Hibiscus that I have never seen before

It is obvious that this is a Hibiscus plant i.e. obvious to people like me. I saw a few of these plants at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and was so mesmerized by the unusual appearance of the flowers and the leaves that I was like a butterfly flitting from flower to flower unable to let go of their beauty.

Tiger Orchids - Grammatophyllum speciosum

I am so privileged to have seen these Tiger Orchid blooms a second time because they only bloom once a year. The first time I saw them was some years ago (or perhaps many years ago), and the second time was on Sunday. They were in the same location and most likely were the same plants.

It was like meeting an old friend, one I have not seen for years and who suddenly turned up out of the blue like my friend Margaret.

Of course I had to spend quality time with these lovely flowers. As I have mentioned before, I am not very enamoured of orchids for reasons that I do not really know myself even though I do take photos of them but only because they were flowers.

But these gigantic orchids are the only orchids that I set apart from the rest because of their sheer power to dazzle even in broad daylight.

So I circled this clump of the orchids that could hold the world record as the heaviest orchid, not once but many times and gave them the star treatment they rightly deserve.

I find it strange that no one stopped to join me in admiring these unusually huge orchid flowers. Could it be one woman's meat is another's poison? Maybe, maybe not.

Read all about it...

Banana flowers

When you see usually see one or two flowers of this particular banana specie, it is expected. When the day rewards you with several of this flower, it is an unanticipated joy. How often do we get surprises like this? Only once in a while.

Amaranthus Cruentas Velvet Curtains (I think)

This is what I call a thrilling find because I've never seen these flowers before. The leaves were red which is not usual for plants and because of the colour, the plant was just calling out to be noticed.

When I moved closer I saw a small grasshopper clinging to the feathery cluster that I presumed were the flowers.

As I positoned my camera closer and closer I had expected the grasshopper to disappear in a wink. It surprisingly did not and I moved even closer.

That was when I discovered through the last photo here that the grasshopper was eyeing my every move.

Quisqualis indica - Rangoon creeper

When the rain ceases
the air freshens
the flowers curtsey
thankful for the shower
and pledge to live another day.