A tale of 2 gardens

When Petunia visited my garden, she gushed, "Your garden is so lush, like a tropical rainforest."

She's quite right. It's on the second floor, where the air is warm and humid, and deprived of direct sunlight most part of the year. It's the perfect environment for heliconias, banana, episcia, fern and spider lilies to thrive in. The garden is overgrown with large foliage and vegetation that builds upwards to create a dense tropical (mini) jungle.

Petunia's garden, on the other hand, is all the way up on the 14th floor where the air is hot and dry during the day. At night, cool air filters through the garden, creating a mediterranean like climate. No wonder she can work magic with delicate herbs like lemon myrtle, thyme, rosemary and arugula, and coax pretty flowers out of chamomile, dandelion, hyssop and tarragon. Recently her strawberry plants produced some fruits. This would never happen in my garden!

Now she worries if she can continue growing the same plants if she moves into her new house, a landed property, next year.

If I were to sell my house, I would leave most of the plants behind for the new owner. While it would sadden me to part with my beloved plants, moving matured plants around could traumatise them. Besides, they may not do so well in a new environment. Of course, that would mean I can only sell my house to a plant lover.

Meet my carnivores

Guess what my vegetarian friend Patricia gave me for my birthday? A carnivore!

Yup, I was presented a Nepenthes, aka pitcher plant last night. This particular one looks fairly phallic to me, thanks to the unusual colour of the pitchers. With this carnivorous plant hanging in my bedroom window sill, I forsee there will be less ants and bugs in my room from now on.

Yesterday, I also inherited a venus flytrap from my son who thinks I can do a better job at keeping it alive. It's sitting in the shade, somewhere below the Nephentes. I hear it has a reputation for being difficult to grow but I like challenges, so, let's see how long it will last under my care.

Just about everyone knows how I like gardening so I wasn't too surprised to receive a pot of Gloxinia (instead of a bouquet of flowers) from my beloved on my birthday. He's being practical of course because this pot will keep producing me flowers, hopefully for many more birthdays.

Everything's coming up roses

My friends, all avid gardeners, gathered at my house for lunch at the patio yesterday. Alas, our plans were thwarted by the rain. Why does it always have to rain when I have people coming to view the garden?!

We had a good time though, eating and chatting in the cool comfort of the living room. When they were gone, I walked out to discover a big palm-sized rose hidden amongst the foliage. I wish they had seen it!

The sun is finally out this morning and the plants are flaunting their blooms. The rose bud has transformed into a gorgeous creamy yellow flower.

The one below is already fading. Soon the petals will fall to the ground.

The cherry tomato plant is showing off more flowers than before. That will improve my chances of getting tomatoes.

I like how the turnera plants take advantage of the morning sun to showcase their pretty flowers. It's the best time to admire them in their full glory before they close hours later.

Now the weather is just right for a garden party. I sit under the umbrella and eat bruschetta, made using the left-over tomato salsa and french loaf from yesterday's party.

I read the papers while Rusty bathes in the warm sunshine.

It's the start of a lovely weekend.

Oh joy!

After a week's break, the kids returned to find everything thriving in the school garden. Thanks to the rainy week, the plants seemed to have shot up overnight! There were lady's fingers and chilli waiting to be harvested.

I had never seen the kids so excited.

Lady's fingers.

Sweet corn.

Mint.

Chilli padi.

Flowers.

Herbs.

Stages

When the morning sun started streaming into the garden, I stood there and literally watched the turnera flowers blossom before my very eyes.

Stage 1 - the tight petals started to open up.

Stage 2 - Petals unfurling under the warm sunshine.

Stage 3 - Almost there.

Stage 4 - Tada!

The lipstick plant also makes me beam with joy. After the last flowering season in July, I wasn't quite sure if I would ever see flowers again. Then suddenly, little tube-like calyxs started appearing.

Some have red lipsticks emerging already.

The flowering season has begun!

Cherry tomato

My cherry tomato plant is flowering but I am not jumping for joy yet. I have had many tomato flowers come and go without producing any fruits.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Hello Yam!!

Say 'Hello' to my yam! Recently I bought half a piece of yam (taro) from the market. I sliced the top off and covered it in a thin layer of soil instead of discarding it. I wasn't sure if it was going to work but shoots started appearing not long after. Now there are several big round leaves.

Yam plants thrive in the shade and they need a long growing time (around 6 months) to produce tubers. I've planted in a deep pot to give it room for growth. Hopefully, I will get to eat yam by February next year.

The sweet corn in my styrofoam box have all germinated. While some of the leaves appear to have been chewed off, I've scattered a pellet like soil to discourage the snails from sneaking in. The other thorny sticks in the box are 'kau kay choi' (Lycium chinense) - a vegetable with soft, oval and slightly bitter leaves. Apparently it's a herb with cooling properties. My family loves it, so I'm trying to grow some in my garden.