Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Ground Morning Glory Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is Convolvulus Sabatius. Ground Morning Glory, is a small, trailing perennial bearing trumpet-shaped vibrant blue-purple flowers. Light blue funnel-shaped flowers bloom throughout the year. The slender stems are clothed with small, oval, mid-green leaves. Convolvulus Sabatius is excellent in crevices between rocks. Ground Morning Glory can brighten your house without garden in a hanging basket where it can spill over an edge.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sentosa Merlion


Located in Sentosa Island, Singapore, Sentosa Merlion is an enduring icon of Singapore that's half-lion and half-fish. Climb to the crown and you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular 360 deg view of Sentosa and a glimpse of the dazzling city skyline. Back on the ground, take a beautiful walk along the Merlion Walk, a 120-metre-long Gaudi-inspired mosaic walkway.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Phalaenopsis Pink Orchid


Phalaenopsis usually have 3-6 very broad, somewhat floppy leaves that alternate. The flower spike comes from between these leaves.
The flowers on Phalaenopsis can be any color, including white, pink, yellow, striped or splotched. Flowers are usually 2-4 inches in diameter and bloom on a spike that may be 12-18 inches in length.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, May 17, 2013

Phalaenopsis Yellow Orchid


Phalaenopsis are thick-leaved plants with elegant, arching sprays of blooms that can be seen in so many design magazines and sitting on coffee tables. There are about 60 true species of phalaenopsis; they are native to tropical Asian countries. These plants have been extensively hybridized, and there are thousands of phalaenopsis hybrids, ranging from the stark, classic white hybrid (often called a moth orchid) to jewel-like miniatures with clouds of yellow and candy pink blooms.

Phalaenopsis do not like direct sunlight and will scorch.  A well-grown phalaenopsis will have darker green leaves on top and streaks of red or burgundy on the undersides.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day


To all the lovely, beautiful and gorgeous mummies! A special pink flower to celebrate Happy Mother's Day, just for you!!

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Suspended Rose Singapore Flower


Roses are a popular crop for both domestic and commercial cut flowers. Generally they are harvested and cut when in bud, and held in refrigerated conditions until ready for display at their point of sale.

In temperate climates, cut roses are often grown in glasshouses, and in warmer countries they may also be grown under cover in order to ensure that the flowers are not damaged by weather and that pests and disease control can be carried out effectively. Significant quantities are grown in some tropical countries, and these are shipped by air to markets across the world.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Rose Singapore Flower


Roses are shrubs or scandent shrubs, cultivated or wild. Theirs stems are often armed with prickles, their leaves are composed and theirs flowers are more or less fragrant and multicolor. They belong to the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae.

There are over 100 different species of roses, both cultivated and wild. The flowers of the rose grow in a rainbow of colors, from the well-known red rose to yellow roses and even white roses.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, May 6, 2013

Zinnia Singapore Flower


Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow and bloom heavily. They make a massive burst of color in the garden. Zinnias have bright, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, erect stem. The flowers have a range of appearances, from a single row of petals, to a dome shape, with the colors white, yellow, orange, red, purple, and lilac.

Zinnias are popular garden flowers, usually grown from seed, and preferably in fertile, humus-rich, and well-drained soil, in an area with full sun.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Torenia Singapore Flower


Torenia is a genus of plants in the snapdragon family, Scrophulariaceae. Its common names are Wishbone Flower, Clown Flower and Bluewings.

Torenia is an annual flower that thrives in shade and hot, humid weather. Leaves are oval or heart-shaped. The flowers look a bit like open-faced snapdragons with prominent markings on the petals. The most predominant color has been blue flowers, but newer varieties are pink, rose, light blue, and white.

Torenia has tubular flowers with two lips. The lower lip is divided into three lobes, often with a bright, yellow dot in the center lobe.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, May 3, 2013

Dianthus Singapore Flower


Most dianthus have pink, red, or white flowers with notched petals. Sweet Williams are biennial or short-lived perennials covered with bicolor flowers in late spring. Pinks are low-growing dianthus suitable for rock gardens. Carnations are taller and good for bouquets but tend to be less hardy than other dianthus.

The flowers have five petals, typically with a frilled or pinked margin, and are pale to dark pink. Dianthus blooms may be single or double, but all have the same jagged edged petals.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Red Rose Singapore Flower


A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing or trailing with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds.

Roses are best known as ornamental plants grown for their flowers in the garden and sometimes indoors.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Hydrangea Singapore Flower


Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants, grown for their large flowerheads. In many species, the flowerheads contain two types of flowers, small fertile flowers in the middle of the flowerhead, and large, sterile bract-like flowers in a ring around the edge of each flowerhead.

In most species the flowers are white, but in some specie can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. The colors of some Hydrangeas flowers are affected by the relative availability of aluminum ions in the soil. Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers; soils with a pH greater than 5.5 product pink flowers. White flowers are not affected by pH.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Dracaena Marginata Colorama Singapore Plant


This plant's common name is Colorama Dracaena or Madagascar Dragon Tree.

The Dracaena marginata leaves are long, linear, narrow, attached to the stem without a stalk. The cultivar 'Colorama' has green leaves with red-pink stripes on the margins, midrib and either side of the midrib.The stems or trunks usually are un-branched when young, eventually branching when mature to form spreading, vase-shaped trees.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Vinca Rosea Singapore Flower


With the botanical name Catharanthus roseus, vinca rosea is also commonly called Madagascar periwinkle, rose periwinkle and cape periwinkle. Vinca rosea prefers poor, unfertile soil. Vinca rosea has a glossy, deep green, oval leaf and blooms with long-lasting, five-petal pink, lilac or white flowers.

As far back as medieval times, Vinca Rosea has been used as a charm and for love potions. Garlands were once fashioned from the flowers to protect the wearer from evil spirits, while the French came to see vinca rosea as an emblem of friendship. Today, many still believe in the spiritual power of vinca rosea.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Melastoma Singapore Flower


Also known as Himalayan Melastome, it is a genus in the family Melastomataceae. It has about 50 species distributed around Southeast Asia, India, and Australia. Many species have been planted around the world for the aesthetic value of their bright purple flowers.

Himalayan Melastome is a bristly haired shrub growing up to 5 m. Leaves are broadly lance-like with 3 prominent parallel viens, and are bristly haired beneath. Pinkish-mauve flowers, 5 cm across, occur in clusters at the end of branches. Sepals are feathery-haired and long lance-like. The flowers have 5 obovate petals. Identifying feature are the 10 stamens, 5 long curved, with purple anthers, and 5 short, with yellow anthers.
Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Yellow Canna Singapore Flower


Cannas are tropical and subtropical flowering plants with large, banana like leaves. They add an instant touch of the tropics to gardens. A surge in interest and hybridizing has resulted in a dazzling array of cannas to choose from.

Cannas are often grown from their foliage alone. The flowers come in shades and combinations of yellow, orange, red and pink and are borne on tall stalks coming out of the foliage.

Cannas grow from swollen underground stems, correctly known as rhizomes, which store starch, and this is the main attraction of the plant to agriculture, having the largest starch particles of all plant life.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Ashanti Blood Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is Mussaenda erythrophylla, also commonly known as Ashanti Blood, Red Flag Bush and Tropical Dogwood.

The bracts of the shrub may have different shades, including red, rose, white, pale pink or some mixtures. Mussaenda erythrophylla grows best in warmly temperate or subtropical areas. In its natural habitat the shrub may scramble up to 10 m. The star-like flowers of the shrub are 10 mm in diameter and have single, modified sepal.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Purple Philippine Ground Orchid


Its botanical name is Spathoglottis plicata, a species of terrestrial orchid found from tropical and subtropical Asia to the western Pacific. It is the type species of the genus Spathoglottis. It is commonly known as the Philippine Orchid, Philippine Ground Orchid, or Large Purple Orchid.

The flowers have 5, oval-shaped, pink, purple, or white tepals (2 side petals and 3 petal-like sepals) and a similarly colored, spade-shaped labellum. The flowers are followed by 6-ribbed seed capsules that split open to release the minute, dustlike seeds into the air.

The leaves are long (up to 3 feet), bright green, and pleated. They resemble palm leaves. The flowers bloom year round from the top of the plants stem (about 3 feet tall). The flowers range from white, pink, and purple. This plant can be grown in the ground or in a container. It prefers full to partial sun. This plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds!

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, April 8, 2013

Euphorbia Lactea Singapore Flower


Euphorbia lactea cristata or Elkhorn is a crested form with intricately undulating fan-shaped branches forming a snaky ridge or crowded cluster. The more common crested form is dark green attractively marked with silver-grey zigzag patterns. This plant is now available in a large number of picturesque variegated cultivars ranging in colour from white to, yellow, pink, violet and green.

As with all other Euphorbias when a plant get damaged it exudes a thick white milky sap known as latex. This latex  is poisonous and particularly dangerous for the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. So pay extreme attention not to get any in your eyes or mouth.  Cultivated plants must be handled carefully.

Where to Buy: Far East Flora
Suggested Retail Price: SGD $118 per pot

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Medinilla Singapore Flower


Medinillas bear panicles of flowers that resemble clusters of small grapes, which stand out against attractive dark green foliage. Some medinillas have showy bracts which resemble flower petals.

Medinillas are evergreen shrubs in their native habitat. The leaves contribute to the tropical look of this plant, growing up to 14 inches in length. Leaves are ribbed, and moderately succulent.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Dendrobium Orchid Singapore Flower


Dendrobium is a huge genus of orchids. Native to Southeast Asia, the genus dendrobium is one of the largest of all orchid groups. There are about 1,200 individual species, and they grow in all manner of climates.

All dendrobiums are epiphytes. During the growing season, dendrobiums like high humidity and lots of water. As with all orchids, the frequency of watering depends on your growing conditions, but at least weekly is a good idea.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, April 5, 2013

Curcuma Angustifolia Singapore Flower


Curcuma angustifolia is rhizomatous herb. It is a perennial and a flowering plant, with modest and small spiked inflorescences of three or four yellow, funnel-shaped flowers within tufts of pink terminal bracts.

Of great significance to Curcuma angustifolia is its strong rhizome, which can grow to be up to 1.5 meters in length. The rhizome of this plant is the primary source of its nutritive and medicinal properties.

The rhizomes of Curcuma angustifolia can be used on the external surface of the body, as well as internally to promote healing. It can be used to heal peptic ulcers, is beneficial is treatments of dysentery, diarrhea, and colitis, and is often employed as an herbal tonic for patients suffering from tuberculosis. It is also used to sooth coughs, and as such is used to treat bronchitis.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Lotus 2 Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is Nelumbo nucifera.

The distinctive dried seed heads, which resemble the spouts of watering cans, are widely sold throughout the world for decorative purposes and for dried flower arranging.

The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Lotus SIngapore Flower


Its botanical name is Nelumbo nucifera. Native to Tropical Asian nations and Queensland, Australia, it is commonly cultivated in water gardens. It is also the national flower of India and Vietnam.

The lotus has the remarkable ability to regulate the temperature of its flowers to within a narrow range just as humans and other warmblooded animals do.

The roots of Nelumbo nucifera are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface or are held well above it. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the leaves. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, April 1, 2013

Buddha Belly Plant 2


Its botanical name is Jatropha podagrica. It should be noted that the fruit and sap of Jatropha podagrica are very toxic (especially to children). The plant contains the toxic curcin, making it poisonous.

The seed oil is used to reduce swellings, for pain relief and to detoxify snakebites. The stem is swollen into vasculum at the base and filled with thin sap. The plant bears bright red coral-like flowers throughout the year.

Naturally, Jatropha podagrica's fruit appear where the fertilized female flowers were located, usually at the main junctions of the flowerhead. (Remember that it is the fruit that is one of the most poisonous parts of the plant!). Fruit are three-sided, and usually contain three seeds. Mature fruit are yellow, but the immature one is bright green.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Torch Ginger Singapore Flower. Happy Easter!


Its botanical name is Etlingera elatior. It is known in Indonesian as bunga kecombrang or honje, in Malaysia as bunga kantan. The showy pink flowers are used in decorative arrangements while the flower buds are an important ingredient in the Nonya dish laksa.

Etlingera elatior (Zingiberaceae family) is widely cultivated in tropical countries and used as spices and food flavoring.

Etlingera elatior has also been well known for its medicinal properties among indigenous communities in Malaysia. Decoction prepared from the fruit of Etlingera elatior has been used to treat ear ache and the leaves have been used in wound healing. The young flower shoot of Etlingera elatior was reported to have antimicrobial, cytotoxic and anti-tumor promoting properties. Etlingera elatior inflorescence is known to have high antioxidant properties. Flower extract of Etlingera elatior has powerful antioxidant effect against lead - induced oxidative stress and the extract may be useful therapeutic agent against lead toxicity.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Butterfly Pea Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is Clitoria ternatea. Native to SE Asia. Traditionally, the flowers are crushed to produce a blue dye used in food preparation. The root extract is used to treat coughs.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, March 29, 2013

Madagascar Periwinkle Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is Catharanthus roseus. Native to Madagascar. In the pharmaceutical industry, vincristine and vinblastine from the sap have proven to be effective in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. It is traditionally used to treat diabetes, hypertension and as a disinfectant.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Heliconia Psittacorum Andromeda


Its common name is Parakeet Flower.

Parakeet flower is an everblooming, tropical plant that produces an abundance of bright flowers above clumps of lush, evergreen leaves. It is native to South America. It looks great all year around.

This vigorous ornamental spreads by rhizomes and has long, banana-like leaves that are dark green and tatter easily in strong winds. The flowers are borne atop long, smooth, green flower stalks that are held above the leaves. They are comprised of red, orange-red or orange showy bracts that hold small, tubular flowers. Each true flower may be yellow, red, orange or green and have a dark spot at the end, which makes it look like a parrot’s tongue.

Parakeet flower grows best in full sun to partial shade and organic-rich, evenly moist soil with good drainage. In tropical zones it is grown as a landscape plant. Its elegant, tropical flowers are long lasting when cut and look great in bright, colorful arrangements.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Cat Wiskers Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is Orthosiphon aristatus. Native to tropical Eastern Asia. It is traditionally used to treat kidney ailments, gout, hypertension, rheumatism and jaundice.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, March 25, 2013

Costus Dubius Singapore Flower


This African Costus is commonly cultivated as an ornamental. The clump-forming, leafy stems are 2-3 m high. the egg-shaped inflorescence made of tightly arranged green bracts is elevated on a separate peduncle. One or two white and yellow flowers open at the same time.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Yellow Bell Singapore Flower


Its botanical name is tecoma stans. Yellow bell singapore flower has sharply-toothed, lance-shaped green leaves and bears large, showy, bright golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. It is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

The leaves and roots of the plant contain bioactive compounds, especially monoterpenes, which may have medicinal uses.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Blue Water Lily


Its botanical name is Nymphaea. This blue water lily has several edible parts. The young leaves and unopened flower buds can be boiled and served as a vegetable. The seeds, high in starch, protein, and oil, may be popped, parched, or ground into flour.

The main plant is submerged, with large floating, plate-like leaves and showy flowers in many different colours. The leaves have a radial notch from the circumference to the petiole (leaf stem) in the center.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Amaryllis


The biological name is Hippeastrum Vittatum Hybrid from the Amaryllidaceae family, is a large bulb producing spectacular trumpet-shaped blooms on hollow stalks. The large strap shaped leaves reach up to 0.9 m tall by 7.5 cm wide. They are very easy to grow and make spectacular house plants.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, March 11, 2013

Maranta Leuconeura


Maranta leuconeura var kerchoveana. Also called prayer plant. This small, branched plant with dark blotches between the leaf veins, found creeping on the ground in shady habitats, is a native of Brazil. The plant is popular and commonly cultivated in temperate countries as a house plant for its beautiful, ornamental leaves.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Calathea Warszewiczii 2


Another capture of this beautiful Calathea warszewiczii flower. Its ornamental leaves with a velvety feel are the major attraction of this Calathea. The flowers are white, but the colour of the bracts ranges from white to deep pink. It was named for Jozef Warszewicz, a Polish-Lithuanian plant collector who worked in South America and later became Inspector of the botanic gardens in Krakow.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Calathea Warszewiczii


Its ornamental leaves with a velvety feel are the major attraction of this Calathea. The flowers are white, but the colour of the bracts ranges from white to deep pink. It was named for Jozef Warszewicz, a Polish-Lithuanian plant collector who worked in South America and later became Inspector of the botanic gardens in Krakow.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, March 8, 2013

Buddha Belly Plant


Native to Guatemala. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. The seed oil is used to reduce swellings, for pain relief and to detoxify snakebites.

The stem is swollen into vasculum at the base and filled with thin sap. The plant bears bright red coral-like flowers throughout the year. The plant contains the toxic curcin, making it poisonous.

Jatropha podagrica is also known for its incredible ability to attract a variety of butterflies wherever it is grown.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Hibiscus mutabilis flower


Also known as "Cotton rosemallow" from the Malvaceae family, it is native to Southern China.

Traditionally, the leaves and flowers are used to treat swellings and skin infections. Mucilage (a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants) extracted from the leaves and flowers are used to ease childbirth.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Yellow Allamanda


The name "allamanda" is named after a Swiss botanist Dr. Frederich Allamanda. However, there are many regional names such as Yellow Bell, Golden Trumpet or Buttercup Flower.

Allamandas likes to grow in full sun next to fresh water with lots of consistent rain. The allamada does not like shade and can not grow in salty or alkaline soils.

Consistently blooming shrub like plant an Allamanda is fully capable of reaching heights more then 6� feet. The leathery citrus like leaves are pointed and lance shaped. The yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are 2-3 inches in diameter. Though yellow is the most common color for an Allamanda, there are other colors such as white, purple, pink or orange.

Children and animals should never be allowed near an allamandas plant because all parts of the plant contain Allamandin. If ingested, Allamandin can be deadly. The sap inside an Allamanda will cause the development of rashes and sometimes blisters for non internal contact.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Yellow Frangipani (Plumeria Stenophylla)


Yellow frangipani or plumeria stenophylla flower. Plumeria's are a tropical flowering tree, sometimes called "frangipani" in the plant family APOCYNACEAE, Though tropical by nature, when protected from frost, they are well suited to subtropical or temperate climates.

Plumeria are valued as landscape plants, ornamentals, and for their flowers. The flowers come in seemingly endless variety of color, size and fragrance.

The Plumeria flowers are more fragrant at night in order to attract pollinators. Plumeria species can propagated by taking a cutting of leafless stem tips in spring, letting them "scab over" and then inserted into soil. They can be propagated by tissue culture or from germinated seeds.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, March 4, 2013

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Pink Frangipani (Plumeria rubra)


Pink Frangipani (Plumeria rubra).  Plumeria commemorates Charles Plumier, a 17th-century French botanist who described several tropical species. Plumeria rubra is a tree that grows in a “candelabrum” shape typical of Plumerias with a single trunk and multiple branches of a similar length that support an open spreading canopy. The tree can reach a height of 9m, though they are generally much smaller. Most plumerias in gardens are hybrids. Plumerias are very salt tolerant.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Monday, February 18, 2013

Philippine Ground Orchid

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Scientific Name: Spathoglottis plicata
Common Name: Philippine Ground Orchid

The flowers have 5, oval-shaped, pink, purple, or white tepals (2 side petals and 3 petal-like sepals) and a similarly colored, spade-shaped labellum. The flowers are followed by 6-ribbed seed capsules that split open to release the minute, dustlike seeds into the air. The leaves emerge from pseudo bulbs and are bright green, linear-lanceolate, and distinctively plicate (having fanlike folds along their length).

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, February 15, 2013

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Temple of Heaven


The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420, used to be a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties went to worship Heaven and offer sacrifices to pray for bumper harvests and favorable rain. Most of the structures we see today were constructed in the Qing Dynasty. The compound wall was built in a semi-circle in the north and a square in the south. Surrounded by double annular walls, the Temple of Heaven is divided into an inner part and an outer part. The whole area is 273 hectares. In the inner part stand ancient architectural complexes including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (picture).

Copyright DonaldChen Photography

Friday, February 8, 2013

Solitary Speedboat


I chanced upon this solitary speedboat by itself as I walked along the beach in a nice afternoon weather, beside Lone Pine resort hotel in Penang, Malaysia.

Penang is a popular tourist destination with its beautiful coasts and beaches. A fascinating fusion of the East and West, Penang embraces modernity while retaining its traditions and old world charm. These are reflected in its harmonious multiracial populace and well-preserved heritage buildings which led to George Town being accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site recently.

Long regarded as the food capital of Malaysia, Penang also entices visitors with its popular hawker fares and scrumptious cuisines.

Copyright DonaldChen Photography