Road, Punggol 21

Pink Torch Ginger II

My Neighbourhood VIII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Etlingera Elatior (Pink Torch Ginger)

Same growing pattern as the Red Torch, but its bracts are a soft pink on a tall round spike.

Pink Torch Ginger I

My Neighbourhood VIII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Red Torch Ginger II

My Neighbourhood VIII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Etlingera Elatior (Red Torch Ginger)

A perfect blooming Red Torch Ginger flower bathing in the morning light!

Red Torch Ginger I

My Neighbourhood VII
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Etlingera Elatior (Red Torch Ginger): Patches of these flowers were grown for landscaping in my neighbourhood. We do notice inflorescences sprout from the ground, but rarely do we see them in full blooms. That sets me wondering: Have some inconsiderate people cut them away for their own purposes?

Sold as rhizome(Root section). Its inflorescence comes out of the ground instead of the terminal spike, thus making it easier to cut as a cut flower. The bracts are cherry red with yellow edges. As the bract opens up the lower bract leaves turn down revealing a cone shaped torch. An exceptional ginger for the garden or greenhouse, give it plenty of room to grow. Height 12' to 17'. Needs a warm climate of greenhouse. Very exotic!

Source of information [ginger], click this: Alohatropicals.com

Singapore Rhododendron

My Neighbourhood V
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This species of wild flower is known as Singapore Rhododendron [Melastona malabathricum], Straits Rhododendron, Chinese Wild Peony, Indian rhododendron, Lasiandra, Pink Glory Bush etcetera. ER and I found them along the undeveloped area along Punggol Central Road.

For more information: At Sungei Buloh Nature Park and Habitat News

Myna

Ang Mo Kio
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This myna was seen at Ang Mo Kio Town Centre. It was aware of the human traffic, but not bothered too much by the passers-by. I stayed and observed its behaviours for awhile. All it did was flapping its wings and moved away and then comfortably back again picking up the bits of food.

Wild Mushrooms

Wild Mushrooms
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

ER and I came across this patch of wild mushrooms along Edgedale Plains in one late afternoon; their caps were not fully opened then. I like them better that way. This photo was taken a day later.

Bougainvillea VII

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Bougainvillea VI

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

These two potted bougainvilleas I keep as indoor plants are so amazing. They have been producing continuous blooms in hues of baby pink to baby orange and sometimes peach too :)

This photo was taken on May 26, 2007; the modified leaves have changed to pink bracts.

Bougainvillea V

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This photo was taken on May 16, 2007; look at the modified leaves before they changed to pink bracts.

Beach Morning Glory

Beach Morning Glory
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

The round shaped leathery leaves make this beach morning glory distinctive among the morning glory species. These creepers are growing wild near a monsoon drain.

Pretty precious last picture that ER took on 2nd attempt before the battery gone flat! Moreover, we have not seen these creepers flowering for quite some time although they are used for landscaping near my home.

Jade Plants

Jade Plants
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This succulent is visual pleasure and a plant that I love to have around as an indoor plant. This young plant has produced lots of forking stems and branches. A few of its foliage has its characteristic reddish tinges. So far, I had bought two and I was unsuccessful in nurturing them...so sad :(

Thai Rose In The Afternoon

Thai Rose In The Afternoon
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Thai Rose In The Morning

Thai Rose In The Morning
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

This crisp, fresh and beautiful bloom seen in the morning at 11:26 AM Thursday, April 5, 2007

This plant had been over watered about 2 months ago and this had caused its lower leaves to yellow. At that time I was afraid that its roots might rot! I stopped watering it for a while and loosen the top layer of soil to let it air and dry better. It survived the ordeal after losing much of its lush green leaves! Now, it blooms :) This is a precious bloom because we get to see one flower only each time and it will stay opens till the evening before the petals close up forever till it drops off!

This plant was given to me by my younger sister, PG who brought it over all the way from KL, West Malaysia.

Bougainvillea IV

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

These are the unexpected continuous blooming tiny flowers and baby pink bracts, which are modified leaves that we have around right before the Chinese New Year~ until now, some branches still bear flowers.

Bougainvillea III

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

It's rewarding to see continuous blooming! The wonderful thing is that bracts that will become colourful flowers are appearing from one of the young shoots! Too bad for me, I had cut away more than 10 branches after the 2nd blooming! Now the flowers started appearing from the leaf nodes of the remaining old ones~ however the consolation is, many young shoots are growing from the old branches that had been trimmed.

Bougainvillea II

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Thursday, March 23 2006: So happy to see each branch is laden with flowers :)

Updates: As of today, Thursday, May 17, 2007 when this blog was created, my bougainvilleas have lost much of their lust green leaves as they matured. However, I am being rewarded with blooms since CNY 2007 and they are still flowering non-stop until today.

Bougainvillea I

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

Thursday, March 23 2006: Subsequent blooms in "baby pink/orange"

Interestingly as I read from Ohana Tropicals, this plant I have at home fit the description of Bougainvillea "Rainbow Gold" as it has soft orange/pink bracts. Really, I would like the bracts to be bright orange!

First Blooms

First Blooms
Originally uploaded by Food Trails.

First flowers in "baby pink" on Sunday, March 12 2006

Six cuttings that had bloomed before were planted in this pot last March [2005]. Only two survived and now they are in blooms one year later :) after two trimmings. I am really happy that besides the “baby pink” blooms, I have one in “baby orange”. Mild but sweet colour :). I am nostalgic with the orange one because it brought back memories of my childhood.

Attracted by the colourful blooms then, the very 1st bougainvillea cutting that I brought home as a primary school kid and planted by my father in front of the main gates of my childhood home in Malaysia was orange too though the colour is more stunning!

Back then, I have had pleasant and enjoyable time planting flowers with my father and elder brother :)