The garden plants grows and birds sing..

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 Back in Kuchng on this 45th trip, we found the garden plants growing well and here's some early morning takes, the morning after we arrived Kuching from Bintulu last night.  Three birds have made their early morning calls.  The garden have produced a few fruits that can be consumed immediately.  More views of the garden and close-ups below.....

Fruits of the 'Kedondong' - Malay (Spondias dulcis) ..these can be juiced

Blood banana...

Fruits of the Carpentaria palm ....mainly for the birds

Star fruits - nice to eat raw or juiced

Bignonia magnifica

Orange flowers of the Chinese hat plant (Holmskioldia sanguinea)

Parrot flower or Heliconia psittacorum

Hibiscus

Mussaenda hybrid

Scented flowers of the 'Sui Mui' (Chinese) - Wrightia religiosa

Variegated leaves of the Cordyline fruticosa species

 There will be more birds pictures that can be added here.  But suffice to catch a glimpse of these three early birds at the garden.  They add music to the place with their persistant calls throughout the day.  We will continue to watch them as the day progresses.....

Birds free at the Kuching garden

View of back garden, showing the bamboo clump in the background.

 One of the criteria for the success of the Kambatik garden (Malaysian garden) is the prevalence of birds and other wildlife.  My recent visit to Kuching in July 2013 has prompted me to blog again about the garden after a lapse of writing in 2010,2011 and 2012.  The garden is maturing now and most of the trees are showing their best.  The bamboo clump has attracted the 'Tekukur' (Spotted Dove) to build its nest there.  Perched high on top of the bamboo clump I saw the red -eyed Perling or Glossy Philippine Starling.

 The Tekukur perches on the electric wire everyday, watching its nest from predators and occassionaly bringing food to its young.

Tekukur (Malay) or Spotted Dove, seen near new leaves of the mango tree.

 I was extremely delighted and thrilled to hold the young chick of the Bulbul just the other day.  Apparently it has flown from its nest and being still infant it didn't manage to fly well.  I held her in my palm to take some snap shots and after that let it free.  Other birds seen frequenting the garden now are the sunbirds.

View of garden facing north-west

Side Garden Deatils - South Fence Area

About two months ago I planted a short cat's tail plant at the side garden. It has grown beautifully. Now the long cat's tails are showing. There are also many changes to the south garden area especially the area along the south fence. Below are some of the details.

Beautiful long red cat's tails ( Acalypha hispida)

More planting details at south fence

Even more planting details at south fence

LS View of front garden ( left)

Coleus Collection

After a couple of months planting and collecting coleus plants in Kuching, the coleus collection at the side garden is showing results. Coleus (Solenostemon scutellariodes) plants are appealing for its multi-coloured saw-edged leaves. Locally we call coleus as 'Bunga Ati-Ati' in reference to its heart-shaped leaves ( Hati= heart in Malay). I think my effort to plant them proved successful because these low shrubs are good as shirting material to to taller plants. They are very colourful, eye-catching and for one variety produces flowers that are attractive to butterflies. I have tried to use them as cut flowers and seemed effective for its colours and lasting effect if the stems receive water in the glass vase. Below are the growing collection of coleus in the Kuching garden right now.

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.

Update on Kuching Garden

It has been a while since my last post (30/4/09). I have been very busy in May with my doctorate studies. May was my 1st semester with Asia e University where I'm taking up a doctoral study in Business Administration. This learning adventure will last for at least 4 years from now on i.e. according to plan. Thus after the 1 st semester exams I rushed back to Bintulu to spend a full month there to relax and look after the farm too. On Monday ( 29/6/09) we checked in at our house in Kuching in the evening after a 10 hours journey by road from Bintulu. Thus with the first available light the next morning I had a good look at the garden. The above picture shows the side garden with the grasses slightly higher than usual. However I was pleasantly surprised to see the Sassy Pink Heliconias showing off their long inflorescence's. Beautiful.

July- we would be here for the rest of the month. The 2nd semester will start next week and will end early August. This stint in Kuching will give me time to develop the garden further, especially the back portion.

Anyway, from today I'll do as much updates on the garden as possible.