Gardens
Somebody in this garden
Who is the somebody?
Oh! It is the Madras Thorn ( Pithecellobium duice). A 26 meter tall man sitting in the garden of Armenian Church Of St. Gregory The Illuminator, Singapore.
This unique National Heritage tree, girth 7.4m, crown is bushy and widely spread, dull green in color.
A native of tropical America, it was introduced to the region in the olden day by the Portugese and the Spanish.
Leaves are very special with a pair of leaflet on both sides of the leaf stalk. That’s why a Chinese name “金龟子” was given, literally means a “flying Goliathus”.
Pulp is edible, fruits are coiled pods which ripen a tinge of rose-red in color.
Madras Thorn, was once a common trees planted along roadsides of Singapore. During the 70s, the species was attacked by caterpillars throughout the Singapore. Result in phased out from housing estate and roadsides subsequently.
Next time, if you happen to pass by Hill St, not to forget pay a visit to this lovely tree or even have a glimpse at the bus stop.
Anniversary Song
We dance in the waltz of flowers
Gliding in the rain
The leafs, the buds, the trees
Thanks to all the lovely faces
Thanks to all bloggers regardless race
Do remember to add grain on earth
This is the song for each and everyone
No candles, no roses, no ballroom chandeliers
This is the song for the earth
This is the song
For the 1 year old of addgrainonearth
We dance in the cottage of woods
Greet by the rain
The stones, the paths and the sculptures
Thanks to all the lovely faces
Thanks to all bloggers regardless race
Do remember to add grain on earth
This is the song for each and everyone
No candies, no popcorns, no champagnes
This is the song for the earth
This is the song
For the 1 year old of addgrainonearth
We dance in the melody of culture
Swinging in the rain
The hills, the gardens and the past
Thanks to all the lovely faces
Thanks to all bloggers regardless race
Do remember to add grain on earth
This is the song for each and everyone
More dancers, more singers, more dreamers
This is the song for the earth
This is the song
For the 1 year old of addgrainonearth
Road to Percival.
Percival road was named after Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival.
During the Second World War, Percival was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Malaya; he marched down from this road by surrender himself, as representing British Empire to the Imperial Japanese Amy.
Hence, Singapore occupied by Japanese soldiers for 3 years and 8 months.
Not many people knew there was a sad story hidden behind this road.
There is no road sign bring you to Percival road. You can Google it, it bring you where to go but just an ordinary road behind National Museum of Singapore, Fort Canning Park.
Where cicada is calling, where shadow of the forest lying on your shoulder silently.
The Asean sculpture symposium
ASEAN Sculpture Symposium, with the aim of promoting a sense of community among sculptors of member countries whose works of art will be visible symbols of regional cooperation. A collection of sculptures held at Fort Canning Park, this is first sculpture symposium in Singapore, but not the last.
“Augury” by Malaysia sculptor Mr. Anthony Lau.
“Balance” by Mr. Ng Eng Teng
“Concentration” by Mr. Vichai Sithiratn
“Unity” by Indonesia sculptor Mr. But Muchtar
“Fredesvinda” by Philippines sculptor Mr. Napoleon Veloso Abueva
“Together” by Brunei sculptor Mr. Osman Bin Mohammad
Wild growing Albizia tree
Due to the fast growing speed, Albizia tree (Falcataria moluccana) has never been the roadside tree in Singapore. The trees were first grown in Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1870 and later shifted to waste ground where it start proliferate.
Albizia is a can grow from sapling to a tree in 35 feet (10.7m) tall, within 13 months. The huge number of seeds in pods can multiply in the wild.
Although, the tree is beautiful and widely spread like a green canopy. But the branches may prone to fall over the stormy rain, and cast a danger to the road users. Since then, Albizia tree has been out under Tree Conservation Area (TCA) due to it reality and practicality.
The ten common trees in Singapore
Introduce 10 common trees in Singapore, wishing them shade you from the summer sun and bring you the joy of greenery.
Rain Tree
Angsana
Yellow Flame
Senegal Mahogany
Broad-leafed Mahogany
Tembusu Tree
Sea Apple
Saga Tree
Trumpet Tree
Sea Almond
Summer grows in my secret garden.
Lately, those flowers in my balcony grow immensely rich. This is my happy season even thought the weather is hot and humid. Peacock flower that I plucked from the wild, now it starts to blossom with a charming smile. I do believe the saying, “You get out of it what you put into it”, this is what it’s happening in my secret garden now.
They’re all ears now…
Here is my red Bougainvillea in rosy cheek.
White Bougainvillea also name Paper flower, but it never fail me from offering me a brand-new paper.
Purple Jasmines are waiting for the summer breeze, the party is ready, secret garden is opening now for the enchanting melody.
Bukit Chermin Black and White Bungalow
House no.30 Bukit Chermin Black and White Bungalow is the grandest and largest among the four houses on the Bukit Chermin Hill. Bukit Chermin meaning “Mirror Hill” in Malay.
Black and White Bungalows is a painted white house that built from 19th century until World War 2. It used to house European expatriate, colonial families in the colony times.
The style incorporated elements of Arts and Crafts and Art Deco movements as well as the need of wealthy expatriate families for airy and spacious family homes. Many of them have conserved by Authority, developed and converted it into residential and commercial usages.
Garden city on the coins
1-cent coin – Singapore National Flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, a special hybrid orchid.
5-cents coin – The Fruit Salad Plant (Monstera deliciosa), a dark green heavy foliage climber.
10-cents coin – The Star Jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum), a slender climber with pure star-like flower.
20-cents coin – The Powder-Puff Plant (Calliandra surinamensis), medium size shrub with hemispherical pink color headed flower.
50 cents coin – The Yellow Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica), a vine that blooms trumpet-like bright yellow flower.
$1 coin – The Periwinkle (Lochera rosa) small shrub with single stem, produces flowers in velvety purple.
Don’t you feel rich to have a garden city on a coin? Perhaps, that’s my other reason for loving our local currency.
What a hardy tree like him
The ‘greenheart’ tree grows in Guiana, South America. The scientific name, Chlorocardium, (chloro means green; cardia means heart). It is the genus family of Lauraceae.
The tree can grow up to 40m high and is one of the densest and hardest woods in the world.
Due to its extreme hardiness, standard tools cannot lay a hand on it. For that reason, it has greater commercial value for construction materials, dock and marine industry. It can also be used as a medicinal cure for reducing fever.
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