The Kambatik garden in Pink Deluxe

Front garden

 It is indeed a pleasure and beauty to the eyes to watch the Ixora coccinea  bush flowering  well at the front garden.  There are many varieties or cultivars of this species.  There are hardy flowering plants for the Laman Kambatik or the Malaysian garden.  The ixoras belong to the Coffee family (Rubiaceae) and they produce lots of berries.  The best thing a gardener could do is to just let the plant grow naturally without too much pruning or 'shaping' or 'boxing' it.  One species that should be grown in the Kambatik garden is the Ixora javanica because this species like the open sun, grows to a moderate human height and having brilliant orange as well as red flowers.  It is also easy to propagate from cuttings.  Check out more plants for the Kambatik garden belonging to the Coffee family here.

Ixora javanica 'Pink Deluxe'
Family - Rubiaceae - Coffee family

View of the sunset from the front garden

Views of the sunset from the front garden
3 June'15

There's life at the front door

 The yellow bamboo clump at the front garden has grown tall and dense.  Among its stems and leaves a pair of nesting Chestnut Munia is seen busy flying in and out of their sanctuary.  I was able  to get a closer look of the birds this morning.  It is no wonder why people call it the Chestnut Munia.  The hood is black but the body is a rich chestnut brown colour.  The bill is bluish grey and stands in stark contrast to its black face.  Their presence at the front garden makes nature a step closer to the front door.

Chestnut Munia (Pipit Rawa- Malay)
Lonchura atricapilla

How the years have gone by...

Front garden - 2009

Front garden - 2014, 16th August.

Front porch garden - 2009

Front porch garden - 2014, 16th August

Front side garden - 2008

Front side garden - 2014, 16th August

Paid in flowers

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis - Bunga Raya
Double-flower variety

 The red hibiscus shrub at the front garden has produced some pretty flowers.  Many other shrubs are in flowering chorus.  These are labour paid in flowers.  Gardening is a test of patience on a bed of passionate love.  Its rewards come in joyful comfort to the untiring physical and soul workout that a gardener does in the garden of his love.   The blossoms are testimonial to the continuous care and time spent on nurturing the plants to their flowering best...

Ixora coccinea

Kenanga (Cananga odorata)

Ixora 'Pink Deluxe'

Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans)

Ixora spp

Front porch garden, 14 August'14.

Tropical and lush greenery at the front garden

Yellow Palm, Carpentaria Palm and Red Sealing-wax Palm at the front garden

 The front garden is looking luxuriously tropical with its many varieties of palm trees.  Colour is provided by the Eugenia oleina tree, flowers of the Drunken Sailor, fruits of the Carpentaria palm and crown sheaths of the Red Sealing-wax palm.  The yellowish feather-like leaves of the Yellow Palm is also attractive in its on way.  Interestingly the Drunken Sailor has managed to hold on to the tall Carpentaria Palm.  Finally I think I have achieved what I wanted to create at the front garden.  A composition of luxury, evergreen and colourful nature to be enjoyed every day throughout the year.

Drunken Sailor (Quisqualis indica) scrambling over the Eugenia oleina tree

CU of the Drunken Sailor flowers

The Drunken Sailor at last managed to creep on to the tall Carpentaria Palm.

Two yellows and a Penda

View of side and front garden - looking south west

Garden view looking east
with Golden Penda seen  tree at centre

 What's interesting on this trip (44th trip to Kuching) is to see the garden gradually maturing.  For one thing the trees are getting taller and giving out much shade and shelter to the birds. The lawn is steadily thickening and spreading out to areas that were lately developed.  Three yellow flowers caught my eyes today.  They are the flowers of the Yellow Bells ( Tecoma stans), Cassia biflora and the Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus).

Front garden showing the yellow flowers of the Cassia biflora

Cassia biflora - once the rage of urban street planting but now few home gardens plant...

Yellow Bells - Tecoma stans
Syn : Stenolobium stans
Family : Bignoniaceae - Bignonia family

Xanthostemon chrysanthus or Golden Penda
Family : Myrtaceae - Myrtle family

 The sights and sounds of a maturing garden are evidenced by the presence of 3 B's - birds, butterflies and bees, not forgetting other insects that would like to join in the list like the grasshoppers and  beetles.
The flowers that bloom for the first time are Golden Penda ( Xanthostemon chrysanthus) and we felt rewarded now by our effort to introduce this plant in the garden nearly two years ago.

A maturing garden - attracting attracting the 3 B's ( birds, butterflies and bees)
Note the Golden Penda yellow flowers at the top centre of the picture.

Front Garden Update - July'09

The front garden's fence area is now well covered by the Drunken Sailor (Quisqalis indica). The two Carpentaria palms have passed the ceiling height and the Blood Banana has grown into a respectable clump. One new attraction has been the Hibiscus Hybrid which flowers reguarly in red hues. Below are update photos as at today - 8/7/09.

The Drunken Sailor scrambles for support.

CU of Hibiscus Hybrid - looking healthy after some heavy dose of chicken manure, which they adore.

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.