Wrightia Antidysenterica

Snowflake, Arctic Snow, Winter Cherry Tree, Milky Way....all these names belong to this beautiful white flower and yet, to me, NONE appears suitable. What do you think? I prefer to use its botanical name. A unique name for a unique flower :)
I am dedicating this unique white beauty to all MOTHERS around the world as tomorrow is Mother's Day. If love is as sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love. (Stevie Wonder)
Wrightia A. is a tough plant. Tough to propagate. However, once you get it growing, it flowers all year round. Drought and storms do not bother it. I have had a row of these flowers for 3 years now and I have tried all sorts of way to make them multiply. I finally realize that the probability of it multiplying is about 20%. So the ones that managed to survived, I treasure them with my life :) But....I will go on trying...
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born! Once this flower is birthed, the plant weathers all kind of obstacles and produces beautiful blossoms all year round. Exactly like a woman who becomes a mother. As prepared as one might think she is, nobody is ready for motherhood. As soon as your baby is in your arms, you have this tendency to protect this tiny being with your life and are willing to weather all sorts of difficulties in order to give the baby a good life.

Surprisingly, this flower has no fragrance whatsoever. Being so pretty, it's kinda odd, don't you think?
I can relate to the "flower with no fragrance" bit very well. When I had my daughter 13 years ago, I remembered carrying her in my arms for the first time in the hospital, with tears of joy. I promised myself that I would give her my all and I did. For the first 7 years, I was literally like a flower with no fragrance. My daughter took over my life. She came first every single minute. Whatever I did, she was my priority. Today, I look back with no regrets. Nicole has grown into a beautiful independent intelligent young lady. As you sow so shall you reap.

Like this determined ant, I am happy to say that today I am able to search the person within myself. I got to know myself better after being a mother; how easily I break at times and how tough I can be most of the time. Looking back at all the experiences (mistakes!!!!) I went through; happy and sad times; I am definitely a stronger person today. I have a different perspective of life now. I choose to live! To live and love and enjoy my life in whatever small ways possible :)
Life can only be understood backward but it must be lived forward. (Soren Kierkegaard)
A little bit about My Mommy...
My Mommy will be 70 next year but she has a 16 year old heart! She has been the "funnest" mom since I could remember. She loves to laugh and joke. My friends love her. I swear...as she grows older...she is more goofy than ever!!! She has given me every thing I have ever needed in my life...my partial insanity, my love for sleep-ins, chicken drumsticks, and never-ending prayers!!! She is not very educated as she has no interest in studying (and never could understand why I choose to study at my age!) but she loves to read. That is how she keeps herself up-to-date with happenings around the world. (If only my students would read like her...haha...wishful thinking!!!). And, my mother will do everything and anything for me...oh yeah...me super spoilt brat :P My mother is my truest partner-in-all-crimes... *grin*

Arabian Jasmine

Look into my eyes and what do you see? ME. Looking at you, my love.
(a memorable quote from Arabian Nights)

The Arabian Jasmine, a member of the 200 types of Jasmine flowers, was once the "Queen of Flowers" in the ancient times. Famous for its sensual fragrance and beauty and its connection to love. From jasmine oil to jasmine-scented sheets; used in love sachets and in teas & concoctions...these flowers have kept its identity until today

These white beauties blooms all year round with its maximum fragrance only released after sundown, especially during a full moon night. Mmmm...soothing peaceful feeling.


White...is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red and as definite as black...God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously as when He paints in white. (G K Chesterton)


Plants that wake when others sleep. Timid Jasmine buds that keep their fragrance to themselves all day, but when the sunlight dies away let the delicious secret out to every breeze that roam about. (Thomas More).

Noticed this little fellow was quietly spending its morning under the shade of a petal. Curious, I stooped down to its level and looked upwards...to my surprise, I saw....*grin*

Sweet dating...
And another...
*Chuckling*
Talk about the connection of Jasmines and LUVVVVVVVVVV...
Then I realized (after I tried counting) that there were more than 10 couples having their mornings huggles!! Oh my...how sweet. Can't help noticing that all of them hugged the same way...is that their missionary style???!!!

Thoughts...
What a beautiful morning. The first day of May. Sun was shining brightly. There was a slight cool breeze which was quite nice and rare. As it was a public holiday today (Labour Day), I slept in...but not for long. Couldn't help but wake up and take a peek at my garden. WOW! Flowers were happily blooming at every corner. So I made my cup of coffee and together with my camera, I spent my morning in the garden. Yes I am a sucker when it comes to white flowers, my all-time favourite colour!! Jasmines make me happy as I love its fragrance. Soooo sweet. So here's my wish to all of you...with so much beauty around us...enjoy the beautiful season of spring and do take to smell the flowers. It will give you some peace and happiness, and that's great when you have that every day of your lives, isn't it?

Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. (Luther Burbank)

San Pedro Cactus Flower

The world is full of cactus, but we don't have to sit on it. (Will Foley)

A species of the famous miracle healer, San Pedro Cactus, is actually spreading like wild fire in Malaysia. This cactus is a native to the Andes mountains of Peru but it loves living anywhere hot and dry.

This cactus is sacred to the South Americas and is especially associated to shamans and healers of the Peruvian Andes. It was said that San Pedro @ Saint Peter embodies these qualities because Saint Peter is the holder of the keys of Heaven and the name of the cactus therefore speaks of its abilities to "open the gates" into another world.

A symbol of patience, endurance and persistence...

Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory. (William Barclay)

Cactus flowers are usually sensitive to light even though the cactus stems can hold water for long dry periods. San Pedro is no different. This beautiful flower only blooms at night and closes when the sun rises.
To be a survivor...
To have the spirit to struggle...
To endure life's obstacles every single living day...
People may not know what you have been through or when you put on a brave face...
Only you...and your heart knows the details...
With concentrated patience... to live on...

When the world says, "Give up"...Hope whispers, "Try it one more time" :)

Red Powder Puff

Red is HOT! Red...one of my favourite colours for the night. Passionate. A mixture of nice and naughty. Perspiration....*grin*....raise of high blood pressure...*chuckles*...ooh la la!
Ladies & Gentlemen...may I present to you *drumrolllllll*....The Red Powder Puff tree!
From far, these seeds do look like raspberries. But when I went nearer, I could not help but admire the cuteness of them. They actually look good enough to eat!
A wilted powder puff...still looking pretty attractive with its curly look...hehe!
Native to the tropical regions, this flower loves the hot hot sun :) Loves to be outside - SHOW OFF!!! Seriously, don't you think it's a playful-looking flower? I tell you, it flirts with everyone or thing....wasps, bees, birds, butterflies and even squirrels (they love the berries!). Ohhh...my neighbour's dog LOVES the powder puff...he eats the flowers HAHAHA!!!

The Red Powder Puff is also known as Calliandra...and Calliandra comes from the Greek words "kallos"meaning beauty and "andros" meaning stamen.
Notice the leaves? Its cleft or divided into leaflets. Interesting enough, the leaves close at night!

I looked up at what "powder puff" actually meant! LOL..."used of competitive activities in which only women take part". Oh my..."a powder-puff football"...Hmmm, I was thinking..."a powder-puff gladiator game?" *chuckles*
Why do they associate powder puff to women? I know a few men who powder puff their faces too *grin*....honest!
Thoughts:
The photo above shows exactly how I feel today. Today is my first day of freedom after a painstaking 3 months of teaching practicals and piles & piles of written work that went along with it. I am officially on a whole month's break...such a heavenly feeling :) Such a super duper heavy burden lifted off my shoulders when I went to the university yesterday and handed in every single file and report to my supervisor/lecturer. It's quite hard to believe that that phase of my life is over. Sweet and bitter memories...
I feel like powder-puffing my face and celebrate! It's about time that I am sane again....ohhh and not forgetting playful, naughty, flirty, and looking hot again *big grin*

He conquers who endures (Perseus)

White Spider Lily

The White Spider Lily or known as White Spice...this flower is one unique gal. I personally prefer the name White Spice; exotic and it personifies this beautiful flower as it really spice up the garden!

Symbol of beauty...the spider lily is certain one. If you see a whole garden filled with them, you might walk pass it without noticing its beauty. This is because each flower has 6 spider-like petals that surround the corona (the white heart of the flower) and they grow in clusters. Unfortunately, at first glance, they look like a whole array of unkempt weeds!
When I walked in Shan Tao Secondary School to do my teaching practicals in January 2010, these white beauties caught my eye. I knew I was in for a tough 3 months and was not sure what to expect or what was expected of me but these lilies would cheer me up every morning, for sure. Whatever happens, I thought to myself, I would find the time to photograph these flowers...haha so much for focusing on becoming a teacher!!!

We had a dry spell for a long time and every day I would check on the lillies from the balcony, just to see how they are holding up. One fine day, it poured! I was so happy to see that the flowers are finally receiving their showers of blessing. Walla...rejuvenation. What's better than being able to dance in the rain?

Only when I had my free time to photograph these white beauties, did I realize how fragile this flower really is. Its corona (white heart or crown) looks like a transparent paper. Yet, it could hold 6 long spider-like petals, as if carrying burdens/commitments on its fragile shoulders. Perfect symbol for a student...young, fragile, beautiful, persevering through life, and so much to offer to the future.

The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt (Frederick Buechner)

Memories:
I am dedicating this page to my Form 4H students in Shan Tao Secondary School, where I had spent about 3 months with them and enjoyed every moment tremendously. I walked into Class 4H on 26 January 2010 and saw a garden of spider lilies! I thought to myself..."Oh boy...this is gonna be tough!" I saw curious faces. I saw "Yucks-another-practical-teacher" faces! Then, I saw one smiley face! One happy face was enough to give me hope. Hope that maybe at the end of my 3 months, every spider lily in this class would be an individual full of life. My personal goal was to appreciate every individual and learn from them as much as I could.

Every flower about a house certifies to the refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and blossoming tells of love and joy. (Robert G. Ingersoll)

I loved the time together in class, educating and sharing life's experiences. They are the ones who kept me going all these months, no matter how exhausted I felt when I reached school every morning. They captured my attention in the beginning and they captured my heart in the end!

This is my prayer for each and every one of you:

Thank you God for giving each and every student of mine a mind and a heart.
I pray that they will always have a mind that is willing to learn and a heart that is always open for love.
I pray that they will all persevere in pursuing their dreams, be it small or big, and let courage be their creed.
I also pray that in all their busy lives, let them always find moments of stillness and enjoy little blessings that life has to offer.
Let every one of them be guarded and guided by their guardian angel :)