Monday, August 30, 2010

Dianthus

My collection of Dianthus. They seems to be happy showering under the sun!


two together!







The seed pod


The red colour look a bit messy. Need to prune it!







purple variety

Friday, August 27, 2010

Zig Zag Plant

This plant is known as Pedilantus from the Euphorbia family. Commonly called Zig Zag plant or Devil's backbone! Do Devil has backbone same as this? I wonder how this plant get this funny name.... ;-)

It's sun lovable plant however can be used as indoor plant. In dim light, the leaves become green.

It seems to have red flowers but rarely on home grown plant!! I have seen the flowers in my parents house when i was young but didn't realize that it's really precious!

Now i have started to appreciate plants more! I will wait for it to flower! may be 10 yrs? ;-)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Bunga " I love u"

Finally i found another flower which was my favorite in childhood time! We use to call this flower " bunga I love u"!!

Balsam, marigold and this flower was my favorite garden flower back then!! I wish this is not genetically modified plant where the seeds won't grow! I have encounter this problem with nursery bought marigold plant where it flowers and and die but the seeds never grow...sigh....




Orange addition to my little garden!

THANKS AUTUMN BELLE! THIS FLOWER IS COSMO!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

flower - name please

THANKS EVERYONE! NOW I KNOW .... IMPATIENS!

Last weekend i bought a pot of below flower! It's so radiant looking orange flower! Unfortunately the nursery guy do not know the name! Anyone know this flower's name?










Friday, August 20, 2010

Mint

Mint is very easy growing herb plant! I find it invasive too!

I planted it near the chili plant and i think it's taking over my Chili!

I should move it somewhere else this weekend!






in container
close look

Peppermint is the mint of choice for medicinal purposes. I founds some benefit of this herb:

1) The menthol in peppermint soothes the lining of the digestive tract an stimulates the production of bile,   which is an essential digestive fluid.
2) Peppermint is an excellent breath freshener.
3) Peppermint is reputed to have the calming, sedative effect.
4)Menthol vapors are famous for relieving nasal, sinus and chest congestion.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Adenium

Finally my Adenium started flowering! It was my mistake to place it under shade when all the plant require is sun and more sun!






Some information from search engine:

Known as Sabi Star, Kudu or Desert-rose.
Native to the Sahel regions, south of the Sahara (from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan), and tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia.
Common name: Desert Rose
Botanical Name: Adenium obesum
Family: Apocynaceae
Foliage: Adenium is a succulent bush with thick fleshy branches. The leaves are 3 to10 cm long and oval at their extremities.
Flowers: The plant flowers during the warm months. The flowers are in shades of pink, rose white or white. They are beautiful 2-inch pink open-trumpet shaped flowers.
Light: It prefers to be kept in a place where there is full sun.
Temperature: Adenium likes warm temperature.
Soil: As it is very prone to rotting, they require a gritty, well-drained soil.
Humidity: The plant is drought tolerant.
Watering: Allow the plant to dry between waterings. Often the base of the stem become soft when the plant requires watering. Increase watering when plants are in flower or actively growing. Leaf drop in a common sign of over watering.
Pest and Problems: The plant may be attacked by aphids and mealybugs. Use a water spray or soap solution to keep it clean of pests. Never use chemicals.
Growth habit: It has the ability to grow from 6 1/2 to 10 feet.
Fertilizing: Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly.
Pruning: New shoots can be pruned regularly to produce new branches. More branches mean more flowers which are very attractive.
Propagation: Propagation is done from seeds and cuttings. In case of cuttings, the cuttings should be allowed to dry for a few days before placing into a simple sand-peat mix.
Special Care: Leaves normally fall in winter. It is a sign to keep the soil mixture on the dry side.
Landscaping Utility: Adenium is generally used as an accent plant.
Uses: Pot plant
The plant exudes a highly toxic sap which is used by some peoples, such as the Akie and Hadza of Tanzania, to coat arrow tips for hunting.The poison is made of the branches of the shrub Adenium coetaneum.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Another Harvest

My harvest for the weekend!









With little single tomato



May be i can make fish curry with my lady's fingers and tomato!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Insect in my little garden

My garden has many insects! I don't see any caterpillars for now...hopefully not in future too! I love butterflies though... I'm selfish girl!!!!


 
I'm waiting for weekend to take the photo of the monkey! My neighbour told that, there are group of 6 monkeys lingering around! They even ransack our kitchen if there is any opportunity! The other day the monkey bite open my plastic bottle in which I keep chili powder! Poor guy! All this while I was so patient with them.... but when they touch my tomatoes which I had hard time to grow.....I become mad!





Butterfly




 I don't have luck in snapping butterflies i guess! This time, my camera was out of battery














Dragonfly



I have many of them but this brown colour look a bit unique for me!
















Do you know the name of this insect? Garden friendly or pest?




This is my neighbour's cat! He was playing around while i was snapping pictures! Such a playful guy! He is mammal but i can't resist taking a snap and include it here! ;-)
meow....



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ladybird


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My garden and a monkey!

This tomato was taken by monkey while i was away in work yesterday!

Anyone know how to chase away this single daring monkey? I should snap photo of that cheeky thief next time......

gone.....

Monday, August 9, 2010

Juicy Tomatoes & a monkey......

Finally I harvested some tomatoes on weekend! It was sweet, juicy and yummy!













waiting for turn

These 2 tomatoes below stolen.... A big monkey came and took it silently while we were in the house! I just took this photo the day before and next morning it was gone..........! My husband saw the monkey happily walking with my tomatoes! Shall I call this sharing with nature??? Do you know how to prevent monkey from stealing my harvest??? 

Monkey's lunch.....

Friday, August 6, 2010

Tomato - almost there?

My tomato fruits are growing steadily but it has been a long wait! A month has passed since the little fruits formed! I hope I can harvest some soon! The colour is still light green...... How many more days???? Oh, I'm just so impatient to taste the juicy taste of home grown tomatoes!




Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The red and green foliage!

Anyone knows the name of this beautiful plant? Any information on this plant will be appreciated! I know a thing for sure, it just love the sun!

The foliage are really exotic! The young shots are green and turn red after that! I just wonder why it fold the leaves all the time like praying hand!

Older leaves - red


The young leaves - green

Monday, August 2, 2010

Helliconia

I was wearing my sandal to work when i realize my Heliconia have been flowering! I rush in to take camera and snap these photos!
Look at the flowers! It look like claws! I have neglected this plant so long that i didn't realize their growth! I must fertilize this plant first thing in the evening when i go back!