Schefflera actinophylla - Octopus Tree

The leaves of this tree look similar to the one in the previous post. These were photographed several months ago on Mount Faber. I've never managed to get close-ups of the flowers as they are usually at the top of the tree.

Unknown flowers and fruits

These bunches of fruits were way above my head and in the poor lighting without using a flash, these are the best preservations of what I saw on Fraser's Hill in Malaysia. The leaf formation is familiar but not the flowers and fruits.

Fangipani - Plumeria blooms

Work-in-progress. Confucius said, "If you enjoy what you do for a living, you never have to work a day in your life." Not everyone truly enjoy what he or she does at work. Fortunately for me, painting is not work and painting flowers is pure joy because I have no deadlines to meet and best of all, no one to please. I photographed these flowers by the side of one of the swimming pools in Bintan Lagoon Resort many years ago. The colours on the photo have faded a little. In this acrylic painting, I want to bring out the fire in these flowers by using strong contrasts in colours of the petals against a background of blue water that will make the flowers smoulder.

Christmas thoughts

Hibiscus - Flower for all seasons

Still my favourite flower because it is so common. I do not have to seek it out, it calls out to me from people's gardens, parks and by the roads. Today I met a shrub bursting with joyful flowers. Here it is the national flower of Malaysia, Bunga Raya.

Poinsettias - Christmas flowers

These flowers originate in Mexico and make their appearance around Christmas here in Singapore every year usually as part of the festive decorations in shopping centres in town. These flowers with their cheerful red bracts were photographed in Fraser's Hill Resort. For the first time in my life I saw these flowers on small trees growing on the slopes of the Singapore House bungalow.It was pleasant to see trees instead of potted plants for a change.
The poinsettias are huge compared with those seen back home.

All you want to know about Poinsettias : http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/facts.html

Wrightia religiosa - Sui-mei

Fragrance. If only it can be experienced here. Sui-mei plants are usually grown as hedges or crafted into bonsai creations. Today I saw these in a friend's garden. The sun was shining and the rain went away for the afternoon.

Family: Apocynaceae
Common Name: Sui-mei

Aglaonema commutatum

Fruits of the Painted-drop tongue (Aglaonema commutatum) that originates from Malesia. Flowers of the Pulai tree.
And the most exciting discovery - an Oriental Whip Snake.
More photos at http://placesinsingapore.blogspot.com/

Yellow Saraca

This post is put here to remind us of the sunshine that we have not been getting much of these days. This Saraca tree appeared to be dripping with clusters of pretty flowers. It was near noon time when these photos were taken and there were several sunbirds around these flowers at that time. I do miss the sun.

Plumeria flowers

Appreciating flowers indoors because of the rains.

Flowers on the wall

An artist's imagination of how nature might have looked in the days when Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore in 1819.

I would love to look out of my window to scenery like this.

Plumeria - Frangipani

Cool waters of a swimming pool bring out the rich colours of this bunch of frangipani flowers. They caught my attention some years back when I did not have a digital camera. Today, these flowers set the mood for a lovely day for the sun is shining again with just the right amount of sunlight and the air is cool.

Hedychium coronarium

If only one could smell the flowers on the screen. These flowers of the white ginger lily that originate from the Himalayas give the air around them a pleasant light fragrance that make you want to hang around the area just to literally smell the flowers. These were photographed in the Singapore Botanic Gardens after a shower.

Melastoma malabathricum - Singapore Rhododendron

Family:Melastomataceae

Common Name: Singapore Rhododendron, Sendudok

This plant is common in Singapore growing wild in the nature reserves or planted in the parks. Purple flowers are the common variety. I do not see the white flower variety very often. No matter their colour, presence or absence of flowers or fruits, I am always glad to see this shrub. Here are the reasons:

Food for the birds:

Heliconia

Yesterday, the rains came in unabated downpours throughout the day. There were floods and the clouds sank to the level of our tall buildings in the city. When morning breaks, I hope that it will be a better day.

Heliconia psittacorum