Happy Mother's Day!

Hope it's not too late to wish each & every mom out there a 'Wonderful Mother's Day'

It has been quite a while since my last post to this blog, been really busy with everyday errands. The weather in this beautiful country is fast climbing up the scale, with the highest average recorded temperature for the whole of last week being 33deg celcius.

Every year, the month of May is the most memorable month for me..firstly being my birthday falls on this month, it also a month where a special 1st Sunday will be a tribute to all mothers.

As a tribute to all mothers out there who visited this blog, young or old & wherever you are...I've compiled part of my collection of pictures of my special blooms throughout my gardening passion for your viewing pleasure. Have a wonderful Mother's Day today with your loved ones. Sit back & do enjoy the slideshow.


A special tribute to all the special moms out there, young or old...this is for you coz you're special & unique as these blooms.....

Herbs anyone??? (Part 6) - Bird's Eye Chilli

Being labeled as one of the most spicy member of the Capsicum plant genus, the Bird's Eye Chilli is categorised under the hot chill pepper group. The Bird's Eye Chilli is also known in Malay as Cili Padi or Cili Padi Kampong and is related to many other types of chillies that can be found in the region.


Eventhough, there are many types of chillies that can be found all over the world, one common characteristics that can be found in every species is the chemical constituent known as capsaicin. These chemical capsaicin actually is the one responsible for the stimulation of the nerves in the mouth, facial parts like nose, mouth & eyes that causes burning sensation.


Chilli peppers of all types are rich in vitamin C, K and carotenoids, where the vitamin K helps in blood clotting. Chillies of all varieties are known to contain antioxidant properties, therefore, they prevent cell damage and act as anti-aging agents..so you gals & guys out there...don't need any expensive vitamins or expensive creams..just increase the chillies in your everyday diet to stay young ;-)

Some findings also revealed that one of the ingredients that exists in the chillies helps to control insulin levels and lowers blood glucose levels. The natural capsaicin presence in the chillies helps to burn calories and with regular consumption of the fruits actually helps in reducing weight..uummhhh, that will be a good excuse for wanting to eat more chillies :lol:


The capsaicin also helps in protecting from prostate cancer and has long been used as a topical ointment for relieving pain. This probably acts as counter irritant, ie. when the nerves are stimulated, we will forget the actual pain. It is also believed to relieve inflammation in athritis.

Another interesting findings of the health benefits of the chillies is that it help in relieving the nasal spasm, clear runny nose and free the nasal passage..uummh, why didn't I think of that when I was having a bad flu last month???




Presently, I have two matured Bird's Eye Chilli shrubs in my garden, one is planted in a 9 inch pot and placed under shade whereas the other shrub is planted out in the open, alongside with my lemongrass & citronella plants. Both shrubs produced lots of fruits but the distinct difference is in the colour of their leaves. The shrub that was planted out in the open under bright, sunny sunshine everyday, produces light-green coloured leaves whereas the pot that was placed under shade have much deeper-coloured dark green leaves..as for the level of spiciness, both are out of the scale of 10...really,really firing HOT!! phew!

With all the good benefits from chilli peppers, it is highly recommended that we include them in our daily diet...either the sweet chilli peppers or the hot,spicy ones..the choice is yours :)

Another new home??

Few days ago, while browsing through my potted plants especially those tall shrubs..I noticed there's a new bird nest in the making. Other than the swift that have been sharing our home for almost two years now, this new resident bird home is totally not related to the former.

Firstly, the nest are totally made of dried grasses and twigs and secondly, it is located in between the branches of my slightly tall Dracaena Surculosa var Punculata (commonly known in Malay as Pokok Buluh Jepun, indirectly translated as the Japanese Bamboo). Till now, I have not seen the owner of the nest..could be it has been abandoned for various reasons.



I also discovered another possible 'home', which is stuck in between my blooming purple bougainvillea shrub.


Last but not least, the tenants that have been sharing the corner of my home for almost two years..increasingly by the day.

Hooray!! Another successful kitchen blooms....

After the success of my kitchen blooms ie. the pink gloxinia late last December 2008/early January 2009,I was really overwhelmed with another successful experiment.

From this piece of leaf propagation last year....

To this elegant beauty just a few days ago....


Another successful plant placed at my kitchen window's sill is the 'Tiger Stripe' Episcia. From this initial plant given by a friend (Thanks Kak Mona)...

To really healthy plant that successfully produced a second bloom almost the same time as the purple gloxinia.


All plants & plantlets gracing my kitchen window's sill receive at least 2 to 3 hours of morning sunshine daily (provided it is not a cloudy or rainy mornings) and a few dose of diluted liquid fertiliser to enhance as well as to boost their growth & health.

For my successful gloxinias & episcia, I thank my forum friend who shared the same interests, who gratefully gave me the plantlets & leaf cuttings for the successful propagation. Thanks once again Kak Mona ;-))

Now, you see it & Now, you don't.......

It's not the famous chocolate chip cookies commercial that we often see on television, it's not even related to any food products whatsoever.

Recently, while pruning & fertilising my potted garden, I noticed two very unusual, beautiful insects hiding & camouflaging themselves in between the foliage. The beauty of the designs on their wings are so very unique & beautiful. For once, I was quite stunned with admiration with the beauty of Allah's creation. Enjoy the beauties:

The Sun, the Heat & the Blooms...

After a period of cool, heavy rainfall for almost a month which indirectly affected many residents' homes & geological structure of certain areas in this country..the humid hot weather are here again.

To welcome the bright sunshine almost every morning in my potted garden, is a basin of the sun-loving Water Hyacinth (locally known as Keladi Bunting in Malay) with its beautiful non-lasting light lavender blooms. Thou its blooms are non-lasting ie. it lasted only for a day but with rich medium (water & fertiliser) and direct sunlight, it is a fast grower & a regular bloomer.

Kitchen Blossoms...

First & foremost, a belated salam Maal Hijrah 1430 to all my muslim friends & readers and not forgetting to wish all my blog's visitors a very belated 'Happy New Year 2009'. December 2008 had been quite a hectic, tiring but an enjoying month for myself and family, welcoming some of the family members who came here for a visit. Residing in a country away from our family & loved ones tend to make us miss their presence especially during family gatherings. Thus, having family guests & friends visiting us to our humble home here is such a joy.

My first baby Gloxinia given by a forum friend (thanks to Kak Mona) has matured & finally presented me with a pair of beautiful pink blooms. The gloxinia plant as well as other plants have been gracing the kitchen's window sill to enjoy the daily morning sun since October last year.



Previously, the gloxinia together with my other plants was placed in the living room but due to lack of sunlight, they wasn't growing very well. Approximately about 2 weeks after placing the tiny pots by the kitchen's window sill, the plants seemed to enjoy their new environment by producing healthy leaves with favourable size. I noticed the gloxinia's first flower bud sometimes early December last year and precisely on the 29th December 2008, it bloomed..sort of welcoming the Hijrah New Year 1430. Around a week later, the other flower bud followed suit, fully bloom to a size of approximate 3.5cm in diameter in bright pink..thus welcoming the New Year 2009. It's really an achievement for myself to be able to nurture such a plant from a tiny baby till it matures and producing beautiful blooms..sort of an encouragement to increase my collection with different other species.




What a glorious, beautiful way to welcome the new year..