Paradise

I thought I saw Paradise,

And wondered if I was dreaming.

I checked with a butterfly,

But it was busy drinking.

My lady has an advice,

The scene is ever-changing.

Appreciate while it's nice,
For leaves are disappearing.

"Hoppers' Snacking Enterprise",
Is seen to be opening.

It's the Critters' Paradise,
That I'm actually seeing.

--- O.N.E.

p.s. In case you didn't notice, there are 2 grasshoppers munching.

Linking up with :
This or That Thursday
Macro Friday

Seasonal Gardens Without Seasons

Where I stay, there are no apparent seasons.

Sometimes it rains, sometimes it is hot and dry.
Basically, the weather is almost the same throughout the year, usually ranging from 25 to 37 degree Celsius.

I used to think our weather is considered hot until I hear of the heat waves reports in many places recently.
I think I better appreciate our moderate weather in Malaysia.

Where you see the red firecracker plant above is where I used to grow tall, spiky agave plants.

Where you see the white stones on the ground now is where I had my lawn.

I got bored with spiky plants and so much green that I have changed the look of my garden.

I and am now enjoying the colour of snow.

I love the soft droopy look of many of these plants.

They seem to have a COOL and calming effect.

When I'm in the mood for Autumn, I can change the colours of the pebbles to brown and remove some leaves...

On a more serious note, I love the varied colours of Autumn.

That must be the most beautiful season.

Forget about Autumn for now.
Let's look at HOT Summer below!

This is a photo taken 2 years ago showing the same wall.

Spiky plants are from left to right, top to bottom.

They consisted of aloe vera, snake plants and agave plants.

This place looks very HOT to me.

As our taste change, our gardens evolve and even the look on our blogs go through modification.

I enjoy these changes.

Gardening without seasons need not be boring.

To create a cooler looking garden, I've made the following few changes.

- Spiky plants are replaced by droopy plants. 

- The lawn is replaced with white stones.

- White flowers overshadow bright coloured flowers.

Recently I created a new garden bed and transplanted some of my bushy plants there.

The dogs thought the bushes were in the way and kept digging them up.

Obviously, these plants suffered more than just transplanting shock.

The side effect is some pretty wintry look which the dragonflies seem attracted to.

Dried up plants with white background have enhanced the cool wintry garden look.

Seasonal gardens without seasons.

How much more fun can gardening get?
If you are fond of drgaonflies, come visit my Dragonfly Farm

(Don't remind me of the weeds, please. Clifford is taking care of that.)

Linking up with :
Cottage Flora Thursday
Fertilizer Friday
Fabulous Friday

Macro Friday

Blue Skies

Below are snapshots taken from my garden with blue skies in the background. They are to be admired along with the song entitled Blue Skies.

(Branches of Thai Jasmine) 

I was blue, just as blue as I could be

Ev'ry day was a cloudy day for me

Then good luck came a-knocking at my door

Skies were gray but they're not gray anymore

(Titty Fruit Flowers)

Blue skies

Smiling at me

Nothing but blue skies

Do I see

(Bird on a White Sandalwood Tree)

Bluebirds

Singing a song

Nothing but bluebirds

All day long

(3 birds forming a face)

 (Sunset)

Never saw the sun shining so bright

Never saw things going so right

Noticing the days hurrying by

When you're in love, my how they fly

 (Ficus Bonsai)

Blue days

All of them gone

Nothing but blue skies

From now on

 (Blooming Hibiscus)

I should care if the wind blows east or west

I should fret if the worst looks like the best

I should mind if they say it can't be true

I should smile, that's exactly what I do

(Tomato Flowers)

Tips in Selecting a Tiller

Note the fluffy soil that has just been tilled?

The purpose of tilling is to break up soil, aerate it or to eliminate weeds.

When selecting a tiller, choose one that is strong enough to break some hard clay soil and yet doesn't hurt your forearm.

It is important to select one that is heavy duty enough to dig various parts of the garden continuously without wearing out easily.

One that overtills uncontrollably, exposing roots, isn't very advisable.

But if the tiller can double up as a wood chipper for the compost pile, it's worth considering. 

If after a hard day's work and with dirt in the mouth, the tiller still smiles, then it may just be the perfect deal.

Clifford - the priceless multi-function gardening tool.

Western Park

Garden at Western Park

Bridges

 

Dead Snail Shells

Orange dragonfly in deep thoughts.

Marble Goby caught by a man in his 70s.

He comes all the way from Bukit Tinggi to fish here regularly.

Notice the small fish under the marble goby? It is the bait. 

Flowers at Western Park

Bad Bugs, Bad Bugs

There are all sort of bugs in the garden. For now, let's just focus on some of the bad bugs that destroy the plants.

Bug on a Mango Leaf.

Another Bug

Yikes! Bugs and Ants on a Pumpkin Flower!

This red spotted bug feeds on leaves although it looks like a lady bird.

Despite a grasshopper's bad reputation, this one has not done any major harm. He has been around for many weeks.

These 2 are the major destroyers. They trample all over the plants, breaking the vines.

This fella occasionally digs out roots and chew them up too.

Beware of this harmful pest! It comes with a deceivingly, innocent smile.

Dogs in the Garden

Goldee loves to dig and lie down on moist soil.

This photo was taken one day before K9 was born.

She prepared her nest here.

Clifford was in the way but he didn't know that.

This photo was taken when K9 was 9+ hours old.

This is how the 'nest' looks like now.

It's a makeover.

 Hardscape prevents excessive digging by dogs.

 

Goldee and Clifford still love to play here.

They sometimes chase each other causing the stones to fly up.

Usually, they just caress each other.

 

They are very fond of each other.