John&Jacq~s Garden

March to April 2013 in our tropical garden

Jacqueline — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:36:51 +0000

Unpredictable weather can be so annoying at times! Blasting sunshine with extreme heat and interspersed with sudden erratic thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall have been the norm for the months of March and April! Hardy plants just love them while the less hardy ones especially newly planted or repotted plants simply dread such extreme sudden [...]

Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ with delicate fern-like leaves

Jacqueline — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:23:30 +0000

Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ (Sprengeri/Sprenger’s Asparagus Fern, Asparagus/Emerald Fern, Basket Asparagus) Though commonly known as a ‘fern’ because of its delicate fern-like leaves, this beautiful ornamental asparagus is not in any way related to it. Instead, Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ belongs to the Lily family, and is much easier to grow than ferns that are fragile and quite [...]

February 2013: critters and flowers in our tropical garden

Jacqueline — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 06:04:44 +0000

Definitely easier to capture shots of plants/flowers than flying insects and creeping reptiles, right? Flowers are so well-behaved, like inanimate objects for still life painting, unless swayed by the wind. And, one can always choose to photograph them later when the wind subsides. Not the flying insects though. The fluttering butterflies, bees and others just [...]

Dracaena braunii: better known by its synonym, Dracaena sanderiana

Jacqueline — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:18:27 +0000

Dracaena braunii (syn. D. sanderiana), commonly named Lucky Bamboo, Ribbon Plant, Ribbon Dracaena, Belgian Evergreen Whenever the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches, traders far and wide will be laughing all the way to the bank with pockets full from selling these Lucky Bamboo plants. It’s a very profitable trade during the annual festive season as the [...]

January 2013: an Oleander Hawkmoth dived into our courtyard garden!

Jacqueline — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:05:22 +0000

It is always a much welcome sight for sore eyes whenever we see familiar faces in our tropical garden. These garden critters come and go. But when one had been missing in action for months or years on end, and suddenly decides to reappear without warning, it’s truly a great joy indeed! One recent happening [...]

2013 Chinese Lunar New Year Greetings

Jacqueline — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:13:09 +0000

Wishing all who are celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year 2013, starting from February 10th: GONG XI FA CHAI… May your Chinese New Year of the Snake and thereafter be showered with God’s bountiful blessings and be filled with… good health and happiness; love and laughter; peace and prosperity; success and sunshine; wealth and wisdom. [...]

How to propagate Proiphys amboinensis (Cardwell Lily) by division

Jacqueline — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:15:28 +0000

While flipping over the fabulously large and lustrous foliage of our potted Cardwell Lily out of curiosity, I discovered some plantlets growing beneath, hidden from view. How delightful as it gave me the opportunity to do something with them. You guessed right! …a chance to do a tutorial on how to propagate Proiphys amboinensis (botanical [...]

2012 Christmas and 2013 New Year Greetings

Jacqueline — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:06:50 +0000

Joy to the World, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Sending 2012 Christmas Season and 2013 New Year Greetings to one and all, especially our website friends and visitors. Have a joyful and blessed Christmas and a great New Year 2013, that’s filled with peace, joy, love, good health and the best [...]

Passiflora edulis with spectacular flowers and refreshing edible fruits

Jacqueline — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 12:37:34 +0000

Passiflora edulis (Passion Fruit, Passionfruit, Purple granadilla) Isn’t she a beauty? But unfortunately, we had unknowningly excluded it from our Plant Gallery and Plant Database. Hmmm… time to rectify that omission now! An attractive vine and if given the right growing conditions, Passiflora edulis will be adorned with eye-catching flowers which is the national flower [...]

October 2012: Admiring the unfurling of tiny tots in our garden

Jacqueline — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:34:22 +0000

Wonderful sight indeed when I spent my days in October to observe the unfurling of tiny tots on our flowering and foliage plants. What marvels the Lord had created and designed for our amazement, delight and joy! Sharing some images of their fascinating features that I had opportunity to capture on camera. I’ve created a [...]

Wodyetia bifurcada with spectacular foxtail-like fronds

Jacqueline — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:54:47 +0000

Wodyetia bifurcada (Foxtail Palm, Wodyetia Palm) Too bad our small-spaced home garden is unable to accommodate this enchanting and gorgeous Foxtail Palm, aptly named as its leaves or fronds are bushy and likened to the tail of a fox. Fortunately, these spectacular palm trees with foxtail-like fronds have become an absolute craze among landscapers in [...]

September 2012 in our tropical garden

Jacqueline — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:29:05 +0000

Gardening is so very rewarding!! We’re blessed with plants and flowers that make us cheerful and happy everyday, like our beloved and faithful Miniature Pinscher, Maxi who uplifts our spirits endlessly with his charming ways. Mophead Hydrangea in blue is the starring beauty for September 2012 in our tropical garden. For the first time our [...]

How to propagate Anthuriums by division

Jacqueline — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 09:50:38 +0000

The pink dwarf anthurium in a 5.5-inch (13.97cm) wide pot which was added to our tropical garden in September 2011 had outgrown its space and definitely need some attention from us. Hence I took the opportunity to do the needful, that is, dividing the whole clump into two sections and pot them separately as a [...]

August 2012 in our tropical garden

Jacqueline — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:16:44 +0000

A few unexpected surprises that thrilled us so last month and brought joy to our hearts! Hippeastrum with vibrant scarlet-coloured or reddish-orange flowers bloomed for the second time, about 2¼ years after the first flowering in April 2010. Seriously, we had wanted to thrash it but before removing it, I decided to cut off their [...]

Syngonium podophyllum cultivars with attractively patterned foliage

Jacqueline — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:55:51 +0000

Syngonium podophyllum (Goosefoot Plant, Arrowhead Vine/Plant, Nephthytis, Five-fingers, African/American Evergreen) We just love variegated foliage plants. These are one of those plants where the leaves are attractively patterned in various lovely colourful shades that make them as desirable to have in any garden, outdoors. And you can even grow them indoor as houseplants. A pot [...]