New year blooms at home

Like Cherry Blossoms that faithfully grace the Spring season in Japan every year, my bougainvilla plant is likewise treating us to a feast for the eyes this Chinese New Year as it did last year. I should seriously consider inviting friends back to have a bougainvilla viewing session one of these days. Beer instead of sake and new year goodies like pineapple tarts, bak kwa and mandarin oranges - that will be fun.

Spiderwort - Blue flower

This flower, the size of a thumbnail, grows amongst blades of grass. It caught my eye because blue flowers are non commonly seen. There are only 3 petals that are heart-shaped. What an unusual find.

Chinese New Year Flowers

One thing I like about Chinese New Year are the flowers that are everywhere - in the shopping malls, in Chinatown and in the wet markets. Featured here are the typical flowers that appeal to the Chinese celebrating Chinese New Year because of their auspicious colours of red, yellow and orange. Flowers or plants with names that are associated with good luck, fortune and health are also popular and as expected cost more that what they would on ordinary days.

Lantanas

Brilliant display of colours in the sunlight of mid-morning. How could I walk past without taking notice? These flowers were at their best and I caught them before they start to show signs of fatigue.The shrubs were full of flowers that looked like sprinklers when not in full bloom.
Even spiders find these flowers irresistible.

A rose?

A rose by any name
is still a rose
What is not a rose
cannot come close
to being one
in reality
only in the
imagined thoughts
of one who has nought
to offer except
this lonely
fungus