pineapple fruiting

This is far beyond my expectation! My pineapple plant have started to set fruit. This is really a big surprise for me. I hardly care for them except watering done once a day. Once in a while I will put some fertilizer.

The young fruit is red in colour for now. This is my first time to see pineapple young fruit!

I read somewhere that it takes another 6 months for the fruit to mature! It's a long journey but I more than happy to see the ripe fruit! 

GBBD November 2014

It's raining everyday now in Malaysia. The weather is so unpredictable. It will be very hot in the morning and heavy down pour in the afternoon.

Rain bring a lot of joy to plants....Yes I know but when I turn my back to my garden many snails make a party! They have a big feast on my vegetables, young shoots and young seedling. I'm cracking my head to race the snail. They come out in big amount and the eggs are hiding in so many places that it's really hard to eliminate them. I'm on the losing part I guess....

Anyway flowers blooming in the garden give me so much happiness to me.

Adenium in full bloom. Some of them drop down at the car porch.

Yellow colour is striking in my garden!

My white hibiscus is back !

My favorite school time flower in bloom too!

Red is colour of bold! Red is colour of love! and Red colour is a must in my garden! ;)

Another portion of garden with white theme. Kangkung flowers are pretty too!

For more flower blooming around the work visit http://www.maydreamsgardens.com

Ubi kayu @ Cassava

Cassava or Ubi kayu is famous tuber plant in Malaysia. This is another plant that I'm putting my hand on. I got few cuttings from a friend. They are easy to grow from stem cuttings. If you have space in your garden may be you can try like me.

Cassava is very high in carbohydrate. The highest next to rice. There are few ways to cook cassava. My favorite is to boil them until soft. then drain the water and sauté with indian spices to add flavour. Another way is to fry them.

Anybody have other recipe to share with using cassava? I bet many home chef are around ! ;)

Kuchai @ Chives

I decided to try to grow some new vegetables in the garden. One of them are Chinese Kuchai or Chives. I'm not sure if Western Chives and Asian Kuchai are the same.

In Malaysia we cook kuchai like normal vegetables! They taste great when sauté with ginger and Tauhu. The leaves are also added into noodles. They taste good!

Mine was planted from seeds. It takes longer time to grow this way. For faster growth it's better to grow from the bulb.  I sow few seeds but only 2 become the survivors. They really look like onion plant at this stage.

From Wikipedia: 

The plant has a distinctive growth habit with strap-shaped leaves unlike either onion or garlic, and straight thin white-flowering stalks that are much taller than the leaves. The flavor is more like garlic than chives. It grows in slowly expanding perennial clumps, but also readily sprouts from seed. In warmer areas, garlic chives may remain green all year round. In cold climates, leaves and stalks will completely die back to the ground, and re-sprout from its roots or rhizomes in the spring.

Beans - the new batches

All my previous batches of beans was munch down by the snails.

Now since they are no where to be seen, I have sowed and transplant the new batches of beans seedling to the ground. Currently they are sharing the bed with the chillies.

The little green beans is learning to climb the trellis. They have very soft stem. Hope they give handful of harvest for my cooking!

I would like to wish HAPPY DEEPAVALI to all Hindu bloggers and Happy holidays to all others in Malaysia since it's Public Holiday on Wednesday. To the rest have fun. Hope all of us have very wonderful time with our loved ones!

GBBD October 2014

It's hot and rainy season here! Most of time it will be hot in the morning and followed by heavy rain in the evening! I can rest assured the plants are watered well!

Wrightia white bloom

All the photos taken late evening after the rain......

Adenium single flower

Little purple flowers! The only different colour flowers in my garden!

For more bloom visit  maydreamsgardens.com

Betel leave

I was in nursery last month when my eyes set on the betel leave plant. Its' very common plant in Indian population. It's used as decoration leaves, consumed , ayurvedic ,etc.

Usually the leaves are used as decoration during engagement and wedding ceremony. The plant is perennial creeper which survive for long with minimum care. So it symbolically indicate the life long relationship between husband and wife.

I seldom see the plant nowadays. I use to see them in my home town. Planted in Indian houses.

Therefore I decide to buy and plant it in my garden. The leaves look shiny and in heart shape.

 Healing Power and Curative Properties ( from http://www.allayurveda.com) :

Betel leaf has been used from ancient times as an aromatic stimulant and anti-flatulent. It is useful in arresting secretion or bleeding and is an aphrodisiac. Its leaf is used in several common household remedies.

Aphrodisiac: Pan-supari, especially the pan, is prescribed by Ayurvedic physicians as an aphrodisiac. Betel leaf is considered aphrodisiac i.e. an agent which stimulates sexual desire. It is a common practice to offer masalapan to newly married couple before retiring to bed. It adds to love making and pleasures.

Scanty or Obstructed Urination :Betel leaf juice is credited with diuretic properties. Its juice, mixed with dilute milk and sweetened slightly, helps in easing urination.

Weakness of Nerves: Betel leaves are beneficial in the treatment of nervous pains, nervous exhaustion and debility. The juice of a few betel leaves, with a teaspoon of honey, will serve as a good tonic. A teaspoon of this can be taken twice a day.

Stomach Disorder: 

Taken betel morsel (pan supari) prepared with catechu, quick lime, betel nuts, cardamom etc. after meals cures digestive problems and eliminates flatulence (caution: do not add tobacco in this).
Fomenting the stomach (incase of children) with heated leaf of betel cures stomach ailments.
Boil 3 betel leaves with little black pepper in 250 GMS water and strain it. Taking 2 tsp. of this decoction twice a day cures indigestion
Headaches : The betel leaf has analgesic and cooling properties. It can be applied with beneficial results over the painful area to relieve intense headache.

Respiratory Disorders : Betel leaves are useful in pulmonary affection in childhood and old age. The leaves, soaked in mustard oil and warmed, may be applied to the chest to relieve cough and difficulty in breathing.

Constipation : In the case of constipation in children, a suppository made of the stalk of betel leaf dipped in castor oil can be introduced in the rectum. This instantly relieves constipation.

Sore Throat : Local application of the leaves is effective in treating sore throat. The crushed fruit or berry should be mixed with honey and taken to relieve irritating cough.

Inflammation: Applied locally, betel leaves are beneficial in the treatment of inflammation such as arthritis and orchitis, that is inflammation of the testes.

Wounds : Betel leaves can be used to heal wounds. The juice of a few leaves should be extracted and applied on the wound. Then a betel leaf should be wrapped over and bandaged. The wound will heal up with a single application within 2 days.

Boils : The herb is also an effective remedy for boils. A leaf is gently warmed till it gets softened, and is then coated with a layer of castor oil. The oiled leaf is spread over the inflamed part. This leaf has to be replaced, every few hours. After a few applications, the boil will rupture draining all the purulent matter. The application can be made at night and removed in the morning.

Lumbago: A hot poultice of the leaves or their juice mixed with some bland oil such as refined coconut oil can be applied to the loins with beneficial results in lumbago.

Problem of Breast Milk Secretion : The application of leaves smeared with oil is said to promote secretion of milk when applied on the breasts during lactation.