Blossom Blooms

What the ... Hopper!

2009-11-04T20:17:00.000+08:00

Urghhhh ... the pain. The sharp pain. Who did this? But ... kinda artistic, isn't it? Hih hiiiii ...

Uh .. snap out of it. This is unacceptable. The leaf was striped to the bone. Arghhh!! No ...Look closer ... find the culprit!!
Ah haaaa ... see it? See it now?
Hoppy! Hoppy, how could you? You are such a small thing and yet, you got almost the whole leaf bare.
Was it really you, cute grasshoppy? Or was there a rat somewhere? Urghh!!

Naughty Grasshoppy on My Lime Tree

2009-11-03T20:00:00.001+08:00

Is this guy cute or what? It is so cute I feel like crushing it! Oh, why is people so mean? Or is it just me ... Noooooo!!
Ouchh! Look at what it did to the leaf. Naughty grasshoppy!!
Once, I had a lime tree which grew to one side. All branches just on one side of it. It looked weird and the weight pulled them to the ground. So, I cut them all and now I have a new one which I like better. Good ... if not, I might have to cut them down again!! And again ... Owh, what hard work!!
I love the aroma and use the leaves for cooking. Do you have lime trees in your garden? Do you like the smell?

Todays Flower 62

2009-10-17T23:37:00.003+08:00

It's time for Today's Flower again. And, here's my contribution.

Fresh from my garden.

Also visit my other Today's Flower
and the rest of other beautiful Today's Flowers from all around the world.

The Helicopter Seeds

2009-10-16T22:22:00.004+08:00

A flower with wings. Cute!Reminds me of a helicopter. Hiks!!

Suddenly, I remember when I was a little cute girl, I used to play with flowers (seeds) where I throw them high into the air and they will then spin in the air until they reach the ground. It was fun.

Specially for Malaysians, you are invited to join Weblog Popular 1Malaysia.

Beautiful Bougainvillea

2009-10-14T21:36:00.002+08:00

Have you read Weblog Popular 1Malaysia?

The Egg Flowers

2009-10-09T20:14:00.004+08:00

Do you know what this is? We call it 'pelamin'. It is the altar for young (and the not-so-young) couples after they take the ultimate vow in marriage. I think you call it 'dais'? This one is so grandly and beautifully decorated, right! It's almost like getting married in the garden ... almost!

And this is what we call 'bunga telur' translated to egg flowers. It's customary for the bride and groom to present the guests with bunga telur on their wedding day. It's the tradition. Can you see the eggs, wrapped in nettings?
Have a closer look at bunga telur. Awesome, aren't they? FYI, those eggs are boiled eggs. So, crack eggs and such are no worries .. nor are naughty children using the eggs to play 'combat games' ... What? Huh!
A different kinda flower today ... Here's another different kind, the Weblog Popular 1Malaysia.

Puckered Leaves Ixora

2009-10-05T20:24:00.003+08:00

Have you seen puckered leaves like these? (Puckered? Is it the right word?) They are in my garden. Honestly, I haven't seen them elsewhere ... Have you?Here are the regular leaves. Ahh ... smart! You are right. That's ixora. So is the above plant, you know. Honest!
Immature blooms of Ixora. Don't you just feel like munching on them. Yum!!
Oh .. so they are yellow. Beautiful!
The usual ball of red ixora. But ... ops, look at the leaves. They are those puckered ones. Awesome!
Do you have Ixora? Puckered leaves? Huahahahahaaaa ...

The Black Tulip

2009-10-04T21:03:00.002+08:00

Red ... It brightens! It adds color. It's a must! Is it?

Yes, it is! Red is beautiful. I love red flowers.
Errr ... I also love blue flowers, err .. yellow, err .. purple, err .. orange, err .. pink, err .. green, err .. black, errrrrrr ... black?

Is there a black flower? Really?

I vaguely remember the novel we used for a literature class (once upon a school life) 'The Black Tulip'. Ever heard of/read that?

Citrus microcarpa

2009-10-03T19:13:00.001+08:00

Everbody knows Citrus. Still, I'm providing pictures for you. Pictures speak 1000 words. (Uh huuu ... the real reason I post pictures this time is because I'm too lazy to type - and I don't really know what to say at this point) Shhhh ... this is highly P&C. Hih hiii ... Do you believe that?

The juice with a bit of sugar is very refreshing ...

Try it and tell me if you like it, too!

Vinca Loves the Graveyards

2009-09-30T22:01:00.003+08:00

Remember The Graveyard Flower? Vinca's the name - the botany name. I call them the graveyard flowers for I remember them growing happily around graveyards.

Then just last week, during Eid-ul-Fitr when I visited an aunt's house, I saw them again, this time growing happily in pots around her garden. I felt like I was at a cemetary. Eerie ... Hih hiiii!!
But the creepiness quickly disappeared as I saw more and more of these beautiful blooms. Simple but attractive. And there are many other interesting colors on them, aside to the usual purple in the top picture.
Awesome! It's true when they say 'The further you walk, the more you'll see ...'
Owhh ... I need to walk further!

Petola in Coconut Milk

2009-09-29T19:48:00.004+08:00

Anticipation!

So ... the flower is yellow.

Then, the beautiful flower turns into this.
And matured! We call it petola. You? It tastes delicious when cooked with coconut milk.
The young fresh leaves can also be added into the cooking. Yummy!!
Do you want the recipe? Hih hiiii hiiii ... I can be a chef too, you know!

Eidul Fitr

2009-09-28T21:43:00.002+08:00

I spent the whole of last week spending Hari Raya with my family in Kota Bharu, where I was born 46 years ago (wow ... was it really that long already?). It was a merry occasion. Beautiful ... like this yellow chrysanthemum.

There were lots of hugging ...

And kissing ...
And kissing the hands of the elders; asking for forgiveness ...
Eidul Fitr is a day awaited by everyone especially children. Why? Because children will be collecting lots of money given by others. People are mostly very generous on that day. When people is willing to give, take!! Hih hii hiiii ...

Happy Eid to all Muslims around the world (wishing a week late ...)

Do You Know What We Call Lantana?

2009-09-26T21:19:00.003+08:00

Today's Flowers

Maybe you are already aware of the weird names we gave to flowers, beautiful flowers. Like these Lantana.
Lantana! A beautiful name. For beautiful sweet flowers.
What do we call them in Malaysia?
Hua ha ha haaaa ... Taik ayam flowers (translated: chicken waste/dung flowers!) Now, who's idea was that? Hua ha ha haaaa!!

Visit the rest of Todays Flower.

Can You Identify the Plant?

2009-09-16T19:26:00.003+08:00

Who am I? I secretly snapped the picture of this plant yesterday. It is from my neighbor's compound.

It is quite unique. Simple but different. I like it!

I wish I know the name of this plant. And I also know I will be able to depend on my cyber friends to identify this plant for me ... they always do!

Anyone, please? Thanks in advance.

Weblog Popular 1Malaysia

2009-09-11T21:00:00.003+08:00

Weblog Popular 1Malaysia

I'm bringing you a very different type of flower today! Yeah .. it's one of those days again. I must do this! I want to ... (Please bear with poor me ..)

See the flower above? It's red, that's a relief! Hua ha hahaaaa ... This flower is floating around cyber space above Malaysia right now. It's hot at the moment.

What am I talking about? The RM5000 value Weblog Popular 1Malaysia contest! Organized by Denaihati and sponsored generously by SAUDACARE and ANISHA ONLINE MALL .

Pssstt ... gardeners, if you wanna learn about or try Malaysia's traditional health products, you might wanna visit SAUDACARE

Pssstt again ... silly me, Saudacare web is in Bahasa Melayu - can you guys understand Bahasa?

A grand thank you to great sponsors for the marvellous prizes! All in all, the prize amounted to a whopping RM5000.00. Awesome!! Clap clap clap ... If you want it, work for it. Ops .. you have to be a Malaysian to participate. Sigh!

Now - I need to nominate ONE blog for the title Weblog Popular 1Malaysia. Owh ... this is easy!

Listen, I ~~stand here today~~ scribble away here today to proudly nominate

(drum roll ...)

drum roll ...

drum roll ...

drum roll ... last one, I promise!!

My Little Vegetable Garden as the first ever Weblog Popular 1Malaysia. Trumpet now ... Toot tootttt!!! huhh ... was that a broken trumpet?

Alright, some serious stuff now. Why I like My Little Vegetable Garden?
Cause I'll be getting free veggies after this ... Hua ha ha haaaa! Ops, sorry! Seriously, I follow My Little Vegetable Garden from the beginning. Yes, I mean from the birth of the blog. From 0 reader (ok, 1 reader - the owner! Hih hiii ...) to what it is today! My Little Vegetable Garden is being featured on the front page at Blotanical for quite some time now. It is the most visited garden blog. It was positioned at number 1 and it stayed there for ... I forgot how long already. Oh, how I envy you. No matter how hard I tried (really? hiks!) I can never get onto the front page. Urghh!! Grrrr!!!

Yeah, I know! The magic word is perseverance. I guess I didn't have that! Lesson learnt! Thank you!

There are many beautiful and colorful pictures of plants, flowers and flying friends posted at My Little Vegetable Garden. And they are getting better by day. Splendid!

To qualify, I need to mention that I learned about this contest from Precious. I also need to subscribe to Denaihati through email which I already did. And, I've already planted not one, but two red Weblog Popular 1Malaysia square flowers, one on top of this entry and another at the sidebar.

I need to inform Mr Denaihati regarding my participation. Then, I'm done! Easy ...

The contest started a couple of months ago and will end on the 30th of September (need I mentioned 2009?). Winners will be announced 2 weeks after the contest ended.

Any enquiries should be directed to twitter@Denaihati. One can also make use of the comment box at Weblog Popular 1Malaysia or e-mail denaihati[at]yahoo.com.

Go to Weblog Popular 1Malaysia for further details. Have fun!! Now, I have to go catch me some butterflies ... errrr, I meant to say .. catch them on camera.

My First Bloom Canna

2009-09-08T21:01:00.002+08:00

Common Name(s): Canna, Indian Shot
Zone: 8 - 11
Size: 2 ½ - 10' H, 20 - 24" W
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Period: Repeat blooms throughout summer, throughout the year in zones 9 and above. Will bloom first year, from seed.

In this picture, you can even see the leaves. The stripes add beauty to the banana like leaves. Awesome!

Look at the striking color. The blazing sun proves to be an added advantage to this Canna. The blooms sparkle.

It is an amazingly beautiful orange color. Deep and rich orange.

I'm so proud to flaunt it here for everyone to see and evaluate ...
How do you like these Canna?

Whats Bloomin in the Garden Today

2009-09-02T18:38:00.003+08:00

This one is about to fall off but they're bloomin alright! So, they're in! Limply in ... hih hi hiiii!!
I took the picture very early in the mornin. These 2 were still sleepin. I was certain they'll bloom in an hour or two. So, they're in!
There're holes in the ixora. The great art of the caterpillar? the ants? the grasshopper? Owhh ... who cares. They're in!
Yellow and orange really blend well. Definitely in!
Very hardy. This one can go without water for weeks. But then usually they'll die afterwards. Hua ha ha ha ... So, be sure to water them well. They're in!
Dancing orchids swayin with the wind. They're in!
In!
Owh .. of course in!
The wet look is in!
Pink is always in ...

The in-things in my garden. Enjoy!!

Palms along the Main Roads

2009-08-30T21:41:00.002+08:00

A kind of palm - very usual in Malaysia. One can see it almost everywhere along the main road. But I was lucky enough to spot one with fruits (seeds?)
Young seeds were also in sight.

I have a palm in my garden, too! A different kind, though!
What kind do you prefer? Do you have it in your garden?

To Cut or Not to Cut

2009-08-22T00:48:00.000+08:00

I wanted a pergola ... or is it an arbor?

I have the pergola .. errr .. arbor .. whatever! But look at the morning glory that is supposed to beautify the 'whatever'. It grows way too glory that it looks like an unkempt hair-style. What style is this?

Eeuuuuww ... I don't like it! Half of me feels like cutting it down but the other half is stopping me from doing just that! I am battling against myself over a vine. Urghh!!!

Help!!

Hibiscus - Bunga Raya

2009-08-18T21:40:00.003+08:00

Yeah ... our National flower. Hibiscus. Noted for their showy flower, they are also known as rosemallow or flor de Jamaica (hmmm .. I wonder why). They are native to warm, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world.

The so green leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin.

The blooms are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals. There are so many colors and they are all lovely and eye-catching.

Like this one from my very own garden ...
It's opening ...
And hours later, I saw the matured bloom.

Do you have hibiscus? They don't require much maintainance ...

Orchids After It Rained

2009-08-17T22:27:00.000+08:00

Just after it rained, the smell of air ... the chill on your skin ... the clear sky ... the happy tiny flying friends ...
Oh I love it so much right after it rained.
The drops of rainwater on the edges of leaves ... and blooms ... add so much beauty to the already beautiful things!

Ahhh ...
Uuuuuu ...
Aaaaa ...
Just let the pictures speak for themselves. They describe it better than words ever can ...

How They Doubled .. Tripled ...

2009-08-16T20:59:00.000+08:00

They spread fast! Sometimes they can be quite annoying - I got rid of them yesterday, and I have to do it again today ... that sort of thing!!
They are pretty, actually! But too many of them suffocate my fish underneath. Oh how they doubled ... tripled ... How I wish those notes in my purse multiply like that!! uh uhhhh ...
They are a bit shiny, do you agree? They look soft and delicate. I wish they have flowers, but they don't, do they?
Ok now, who's gonna be the first comentator? And who's gonna be the first commented with the name of the two water plants. Thank you!!

I Think I'm in Love

2009-08-13T20:41:00.002+08:00

I crave for an iPhone 3GS (Especially when it's black!) ... Don't you? Just look at it - so handsome!! I think I'm in love! Laalalalaaaa ...

The longing for this phone took me web hopping one day ... I did a lot of cyber surfing ... searching for information on iPhone 3GS. And it brought me to Mobile Fun which I'd like to share with you guys. (Lets get out of the garden for a while; I need a change of air ...)
Instead of reading posts on plants and flowers, I found myself deeply interested in iPhone 3GS accessories. And what best place to browse around other than Mobile Fun? I love the website!
Surprised? Me, too! But, this site has lots of info and I learned many new things from there. I've never been so excited reading a 'mobile gadgets and accessories' web before. The web title says it right. I actually had fun surfing Mobile Fun - easy to navigate and appealing.
Now, there are all kinds of accessories and add ons under one site. And yes, you guessed it right, I was most interested in iphone accessories. Some of which I've never heard of before. Like this Ultimate MHub One-Dock Station - what is that? Is it only me or you haven't heard of it either ... Hahhh ah ahhh ... Lemme entertain you on what an Ultimate MHub One-Dock Station is. I'm not gonna spell it out loud on this page, you'll have to hop on there to see what it really is. I've provided the link for you.
There are varieties of different products to choose from. I mean, sooooo manyyyyy! See them for yourselves. Now, if you know what you want this is the right place for you. On the other hand, if you don't know what you want this is the first place to look for.
Back to my gorgeous iPhone. Uh huu ... What's an iPhone without an iphone case or the iphone car charger? Read and see everything about iphone case, iphone car charger and other accessories over at Mobile Fun. Reviews from real users are included for some of the products. If you like, you can write your own review, too!
The well stocked site is user friendly. They post clear photos and write clear product descriptions as well. I'll definitely go back if I need more info on 'everything mobile'.
I only wish the site displays the price of products in US currency as well. I'm not used to both GBP and EUR. Or better still, include the Malaysian Ringgit - hah haaa haaa ... pressing my luck, huhh?
Ok, lemme get back to my dreamland now .. where thousands of iphone 3GS are floating in air ... ahhhhhhhhh!!

Turmeric and its Medicinal Values

2009-08-12T07:50:00.004+08:00

Turmeric is a rhizome of the biological family Zingiberaceae. In fact its close relation to the ginger family is reflected in its Chinese name – jianghuang, which literally means ‘yellow ginger’. Yellow? Frankly my dear, some people is color blind (or is it me who's color blind - hmmm ...) for I think turmeric is orange in color. The very young ones might start out yellow but they mature into orange color rhizomes. Now, you tell me, am I color blind? (Please say no ...)

The blooms are yellow alright! Hey .. have you seen turmeric blooms? They sprout from the ground, not from the plant - thanks to James for mentioning it! I have them right at my doorsteps. They are blooming right now. Turmeric plants produce beautiful blooms. Almost like an orchid (now, am I blind again - ~~bloom blind~~, this time!) Still, I know I'm right about the bloom's color. Yellow!

It's brilliant golden orange color is due to the presence of the curcumin chemical that also makes it a strong and active dye. It is aromatic (love the smell) and is considered to be a stimulant for body systems (like coffee? Hmmm ..).

Apart from having excellent antiseptic and antibacterial properties, it has long been considered good for strengthening the stomach and as a blood purifier, too!

Traditionally, it has been considered good as an expectorant for children’s irritating cough, dissolved in milk. Grandmas across Asia recommend a glassful of milk with two teaspoonfuls of turmeric to asthmatic and bronchitic children. It is said to have the ability to clear phlegm and reduce spasms of asthma also.

The list goes on ... Do you want more? Urgh .. next time, k! (That really means 'I'm done!')
But oh ... especially for us women, I'm adding this - For people suffering from skin disorders like spots, acne, dryness or discoloration of any kind, turmeric is a God-send. Bobby Brown will be green of envy!

A paste of turmeric, fresh cream and sandalwood powder makes for an excellent rejuvenating cream, especially for dry, discolored or ageing skin. The turmeric gives a glow to the skin, while cream keeps it soft. In fact this was one of the best kept secrets of ancient Indian cosmetic knowledge (ops .. not a secret anymore) Even today, in India (and Malaysia, too), turmeric is considered an essential part of a rejuvenating face mask, that needs nothing but natural ingredients, usually off the kitchen shelf.
And that concludes my ramblings on the power of turmeric. Power? Hmmm ... I just like the word!

Don't you think that the word power can be tagged to turmeric?

Finally, I hope to be able to blog hop to all garden heavens at Blotanical which I totally missed for quite some time ... if Blotanical haven't kick me out yet ... Isk iskkk!!

Blossom Blooms at Precious?

2009-07-25T21:26:00.003+08:00

Ain't these pretty? These are the latest addition to my humble garden. I love the texture, the color, the shape, the smell (ops ... no, there was no smell altho I wish there was some ...). My point is I love all about them. I couldn't get my eyes off them ... Oh ohhh ... Look at Mr Hubby, I guess right now he wishes he's the ~~orchid~~ center of attraction. Huh!!Oh wow ... My oh myyyy ... speechless!!
Absolutely gorgeous! What a darling - ops, yeah, I mean you, dear! ~~What~~ Who else?
Oh, I think some of you noticed that I have been abandoning this blog for quite some time now. Actually, I was busy updating my other blog, Precious. Most of the entries at Precious were written in Malay language with a bit of English here and there ... Most are ramblings of my everyday chores, nothing special. But I felt at home over there and I wasn't pressured pouring my heart out.

Still, I love Blossom Blooms as well. I love it as much as I love my garden. But really, I have no time for both. Please entertain me on what to do ... I plan to transfer all entries from Blossom Blooms to Precious, where I can open a new special tab just for Blossom Blooms entries. This way, you can still visit me at Precious and click on Blossom Blooms tab to go the gardening entries. Please advise ... Thank you!