Count Your Blessings!

With love and passion, everyone can have a nice garden...Elaine Yim

Count Your Blessings!
Count The Garden By The Flowers, Never By The Leaves That Fall.
Count Your Life With Smiles And Not The Tears That Roll.
..... Author unknown.

Knowing me, Knowing you..... Aha.....!

Notice Board

Malaysian Flora USDA Zone 11
Welcome to our exotic world of everlasting summers and tropical rainforests!

Friday, December 2, 2016

How to go to MAHA 2016 at MAEPS Serdang & INFO about MAHA 2016


1. Location Map of MAHA 2016

MAHA 2016 is THE EVENT that we gardeners and everyone else with interest in the agriculture industry are looking forward to.

The theme of MAHA 2016 is "Our Food Our Future".

MAHA 2016 is held on 1-11 December 2016.
Venue: MAEPS 

On directions how to to to MAHA 2016, please go to the bottom of this post.

2. Food trucks near Fruit Castle at Gate 1 entrance
The venue is MAEPS (Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang), a 100 hectare facility owned by Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry.

MAEPS is located very near to Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital. It is also midway between Kuala Lumpur and KLIA.

Don't worry you won't go hungry as there are plenty of choices. Food trucks (picture above) are parked at strategic locations. There are many many food stalls at the indoor FOOD EMPIRE serving 168 types of exotic Malaysian state favourites. There are also F&B stalls at the outdoor Show Grounds, Indoor Pavilions and 14 State Pavilions showcasing each of the different states unique food and culture. There will be cooking demonstrations and food tasting at the indoor as well as outdoor exhibition areas.

3. Kg Durian Runtuh dan Upin Ipin experience at the Floriculture Showground
MAHA 2016 has 4 new attractions:
1. Kampung Durian Runtuh Upin dan Ipin
2. Youth Camp for 5,000 youths
3. Kampung Mak Chun with TV celebrities
(nightly performances by Ramli Sarip, Wali Band, Ebiet G Adi, Shila Amzah, Khalifa band)
4. Rhythm of the Farmers Music Festival

MAHA will cover the following areas:
1. Agro Youth
2. Agro IT
3. Agro Food
4. Agro Tourism
5. Agro Lifestyle
6. Agro Trade
7. Agro Industry
8. HPPNK
9. MAGIS

4. There's a giant dinosaur made from recycled plastiac bottles at Floriculture Showground
MAHA 2016 has 7 Outdoor Showgrounds:
1. Paddy
2. Livestock
3. Fisheries
4. Pineapples
5. Herbs & Vegetables
6. Floriculture
7. Machinery

5
Trigona Bee representative showing what's inside a stingless bee nest
at the Floriculture Showground aka Floral World (Laman Florikultur).

Stingless Bee Honey (Madu Kelulut) is branded as "Malaysia's super food" and promoted at MAHA 2016.

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All about figs at the "Laman Figs" near the MAHA Secretariat office.
There are fig plants, fertilizers and soil mix for fig plants, figs fruits and fig products.

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Youths having fun while biking at MAHA 2016.

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Accommodation for glamping at NAFAS cube.

Rooms include air-conditioned culvets and cabins with reception, minibar, washrooms and surau.
The place overlooks a tranquil lake with nice scenery and one can go fishing too. These rooms are not just a temporary feature of MAHA 2016 but are permanent and anyone interested to rent them can contact NAFAS.

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MAHA 2016 Youth Camp

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A booth at the Fisheries Showground (Laman Perikanan).
Anyone interested to try scooping some fishes to bring home?

There are fighting fishes for sale, exhibition of blue tuna, freshwater fishes, live fishes, lobsters, fishing boats, exhibits of a giant whale skeletons found at Malaysian shores at the Kingdom of Sharks and the upside-down Inverted Fisherman's House for photography.

11. Garden District - Laman Sayur & Laman Herba
Vegetable and Herbs Showground.
Look out for the many types and varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruits and gourds.
One cultivar is called "Upin Ipin" - try to find it!

11a. TRIO products booth at Garden District
TRIO GIY (Garden-It-Yourself) products eg. seeds and mushroom starter kits.
There are also other gardening DIY booths here.

11b. Location map showing the transportation trams to get you to Garden District (no. 6 & 7)

HOW TO GO TO GARDEN DISTRICT (Veg & Herbs) or LAMAN SAYUR & HERBA) at MAHA 2016 

For Gardening enthusiasts wishing to go to Garden District to look at Garden Vegetables and Herbs related products, you need to get take the Green Route C Tram.  

The Green Route C tram goes to the following locations: State Pavilion (Pavilion Negeri), Kampung Mak Cun, Agro Youth Biz Pavilion,  Garden District, My DOF Valey (Fisheries/Laman Perikanan), Paddy Showground (Laman Padi BERNAS).

If you are at Gate 1 or Gate 2 entrances, you can take the internal RapidKL shuttle bus Route E (Laman Tiba 1-Dewan Food Empire-Laman Tiba 2) and thereafter change to Green Route C Tram.

If this is confusing, you can find MAHA 2016 volunteers in uniform at Gate 1, Gate 2 and each tram stop to help you get into the correct one.


11c. Bus and Tram routes A,B,C,D, E

The internal FOC buses and trams are labelled as
Route A (orange), B (red), C (green), D (purple) and E (blue).
Get into the correct bus/tram to go to your intended destination.

12 Laman Tiba 2 (Gate 2)

There is a huge garden bazaar and multiple stalls selling fresh farmers produce, plants and cuttings near the Gate 1 (Laman Tiba 1) and Gate 2 (Laman Tiba 2). The Castle of Fruit sells fruits and fruit juices, snacks and biscuits as well as organic corn. 

HOW TO GO TO MAHA 2016:
By CAR : Visitors can enter via Gate 1 (Hospital Serdang way) or Gate 2 (SKVE) way. When using Waze, just type "MAEPS Serdang" or "MAHA 2016".

By Public Transport: FOC shuttle service of Rapid KL buses at bus terminal opposite Serdang KTM train station, UPM and at IOI City Mall Putrajaya. 


If you are coming by car, you need to park at the allocated parking areas and thereafter walk towards the Entrance. There are about 7,000 parking lots. Parking fee is RM 5 per entry. 

Once inside, FOC "hop-in hop-off" trams, Rapid KL buses and tractor (yes carriage/tram pulled by a tractor!) are available to transport you to the designated locations. 


PLAN YOUR VISIT & ROUTES

You can purchase the Visitors Guide (Panduan Pengunjung) at RM 1 or refer to the location maps put up on giant display boards near the main entrances. Plan ahead where you wish to visit first. This way, you don't have to waste time going to the wrong places. Check with the information counters which is the correct bus/tram (e.g. Route A, B, C, D or E) that will bring you to your intended destination.

I usually go sight-seeing and taking photos first. When the weather is fine and sunny, I visit the outdoor showgrounds. If it rains, I will visit the indoor pavilions. Later, just before going home, I'll go shopping at the bazaars. This way I don't have to lug around the heavy stuff that I had purchased earlier. 

OPENING HOURS OF MAHA 2016 : 10 am to 10 pm
Outdoor Showgrounds will close at 6 pm

Contact for MAHA
MAHA Secretariat Building 
MARDI Headquarters, 
43400 Seri Kembangan, 
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. 
Tel : +603-8938 2494 
Fax : +603-8938 2507 
Website : www.maha.gov.my 
Email : infomaha@maha.gov.my


GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN @ MAHA 2016!

Friday, May 27, 2016

Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 - 27 May - 4 June 2016 Highlights


1
Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016, Malaysia's largest annual flower show has just started. The event is scheduled to be held from Friday 27 May to Saturday 2nd June 2016. 

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The venue for Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 is at Anjung Floria, Precinct 4, Putrajaya.

How to get there?
When driving, you can use Waze, just type "Anjung Floria Putrajaya".

When using public transport, you can go to KL Sentral and take the KLIA Transit train to Putrajaya-Cyberjaya train station which is located just next to the Putrajaya Sentral bus terminal and thereafter take the Putrajaya buses or Shuttle Service to Floria. The fare for KLIA Transit to Putrajaya-Cyberjaya train station is RM 14.00. The bus fare from Putrajaya Sentral to Anjung Floria is RM 0.50. Usually there is also the free shuttle service from Putrajaya Sentral to Anjung Floria.

Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 - 27 May - 4 June 2016 Highlights”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on 27 May 2016.

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The theme of Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 is "Magical World of Floria"
The theme flower of Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 is Chrysanthemum.

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Chrysanthemums, theme flower of Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 will be incorporated into all designs everywhere, indoor as well as outdoor designs.


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Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 was officially declared open by Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah on 26 May 2016. In the photo are the Federal Territories Minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, PPj President Datuk Seri Hasim Ismail and Puan Haslinda Khalid, Managing Director of Putrajaya Floria Sdn Bhd.

She also spent time visiting the various booths and attractions.

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This year's Royal Garden features the Grand Palace of Johor


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Look out for the Fantasy, Magical, Enchanting, Mysterious and Fun, etc... at DBKL booth.
I love all the characters dressed in costumes... a King and Queen, clowns, mermaids, etc...

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Candy Castle


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Decorated "toys" at the Candy Castle.

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At Ombak Chrysanthemum,there's a cutie lion and tiger that spews bubbles.


11
At the outdoor School and University Garden Competition area, here the judges are looking at the booth of SK Convent (M) Kajang. Here, primary students Aida Kistina (blue blouse) and Arwena Padme (brown and white top) are giving a commentary to judges (in red t-shirts).

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More magic awaits at the cool and fully air-conditioned Indoor Floral Pavilion 

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Floral fashion

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Magic in a glass

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Magic in miniature.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 - Soft Launch

1. Source: Putrajaya Corporation (PPj)


My favourite annual local flower show is no other than Royal Floria Putrajaya which also happens to be Malaysia's largest flower and garden festival. This year Floria 2016 will be held on Friday, 27th May to Sunday, 4th June 2016. The dates coincide with school holidays in Malaysia and Singapore.

What's new this year is that there will be a Preview Day with Official Opening Ceremony on Thursday, 26th May, i.e. one day before Floria 2016 officially opens to the public. The Preview is only for invited guests and holders of Friends of Floria (FOF) membership card.

2. Source: PPj

The venue of Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 is at Anjung Floria Precinct 4, Putrajaya. 

The theme of Floria 2016 is "Magical World of Floria".
The theme flower of Floria 2016 is the Chrysanthemum.


3. Source: PPj

This is the 9th edition of Floria.
The new attractions of Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 include the followings:

1. Magical Gardens - Mystical Forest, Chrysanthemum Garden, Mermaid's World, Candy Courtyard
2. "The Magic of Bonsai & Suiseki Musical Garden" exhibition, and
3. "Tropical Magic in Glass" terrarium exhibition

“Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 - Soft Launch”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on 28th April 2016

4
This year, I have the privilege to attend the soft launch of Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016.
The ceremony was held this morning.

Below are some photos taken at the launch.

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Floria mascots "Flo" and "Ria"
Which flower or vegetable do you think they are dressed up as? 

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Theme flower Chrysanthemums decorate the entrance


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... and the stage too.

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 Welcome speech by YBhg Datuk Seri Hj Hasim Hj Ismail, the president of Putrajaya Corporation


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The ceremony was officiated by YB. Dato' Dr. Loga Bala Mohan, the Deputy Federal Territories Minister 

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Ready... get set... GO! 

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And, Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016 is officially launched!
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Magical, isn't it?


There is an entrance fee. You can purchase the tickets in advance.
For more information about Floria 2016, please visit their official website here.


Are you looking forward to Floria 2016?
Do you think Chrysanthemum as the theme flower will be interesting and exciting?

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Chinese New Year Plants and Flowers 2016

1. Calla Lilies
This year Chinese New Year falls on Monday, 8th February 2016 and Lichun Day is on Thursday, 4th February 2016.

2016 is the Year of the yang fire Monkey and it starts on February 4th, Lichun Day (立春) at 5:45 pm local Malaysian time. Lichun denotes the start of the first solar term and beginning of spring in ancient China. It is a day when farmers would traditionally hold prayers to the gods for a prosperous year ahead hoping for a good harvest.  It is a time when farmers go back to the fields and begin work after a long winter's break.

The nurseries have started selling Chinese New Year plants and flowers and here are some preliminary pictures.

2
Dahlias are called "da li ju:" 大麗菊 = big/very beautiful chrysanthemum.
Perhaps "li" sounds like "da ji da li" (大吉大利) meaning great fortune and great profits/gains.

Florists also give the following names to dahlias:
芍藥 shao yao (Chinese peony)
大利花 da li hua (great gains flower)
紫牡丹 zi mu dan (purple peony)

“Chinese New Year Plants and Flowers 2016”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on Jan 16, 2016

3
Camellia azalea hybrid

4.
Why Liliums (e.g. stargazers, casablanca, madonna ,asiatic,oriental, tiger lilies) are auspicious:
a) Chinese name for Lilium spp is "bai he" (百合) - meaning many things going smoothly according to your wishes
b) For couples, the phrase "bai nian hao he" (百年好合) would mean happy together for a hundred years
c) For marriage this would mean that the husband and wife shall always be together and live happily ever after.

 
5.
Clyclamen plants are known as "xian ke lai" (仙客來) in Chinese which sounds like "fairies, gods or immortals are on the way or coming over as guests"  hence it is very auspicious.

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Triphasia trifolia
Common names: Lime-Berry, Limau Kiah

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Aglaia odorata is also known as the "Chinese perfumed plant".

It is also called the Chinese Rice Flower  - mi zi lan (米仔兰 - rice, little, orchid).
Just saying the words "mi zi lan" in Cantonese reminds me of my grandmother so much!

The flowers are very fragrant with a sweet lemony scent hence the common name "mock lemon". The tiny flowers do not open fully and each one look like a grain of rice. I guess this would signify and abundance of food since rice is a staple food in Asia.

8.
 Hyacinth bulbs.
Hyacinth is 洋水仙 (yang shui xian) meaning water fairy, or 风信子(feng xin zi)

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 Remember to check what is the colour of the flowers

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or you may wish to wait for the surprise when the flowers starts to bloom.

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Narcissus bulbs

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Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

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Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) grown in vases with auspicious paintings and decorated with festive ornaments. 

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Ardisia crenata

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Pussy willows.
Some are in their natural colour of white with unopened buds but there are some batches with long, blooming catkins.
Some have been dyed in colours of pink, red and orange.

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The ever popular must-have chrysanthemums.

17.
Peach Blossoms have arrived in Malaysia!

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Flower pots with auspicious wordings.

Note: This post will be regularly updated with fresh photos as we count down to Chinese New Year 2016

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