Brown-throated Sunbird at the Blood Banana

Brown-throated Sunbird at the Blood Banana inflorescence

Terminal inflorescence of the Blood Banana

Of foliage plants in the garden

Red Ti plants provide lively red tonal effects to overall green column of shrubbery and trees
Often times the Red Ti plant refers to the Cordyline terminalis 'Firebrand' . But this species Cordyline fruticosa have foliages in a variety of colour combinations
Location : Side Garden

Blood Banana and Golden Scindapsus

 Looking at the garden this morning I'm excited to see the role of foliage plants.  They add much needed colour to the greenery of the Kambatik garden, besides bio-diversity.  The garden architecture from ground  floor to top storey or canopy can be imaginatively layered or planted with foliage plants.  These plants whether trees, shrubbery, climbers or  herbaceous covers are attractive for their colourful foliages in full tonal or mixed coloration.  Some require shade to do well  while others may not object to semi-shade or full sun conditions.  In today's list I am able to capture the following plants as they exhibit their full potential in the garden this morning.  The plant list are as follows:-
Trees - Blood Banana -  (Musa acuminata spp. zebrina); Sea Cycas - Cycas rumphiiShrubs - Red Ti  - Cordyline fruticosa or Cordyline terminalis (Syn.) ; Croton - Codiaeum variegatumCovers - Golden Scindapsus - Epipremnum aureum or Scindapsus aureus (Syn.); Golden Pandan - Pandanus pygmaeus
           

Variegated Croton - Codiaeum variegatum

Variegated Croton - Codiaeum variegatum

Variegated Croton - Codiaeum variegatum

Sea Cycas - Cycas rumphii with Red Ti in the background

The Sea Cycas can be grown is semi-shade or full sun

Herbaceous cover- not identified yet

Golden Pandan - Pandanus pygmaeus

Note the Variegated Ti plant at forefround (in this case it's variegated green, red and cream combined) with Blood Banana tree at the back

Olive-backed sunbird at banana heart

Banana inflorescence showing the banana heart (Jantung Pisang - Malay)

 The Malays have a nice word to refer to the heart of the banana - Jantung Pisang.  More images of the Jantung Pisang can be seen here  , showing  the wide varieties of food that can be created from this flowering head of the banana plant.  Today I got excited at photographing the Olive-backed Sunbird, a female of the species that came visiting the banana heart.  It was busy doing return trips to the heart to enjoy its nectar early in the morning.  The Olive-backed Sunbird has obtained a PR status at the garden here after it created its nest in the branches of the oleina tree  months ago.   It joins other birds that are fond of making nesst in the garden, namely the Chestnut Munia, Spotted-necked Dove and the Eastern Tree Sparrow.  Here's more images.....

Olive-backed Sunbird - Cinnyris jugularis  clinging to the banana heart

For more botanical knowledge on the banana heart, check it out here ..>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana

Front Garden Update - July'09

At the front garden , a species of our local orchid seemed to be doing very well after being planted in early June just before we left for Bintulu.

Today - when it has grown big

Before - when it was just small

To the right of the front garden, the Drunken Sailor ( Quisqualis indica) meets the Blood Banana ( Musa zebrina). It appears now that the Drunken Sailor vine has twined itself to the banana stem. Interesting move.