Colour and beauty in the Orchid Garden

If you are looking for some splash of colour and serenity with Nature, head to the Orchid Garden.
You don't have to walk endless miles to infuse yourself with colours to brighten your day. The orchids and plants will delight you and any lattice work of cobwebs on your brain will disappear as you admire the lovelies of nature!

I was there last Sunday to buy potted orchids  for friends as Hari Raya fast approaches. The cheery welcome of the costus plants, reddish  orangey- with a tinge of yellow, on the walk up the gradual slope definitely cues the visitor to a pleasant visit.

That was the start of the 'distraction'. Instead of heading straight to the stalls for my gifts, I buzzed around snapping clusters of beauties. So immersed I was, I had lost my sense of time and the sun rays filtering through the lingering haze, reminded me on the task at hand.

Whenever I'm short of ideas for gifts, plants like orchids offer a good alternative. No stranger to the orchid stalls, I should be able to just point my finger and say,'I'll have that and that.' But it's not such an easy thing to do. Beauty is everywhere before my eyes. And I go through the whole process of'judging' the plants - colour,shape, hardiness, the person I'm gifting,and a good bargain to make it all the more memorable!

Finally I settled for a specie of the Oncidium. And I did not forget one for myself. Happily I carried the Arundina dwarf and the other plants to my car. I could already see the happy smiles of my friends and the Arundina dancing happily 'like a host of golden daffodils'! Just a different colour.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to my Muslim friends and readers.

Fancy Fauna - Putrajaya

Nature's beauty was on display at the recent Floria 2010 themed Tropical Splendour at Putrajaya.The media and word of mouth succeeded in getting the crowds there. My brother-in- law, a professional photographer and publisher called me knowing my affinity for flowers.' Don't miss it,' was his caring gesture on the phone. I caught the tail end of the spectacular exhibits. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile trip to this event, the third so far.

The day started gloomy but as soon as the sun shone, the beauty of the flowers glowed gloriously. Tropical Malaysia has so much to offer to the world. The cameras, humble to the sophisticated clicked like crazy. Such great memories to take home long after the flowers have faded.

So much attracted me. Yes, 400,000 flowers in the floral and garden exhibits thrilled my senses. Besides, 10 international designers from far flung Serbia, New Zealand, UK, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Indonesia made their presence felt.The theme flower was the Heliconia. It was such an amazing display. For now, zoom in with me on the Fauna Adventure - flowers celebrating our fauna.

Swinging happy - free to roam and eat of the fruits of the jungle.

Bird of heliconia pride! A head -turner of hours of labour to dress him.

Monitor lizard in the lush vegetation juxtaposed among raffelsias.

Bees and butterflies flit and colour our landscape

Ladybird, ladybird/Fly away home/Your house is on fire/Your children are flown

- a child's nursery rhyme of our humble ladybird - a gardener's friend

Someday my prince will come! The handsomest I've ever seen.

She swims the seas and comes ashore to lay her eggs. But humans want them for a hearty meal. So her days are numbered. So great is our loss.

Raffelsia in full bloom. Note how the texture comes alive - thousands of rose petals intricately overlapped and pinned down individually.

The sun bear, the smallest in the bear family. Who treads stealthily to steal your fur, bile or cage you as a pet?

Roosting hornbill - note the prominent casque on top of the upper mandible.

The elegant crane