The story of me (Part 5) - From budding to beautiful me, finally

Budding - 26 April'15

Final flowering - 27 May'15
Flowering stages of a jungle tree
Location : Botanic Island One

(Note: It is possible to upload these pictures in one posting because the internet connection in Kuching is much better than Bintulu)

The wild Sukong Ranyai (Fagraea crassipes)

From bud to flower
Sukong Tanyai (Iban) - Fagraea crassipes
Location : Zone G

Note: For more pictures of the Sukong Ranyai, check them out in my other blog dedicated to plants here

The Tiong bird in various angles

Location shooting : Licuala Hill, Zone I

A pair of Tiong in silhouette

A pair of Hill Myna bird.
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

The wild and ever flowering pioneer species

A pioneering plant species that is seen everywhere at the park in newly opened areas.
Location : Zone I

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The 'Senduduk' (Malay) or Melastoma malabthricum is a wild plant that produces purple flowers. Here the plant is being helped out in its pioneering ways by the Yellow-vented Bulbul that love its ripe fruits.  Ants and many other insects are attracted to its sweet tasting fruits.

CU of the Senduduk flower

( Note: It took me 3 hours to upload this picture due to the extremely poor internet connection provided by Celcom company in Bintulu.  But what the heck, passion is more important, even though it means too tons of patience)

The Orange-bellied Flowerpecker pair is back

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker pair, male is colourful (top bird), female is below.
Location : Zone C

Female of the species

A pair of Orange-bellied Flowerpecker at the Nangka tree.

The bird is black, the bird is white

The bird is black, the bird is white,
It is here, day and night,

It's a wonderful sight.
Location : Zone C

Sawit success

Two big bunches can fully load a wheel barrow with average weight of 20 kilo per bunch.

It sounds familiar - sweet success.  After a while, after proper care and maintenance of the oil palm trees you can achieve the standard of 20 kg and above per fresh fruit bunch.  The trees that can reach this standard are those that have been grown for about 7 years or more.  Now more and more trees at the park are able to produce 20 kg per bunch of oil palm fruits.  There is no secret to this sawit success.  It is just plain fertilising.  Oil palm trees react well to fertilising.  On the average  the standard is 1 kg of fertiliser per tree per month.  It is very much left to the wisdom of the planters whether to apply the fertiliser per 2 or 3 month basis.  Now don't try to over-fertilise the plants.  This is because you don't want the fruit bunches to weigh 30 or 40 kg per bunch.  Reason?  Who's gonna lift the bunches that heavy during harvesting, carry them on the wheel barrow or load them on the pick-up or lorry?  Imagine harvesting and lifting 50 bunches of 40 kg bunches a morning.  And another 50 bunches in the afternoon.  And who's going to repeat the work tomorrow?  Over-fertilising is not only a waste of money but can play havoc to soil long-term health and a major attraction for pests that devour the tempting fat and very green oil palm leaves for delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The story of me (Part 4) - The best of me

24 May'15
Location : Botanic Island One

 

The angels are back

Angel's trumpet (Euclinia longiflora)
Family : Rubiaceae - Coffee family
Syn : Randia macrantha

Last night the angels came trumpeting in.  The Randia macrantha or sometimes called the Angel's Trumpet blossomed last night producing white trumpet-like flowers that are strongly scented.  I have moved them to a new location that is relatively in the open area, different from its previous site which was in semi-shaded area.  This is my favourite shrub because it is a very rare plant to be found in Sarawak.  I normally propagate it through cuttings but the rate of success is about 30 percent.  Over the years I have given this plant to a very few select friends who love gardening.  Any ordinary gardener will find it a big challenge to grow this shrub.  Before I transplanted this tall shrub, I had to dig a deep trench around it and did not move it from the trench for about two months to allow for the establishment of new roots and to avoid shock.  Last night's show proved that it does well too in open locations.

Flowers keep falling on my head

The Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea) seen from the 'abaq' (verandah)

Footpath laden flowers

The bunchy  pink flowers of the Poui tree kept falling on the ground.  The tree is tall and stands next to my bedroom.  Every morning I would stand at the ' abaq' (or verandah) to watch the petals fall gently on the ground.  This is the kind of view and experience that is priceless and of great aesthetic beauty for me.  Living in the park with flowers above you and the sounds of birds in the day and crickets at night brings much peace and happiness.  At this time of the year too, the jungle tree not far away from the bedroom is heavily flowering too with a specialty.   From a fair distance of about 30 meters this jungle tree with yellow flowers will throw its scent around the park day and night.  Its aroma is a mixed scent of vanilla and sweet camphor.  In the silence of the night I could smell the fragrance reaching us .  I sleep with the thought that waking up is really a joy.  Another day in paradise.

Pink Poui flowers above my head

A pair of Little Green Pigeon building nest

A pair of Little Green Pigeon seen perching on a nearby tree close to its nest, which is seen below.

The nest is seen from below. the tree.  At the centre of the mass of leaves is hidden the nest of the Little Green Pigeon.
Location : Kruak wetlands.
Zone B

A pair of Little Green Pigeon perching on a branch.

I was not able to see any thing inside the nest of the Little Green Pigeon. The nest was way above my head.  I just discovered that a pair of the Little Green Pigeon has started to build a nest amidst the branches and leaves of a small tree near the Kruak wetlands at Zone B.  It was when walking below the tree that I heard the loud flutter of wings.  Surprised, I look upwards  and saw a nest formed by a collection of twigs.  It was obviously the pigeon's nest.  Thy have rushed out of their nest upon discovering my presence.  The pictures above show them perching on a tree nearby.

The Story of Me (Part 3) - Changing me

8 May'15

20 May'15
Location : Botanic Island One

Highlights today at the park - 19 May'15

Orange fungi on rotten tree stump
Location : Zone D

A moth resting on jungle floor
Location : Botanic Island Two

Large pink flowers of the Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea)
Location : Zone C

Yellow splendour of a jungle tree

Jungle tree in full flowering
Location : Botanic Island Two
Note: Identity of tree unknown.

Today, another jungle tree came out in full colours.  I have not noticed it earlier.  The yellow flowers are terminal.  The tree is located at Botanic Island Two.  This tree and the one which I'm following closely its flowering stages situated at Botanic Island One  are flowering about the same time , that is in May.  This second tree flowers have no fragrance, unlike the one at Botanic Island One which has the mild fragrance of vanilla and camphor  mixed.

Epiphytic dendrobium in flower

CU of a Dendrobium species
Location : Zone C

The Dendrobium is grown on a rotting cut leaf base of the oil palm
Location : Zone C

There is an easy way to grow orchids at the park.  The method I use is to let the orchids stick their  roots at the rotting leaf bases of the oil palm.  These leaf bases rot fast and provide excellent traps for many organic matter and wastes from small animals, birds, insects, moss etc.  Here the roots get nourishment and the trunk offers suitable spaces for the long hanging stems to grow.  The above orchid is grown in semi-shade situation.  The flowers of this Dendrobium spp. normally last from 2 - 3 weeks.

The story of me ( Part 2) - Flowering me

Jungle tree in middle of flowering
Location : Botanic Island One

The jungle tree showing off its flowers

Jungle tree flowering
Location : Botanic Island One

It has been about three weeks since I last took a picture of its flower buds.  Today, the jungle tree's flower buds burst out their yellow flowers.  I think tonight the flowers will release their vanilla-like scent.  I know through experience that the flower buds will gradually open up and it would take about a month to see the tree in full flower.  This is a real jewel of the Botanic Island One.  I think this year flowering would be at its best due to the distinct drought felt through out Bintulu area now.

Location : Botanic Island One

Flora photography

Sealing Wax Palm

Heliconia latispatha

Heliconia 'Sexy Pink'

Parrot flower (Heliconia psittacorum)