Crown of Thorns & Desert Rose

This is tricky - the most sharpest and difficult plant ever but I still love it.
Why - because they have the ability to flower in the most hostile position.
It would be difficult too to make them come into my favorable condition to flower as they need good hot and dry weather - a good dose of hot sun which I truly lack for them to flower.
Regardless all that - they still show up with their blooms.
That's why I love them (apart from the thorns)
Yeah.. These ones are considered poisonous too.

The other is Desert Rose,
given from my neighbour who had shifted from the vicinity.
It took awhile for it to give out shoots - I thought this one is a goner as the top cut part succumb to rot.
I trimmed again but to no avail - the rot gone deeper.
The only consolation I have to note that new shoots are coming up and the rot will slowly heal itself.
(Yeah.. that is indeed a fat hope - I'm nursing secretly)
Looks like I need to do something about that wound.

Blooms of the Month: November 2013

Hot Red Blooms in the Garden

One of the joys of having this ground orchid is that its started blooming again after the 6 months blooming span. Its started after the 3 day heavy rain that took place this week with 2 new flower spike together with it.
I guess its a good thing to put them outdoor where they face the weather and spring forth new flower spikes.

 These pictures (below) are taken 2 weeks ago before the rainy season. Still going strong since May (6 months in bloom ever since)

The Spicy Jatropha had a major pruning session. It was terribly infected with mealy bugs together with the farming ants. I tried to controlled it with insecticide time to time but they seemed to get the upper hand every time and bring forth major disaster as the flowers and new-shoots started deforming.

This time after the pruning - I placed them outdoors where they ants have no easy access to them and now they are blooming profusely.

These miniature Anthurium don't seemed to get back to their major many blooms instead just one at a time. Seemed like they are happy that way - not getting into the lime light of blooming. Though it happens discreetly the bloom does last very long.

I finally found a good place to put my Fire Cracker Plant.
There is however a big problem faced with their cascading effect when it appear to fall all over spilling from a standing pot giving that drunkard messy look in the garden of that want not - throw not factor.

Here happily cascading for the Sun birds to drink its nectar from and they are happy to hold on those flower branches.

I had isolated this Crown of Thorns as they do prove very hostile when it comes to their spiky thorns.
Nevertheless, they are also giving their beautiful cream blooms which is normally rare during the rainy cloudy season.