Gloriosa superba - Glory Lily, Tiger Claw

We were sisters in learning and sisters at heart.

For some of us, the last time we met was like more than 30 years ago.

We shared snippets of our lives and what we remembered of the past when we were schoolmates - prefects, softball, contemporaries who have made good, those who did not, jokes your kids tell you, food and much more that I cannot recall but what the heck we had a great time - great food, great company and loads of laughter.

Fun stories that came alive again but will we remember them ten years from now?

Would it matter that we would or would not because our individual lives have borne the fruits of our experiences for better or worse.

We live, we die and some want a glass urn, some to be carried away by the wind to rest on the crest of the waves. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes we came with nothing and we take nothing with us, not even memories. So what is life about if we do not just live it as happily as we can.

Happy National Day Singapore!

My heart will be with my fellow Singaporeans at 8.22pm Singapore time as we recite the Singapore Pledge:

We, the citizens of Singapore
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society,
based on justice and equality,
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.

A celebration of flowers

The rains came and then the sun came out in full force. The flowers are blooming everywhere. Great encounters with:

The Cassia fistula (Golden Shower) along Clementi Avenue 6. Thanks to a traffic jam, I was able to get these shots of the trees in full bloom on the road divider.

The Gloriosa superba flowers growing on a fence in Kentridge Park. The cup and saucer flowers in the Hortpark.
The Hippestrum flowers that look as good as a painting.

Gloriosa superba - Glory Lily （(嘉兰 - jia lan2)

Flame lily, fire lily, gloriosa lily, glory lily, superb lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, tiger claw and you may be tempted to name this flower as well. I would name it the helicopter lily because each time I see it, I imagine that it would just take off vertically and spiral into the clouds.

This is a climber and it creeps along fences unleashing its unusual flowers in tropical Asia and Africa. I've seen these flowers at the foot of Bukit Timah Hill in front of the Visitor Centre, in someone's garden in Pulau Ubin and the latest find here was in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. As I do not see them very often, I just could not stop taking pictures especially when I was also testing my new camera.
The Glory Lily in various stages of development from young to old.

Gloriosa superba - Flame Lily （(嘉兰 - jia lan2)

I did not go looking for this flower that I have seen twice before, both times in front of the Visitor Centre of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. When I happened to see it again at a different location, it was indeed a pleasant encounter. Close inspection led me to discover that this particular plant had flowers that were at various stages of development.

Gloriosa superba - Flame Lily （(嘉兰 - jia lan2)

While trying to get some people into position for a photo, I suddenly noticed the flowers of this climbing plant at the side. I remember seeing pictures of them but it was the first time I saw the real flowers. I find the appearance of this flower most unusual. The flower looks like it could take off vertically like a helicopter should the stamens at the base start to rotate.

Common name: Flame lily, Glory Lily

Origin: Tropical Africa and Asia