Finally, I got the seeds!!

Yesterday afternoon, while driving back home from the grocery store...we passed by the house with a row of lotuses again and....there it is, the owner of the house, himself pruning the plants. Without hesitation, my spouse took the initiative to stop the car and greet the elderly man. With a short conversation exchanged between them and myself looking through the car's window screen..the elderly man cut two dried seed pods and passed it to my hubby. Oh yes...at last, my wish came true. Finally, I managed to get hold of the lotus seeds that I have been aiming all this while. This morning, a few seeds was sown into the 'all-ready' earthen pot and the waiting time for the germination begins...


Above photo shows the two lotus seeds pods with some seeds already sown. Will sow the rest of the seeds to a few other pots. To the elderly neighbour, 'Terima Kasih Encik' and to my spouse..a really BIG thank you SAYANG!

First Bloomers!!!

Other than the recent blooms produced by the pitcher plants, recently there are a few plants that presented us with their first blooms too. Enjoy the beautiful flowers.

Aquatic plants collection

Among the pots of potted plants that we nurture, there's only two species of aquatic plants in our collection. Both plants were given by friends a few years back and both species survive till today. The common water hycinth locally known as keladi bunting (scientifically known as Eichhornia Crassipes) with its beautiful light lavender blooms have always been our favourite. It can be an invasive species if let grown unattended/uncontrolled especially in man-made ponds, water catchment areas like reservoirs. It is one of the most hardy aquatic plants it can form dense colonies that block sunlight to the water, clog water intake and crowd out other native species. The common water hycinth reproduces primarily by runners or stolons.




Another species of aquatic plant that we are nurturing is the Mexican Sword (scientifically known as Echinodorus Palaefolius). Its slightly heart-shaped leaves can grow larger than the size of an adult's palm with enough nutrients in the medium which is always kept moist or wet. It is an easy plant to nurture and within weeks, it will start to produce long stems with small flower buds, thus producing white 3-petal blooms which will only last for a day. Propagation is by tiny shoots that will emerge a few days after the flowers wither.




Another aquatic plant that have always been on my 'wish' list is the lotus...have been admiring the beautiful pink flowers of the plant everytime when we passes this house, just about a kilometre away from our home. If I ever see the owner or the gardener of this particular house, I will not hesitate to ask for the seeds...hopefully it will be soon enough, just can't wait for the day...please, oh please.

My current experiment!!

It has been a while since I posted any development to this blog...my last few weeks have been quite tiring and emotional. We are very sad on receiving news of my spouse's father being seriously taken ill to a hospital back home. Due to some personal matters to attend and with children attending school, only my spouse will be able to return to our homeland after hearing the news. My father-in-law passed away peacefully during the wee hours of Monday morning, 7th April 2008 in his hospital bed. To all muslims who read this, please pray for his soul to be rested peacefully among the pious and may ALLAH bless his soul...Al-Fathihah for Allahyarham Hashim Bin Mohamad.

Recently, involving some members of the GCS, we are experimenting on the seed growing project of Sinningias, a beautiful flowering plant which usually favours the cool temperature. With the kind generosity of one of the pioneer member of GCS, the seeds were distributed to other members who are interested to participate in this project. These seeds are really 'minute' and germinating them really needs one's patience. I've sowed my seeds this week and the waiting game begins for the first sprout to emerge..well, I'm really excited about it.




Thanks Kak Mona for the seeds as well as for the pots of other plants that you sent me. As you can see, the Episcia flower bud is already in full bloom and soon I will propagate the two stolons to other pots. I just love the cute African violets and the unique heart-shaped leaf of the Hoya Kerrii.



During those weeks, two of the pitcher plants are producing unique blooms. Up till now, the blooms are still intact with the colour changing from light to darker maroon. I guess, with all these unique plants producing blooms...they are just happy to be here together with the other plants in our potted garden.