The many faces of Wrightia religiosa - Part 2

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In my previous post here, you have seen how Wrightia religiosa (wild water plum, water jasmine), a native plant of Malaysia and Thailand, has been lovingly and painstakingly sculptured into many styles of beautiful bonsai. Now, in this post I'm going to show you another side of our wondrous water jasmine.

Wrightia religiosa Bonsai - Santalia, Melati, Jeliti, Anting Putri, Water Plum Jasmine

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Wrightia religiosa or water plum jasmine is very popular among bonsai enthusiasts here in tropical Asia, particularly Malaysia and South East Asia because this fast-growing evergreen perennial is very easy to shape, bend and maintain. Best of all, it is ever-flowering and blooms profusely with a strong, wonderful fragrance. Bonsai experts can manipulate the blooming cycle to coincide with flower shows and exhibitions.

Here are some outstanding Wrightia religiosa bonsai specimens that were made into beautiful pieces of art. The photographs were taken during Floria 2010 and the exhibitors are members of Sanfong Bonsai & Art Garden.

There are more pictures of single and double flowers, seed pods here: "The many faces of Wrightia religiosa - Part 2"

My NST article dated 12 Nov 2011 about Wrightia religiosa is titled "Princess Earrings in the Garden", click here to read more.

“Wrightia religiosa Bonsai - Santalia, Melati, Jeliti, Anting Putri, Water Plum Jasmine”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on March 26th, 2012.

Dischidia pectinoides - Kangaroo Pocket, Ant Plant

I saw this strange plant while shopping for Chinese New Year plants. The ant plant (Dischidia pectinoides) is sold as an auspicious plant during the festive season. What's the symbolic meaning behind it? I hope someone can tell me.

At first I was hesitant to buy it because I worry that it will be difficult to care for. Moreover, I do not want it to turn into an ant's nest!

I have since discovered that it is actually quite easy to care for. The flowers bloom continuously.

My DIY Home Garden in Malaysia - GBBD March 2012

1. Native Plant - Red Ixora

Today, for Bloggers Bloom Day - March 2012, here are some blooming flowers from my DIY home garden in Malaysia.

First in the line-up is my teenage (more than 10 years old) Ixora plant, butterflies big and small love this plant.

Cat's Claw Macfadyena unguis-cati - A weed or exotic beauty?

This is a beautiful, vigorous climber that loves our sunny equatorial climate. It can be used to drape over walls and fences where it forms a beautiful curtain with profuse flowering at areas that are receiving the most sunlight.

The plant is not considered as invasive in tropical Asia, Hawaii and Tanzania. However, it is listed as a Category 1 exotic invasive in Florida, also considered an invasive plant or noxious weed in Australia and southern Africa.

A Lime Butterfly And A Bird Was Born in My Nice Garden

Recently, a heavily pregnant Common Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus malayanus) mommy checked into My Nice Garden Maternity Centre and laid eggs on my citrus lime (limau kasturi) plant. Soon, the eggs hatched into baby caterpillars that looked like blackish bird droppings on the leaves. These caterpillars ate a lot 24/7 and when their skin changed to a paler shade of green, I transferred  them to my 'baby incubator room'. They were on a strictly vegetarian diet. After they had eaten enough of greens, they fell asleep for a week or so.

A few days ago, I was overjoyed to see this beautiful adult butterfly flapping its wings and knocking on the plastic walls of its enclosure. I knew that it was time to say goodbye. But then I thought we had only just met? So I held the box close to me because I wanted to prolong this brief moment of joy. It was a nice feeling with this butterfly so close by, flitting and moving and so full of life. Then it was time to let go and as I opened the lid, it flew out and was gone, happy to be free.

This is my first Lime Butterfly born in captivity! Yay!