Pulai Tree - Alstonia angustiloba or Alstonia scholaris?

Where was this tree seen? In Kentridge Park.
When were the photos taken? July 2006
What do I think about this encounter with the tree?
I think not many people have seen a Pulai tree covered with such
beautiful blooms in their lifetime.
How do I feel? I feel blessed to have seen this tree at the height of its beauty and glad that I have these photos to remind me of such beauty when it is there no more.

Alstonia angustiloba or Alstonia scholaris? I just found out that there are two species and from my photos and those in the books I have, I cannot tell the difference.

Some flowers I met in my life

I did not go on a deliberate hunt for these flowers. They just happened to be where I was and I was attracted to them especially because:

I have never seen them before.

They were at my feet and I could take my time to get to know them better through my camera lens.

Weidelia trilobata (Yellow creeping daisy)

They were purplish in colour. In this case not only the flowers but the leaves as well. Loropetalum chinense (Chinese fringe flower)

They were so small that people would probably not bother with them.

They had the most creative design for a flower.

They were present in great numbers. Tecoma stans (Yellow bells)

They were purple! Lantana flowers.

They were different from their cohort. The ubiquitous hibiscus.

They came with interesting leaves. Laurentia longiflora (Star of Bethlehem) that originates in the Caribbean.

They looked more like cups than flowers.

They were near perfect in looks.

They made me want to say "Hello, would you care to dance?"

Gmelina dalrympleana - Grey Teak

It was a Sunday morning stroll around the Tanjong Pagar area after breakfast at Maxwell Food Centre. The original plan was to visit the Red Dot Museum but the plan changed in favour of walking outdoors. It was a good decision to do so because walking towards Tanjong Pagar from the Red Dot Museum, we came across a few medium-sized trees bearing fruits that looked like bunches of grapes from afar and when you get closer, you see that they look more like cherries.

Family: Verbenaceae

Common name: Dalrymple's White Beech, Grey Teak

Origin: New Gujinea, Tropical Australia

Within a bunch you could see buds, flowers and fruits of different ages. It was amazing! We were just wondering why these fruits did not attract any birds. Could they be poisonous?

I was not able to identify this tree initially because I had missed seeing it in the '1001 Garden Plants in Singapore'. It was only later when I was looking through the book for photos of another plant that I saw it. So, finally, this tree has a name on this post.

Bougainvillea

It's almost two years since the first time my bougainvillea plant flowered bountifully. It had youth, it had exuberance and the flowers literally burst at the seams with these qualities.

Now the plant has matured and its thick stems and branches could not be tamed as easily as before. The flowers still enthrall but appear more subdued as each cluster is smaller than before.

Still, my bougainvillea stands strong in my back garden rewarding me with these spectacular flowers from time to time and providing shade and shelter for other plants to grow under its protection. I hear the bubul's chirping but it is not easy to spot the birds now that the branches are so numerous. When the flowers wilt, that will be the time to prune the plant so that renewal may take place.

Carphalea Kirondron

When they flower, they are out in full force in the heat of the sun. These lovelies were at a traffic light junction in New Bridge Road. It was one of those rare times when I did not fret because the lights were taking too long to change. I was glad to be next to these blooms because as the passenger and not the driver, I had the privilege of seeing these flowers at close range.

The rains have not come for almost two weeks. The grass is dry and I hope that the weather will be kinder to these shrubs in the next few days and bless us with some rain.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

This is the national flower of Malaysia also known as Bunga Raya. I like this flower because it is everywhere and it blooms all the time. Today, I found a shrub near the Red Dot Museum thriving in front of a coffee shop that was closed because today is Sunday. The streets were empty of office workers and I found peace in the city that is only typical on Sunday mornings I suppose.

Saraca

High above the cyclists, roller-bladers and families strolling by, this bunch of saraca flowers stayed fresh and unaffected by all the activities going on along East Coast Park. No one noticed its presence because there were down-to-earth matters to take care of, like where to get a cold drink, where to eat lunch, where friends are and how to get the kids cleaned up after spending time at the beach.

But I noticed this particular bunch of flowers because I have had a good lunch followed by designer coffee with a view facing the sea that was separated by jogging, walking and bicycle/roller-blading tracks. This tree was just a stone's throw from where I was sitting and using the camera's zoom lens, I was able to appreciate its fiery appearance better.

I imagine these flowers in a vase in my house on a dining table with a top of exquisite black marble.

Periwinkle

A humble plant that flowers easily. This is the kind of flower that I used to draw as a child - a tiny dot and five petals, simple leaves that are easy to draw.