Hibiscus at Taman Botani Putrajaya

4. Hibiscus schizopetalus, 6. Hibiscus schizopetalus - Pagoda, The others (1,2,3,5,7,8,9) - Hibiscus Rosa sinensis hybrids

 I visited The Botanical Garden of Putrajaya recently and took these pictures along the Hibiscus Walk. In Malaysia we can find many many types of hibiscus flowers that grows well in our climate and soil.

Hibiscus is our National Flower and the actual species is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Brilliant Red).

Currently, I have 3 hibiscus plants (all Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in my garden. I have tried eating its buds (stamens included) and petals and it tasted good. Blastoise, my pet tortoise love eating hibiscus flowers too. I'd love to grow flower no. 9 in my garden as it is so gorgeous. If I have a bigger space, I'll grow flower no. 4 H. schizopetalus (common name: chinese lantern/japanese lantern) and let it spread out gracefully over an arched arbor.

Do you have hibiscus in your garden and which one is your favourite?

My post today is dedicated to Nancy from Austin, Texas, USA of Nancy's Notes blog (first commenter). She is currently having a very happy occassion and do head over to her blog with your best of the best wishes!

White Senduduk (Melastoma malabathricum) - Wordless Wednesday

Family: Melastomaceae

Scientific name: Melastoma malabathricum

Common name: Straits Rhododendron, Senduduk Putih (Malay)
Origin: South East Asia

Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Grateful thanks to Dr. Francis Ng of The Secret Garden of 1-Utama.

To participate or view other Wordless Wednesday posts, please click here.

I would like to dedicate this post to Keats The Sunshine Girl, from Malaysia of  blog, the first commenter of my previous "Butterfly Laying Eggs" post. Keats is an excellent writer and always brings sunshine to my blog with her visits and comments.

Tawny Coaster Butterfly Laying Eggs

Tawny coaster butterfly (Acraea terpsicore)

My Quote for today :

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

~Irish Blessing

To readers who happen to read this post, may you all be blessed.

This picture was taken by a friend, a young engineering undergraduate during a visit to The Secret Garden of 1 Utama, a rooftop garden that practises green concepts and technology. It is a butterfly in the process of laying eggs on the underside of a leaf. A life cycle is just about to begin and it made me realise how delicate but wonderful life is, and how beautiful nature can be. Let's do our part to take good care of our environment.

Like the saying by Richard Buckminster Fuller, "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly".

I hope that many people will think twice before they kill a caterpillar. Butterflies are pollinators, therefore beneficial insects. They are indeed "Blessings" on Mother Earth. Without them, where will we get our fruits and future generations of plants to eat?

This is my entry for Words That Inspire - An April Challenge, a meme initiated by Noel at A Plant Fanatic Blog. Do head over for more inspirations around the world.

My post today is dedicated to Ms Helen (islandgal246) of My Rustic Bajan Garden blog. She taught me how to 'catch' (photograph) butterflies in the morning. Now, I am rewarded with many butterfly pictures for my collection. May she receive this beautiful Irish Blessing each and everyday.

To my friends all over the world, Happy Easter Sunday!

April 5th is also Ching Ming Festival, a day when we visit the graves and pay respects to the ancestors. It is a Chinese tradition where quite often, it is also a family gathering of relatives from far and near, a time for reminiscing and bonding. Have a smooth and safe journey!