GBBD Dec 2010 and Foliage Follow Up Day

Firstly, I would like to thank you very much for all the warm wishes and nice comments that you have left in my previous post. During my blog break, I had gone on an inland auto trip up North to Penang Island with my family. We went to revisit and dine at some of the favourite places that we used to frequent a long time ago. And yes, it did bring back a lot of special memories and cherished moments. Some places were those that I had been to as a kid, now I am bringing my kids there. Soon, my kids will have kids of their own and will bring their kids to the same places and tell them about their childhood with grandma/grandpa and Que Sera Sera, What will be, will be .....

It is funny to look back at my old pictures and compare how much or little each of us have changed, agewise and also physically. Those were pictures taken at the same spot, same location but at different times of our lives. I hope that you too would have many memorable moments with your loved ones during this holiday and festive season. For rememberance, my 'adventures' which centre around food and herritage buildings will be detailed in my Klang, Malaysia Daily Photo blog. Do visit when you have time. My trip to the Butterfly Farm will be posted here soon.

For this month's Blogger's Bloom Day, I have my second generation gomphrena which is grown from home saved seeds. They are grown up now and the first button flowers are begining to appear.

Wendy of Greenish Thumb blog has given me many many seeds. I have sown the marigolds but they seem to be growing very very slowly. This is how it looks after more than one month. Maybe the marigolds having time/jet lag due to their biological clock showing it is winter (in the USA). I think most likely the fault is with the gardener that is ME!, for their lack of growth. Actually, I have put them under the full sun and given them fertilizers too.

Oh dear, Wendy, I'm so sorry with this outcome. What else can I do ?

Another surprise from the marigold container is I got this attractive miniature yellow flowers. They are only about 6 inches tall, very slender and delicate. I think the flowers are really lovely and sweet.

I have taken some cuttings from my Angelonia plants and they are growing well.

They are starting to bloom now.

“GBBD Dec 2010 and Foliage Follow Up Day”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on December 14th, 2010.

This Costus woodsonii is my favourite plant at the moment. I love its lipstick blooms that seem to last for ages and its delicate yellow flowers that appear one by one from the spike. While prunning away the dead stalks, I accidently grabbed a good one and chopped if off! My heart nearly stopped when I found myself holding a cut-off juicy green stalk with the most beautiful jade green leaves. I have just decapitated a stalk that is going to bloom soon. Oh dear oh dear, luckily I'm not a surgeon, otherwise I could have cut off the patient's wrong leg!

Before I went for holiday, the hydrangea flower head was as large as a soccer ball. After I came back half the head has dried up. Why? This is because I placed it in the wrong location. There were some changes in the direction of the sunshine this month and my east area which used to have dappled light actualy has become quite sunny now.

These two partners are behaving well. My pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) is having a baby (plantlett) now. It's top was getting too heavy for its own good, so I moved my potted Murraya paniculata plant near it to provide support. My Murraya plant has grown a lot of foliage. Sometime ago, it was quite bald and completely overshadowed by the invading torenia which has since finished blooming and passed on.

These guys seem to be treating my garden like their holiday resort. They are lining up all in a row and I bet they are up to no good!

Caution: the next picture may be visually offensive, hence parental guidance is needed (PG13).

This fly couple also think that My Nice Garden is a Bug Hotel. The bugs do love my Ti-plant, don't they?


My grateful thanks to May Dreams Garden for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Her link is here.
My grateful thanks to Pam of Digging blog for hosting Foliage Follow-up Day. Her link is here.

My Blog Break

Dear friends,

I will be having a short blog break as my wedding anniversary is drawing near. There will be no more posting this week. I am thinking of going somewhere near for a holiday to celebrate our 23 years together as a family.

How did you spend your last wedding anniversary?

Until then, wishing you a great week ahead and if time permits, I'll be popping by to view your festive posts.

Bye,
Autumn Belle.

Poinsettias, The Christmas Flowers

Every year during the season of Christmas, we can find poinsettias everywhere we go. I really like their vibrant colours of vermillion, green and gold. In our local Malay language, we call them 'bunga krismas' meaning Christmas flowers. In Chinese, it is called "yī pǐn hóng" (一品紅).

What you do call it in your language?

When I see poinsettias at our local nurseries, I can't resist the temptation to buy one to take home. From then on, I will be busy looking after its needs, admiring it everyday, watering it and trying to make it last the whole season and thereafter, hoping that the leaves will turn from red to green very very slowly. Each time a leaf drop off, my heart will miss a beat.

I use it as a decoration for my living room. I have placed my poinsettia near the windowsill, to get some sunlight. I know that poinsettias are native to Mexico, and they are known as 'nochebuena' in Mexican language. I would like to dedicate this post to Fer, from whom I learnt its Mexican name. His post about nochebuena, his favourite plant is here.

Now, if you have some poinsettia tips do let me know! 

During my shopping trips at the nurseries, I also found some garden ornaments that I like. Here's a pair of mandarin ducks and some toadstools. Toadstool or mushrooms? I like 'toadstool', meaning stools for toads, haha!

By the way, those green leaves are not fakes but those of my Calathea makoyana plant.

I also see a lot of poinsettias at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, a shopping centre. The theme this year is 'Christmas Enchantments'.

The whole Christmas tree above is decorated with red poinsettias.

“Poinsettias, The Christmas Flowers”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on December 2nd, 2010.

A pair of giant baubles sitting on a bed of red poinsettias.

This Crystal Fountain is also surrounded by a sea of poinsettias. You can throw a coin and make a wish. At the same time, the coin will contribute towards charity.

Now, what do you call this - a bowl, a planter box or a torch?

Can real poinsettias survive and bloom in the snow? 

Do you think Santa's reindeers look nice with poinsettia garlands?

These are white poinsettias. Have you seen the real white ones? Have you seen poinsettias in other colours?

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver".

..... Maya Angelou

If you remember my post last month about my first Google Adsense money, here's where my money had gone to. This is Hospice Klang, a centre providing Palliative Care and assistance.

Until then, wishing you a great week ahead!

This is my entry for Fertilizer Friday. Tootsie has an urgent message/appeal today. Do visit her here.

This is also my entry for Blooming Friday, the theme this week is "On The Windowsill", thanks to Katarina of Roses & Stuff, her link is here.

Beth of Food As Art blog is having a Poinsettia Party. So what are you waiting for? Do join in the fun, her link is here.