Sawtooth Coriander

I got 2 small Sawtooth Coriander plants from Alokarama. I am trying to grow them in the garden. I am not sure how they propagate but I hope they would grow well.

If you see the leaves of the plant, you will see its serrated edges that looks similar to a saw. Hence, the name Sawtooth Coriander.

While in Alokarama, we were introduced to this herb that has a similar taste to coriander. We sliced the herbs thinly and put it into our nasi ulam. I like its crunchiness and coriandeer-like fragrant. A good substitute for coriander if you don't have any in the fridge.

Have you tasted the Sawtooth Coriander before?

Ylang-Ylang @ Alokarama (Fragrant Blooms Series)

I have seen this fragrant yellow flower before but never do I know that it is called Ylang-Ylang (pronounced ee-lang ee-lang)! Yup, this is the flower that is widely used in perfume! The most well-known perfume containing Ylang-Ylang is the world famous Chanel No. 5. Ylang Ylang is also used in other perfumes such as "Aqua De Gio" by Giorgio Armani, "Poison" by Christian Dior, and "Elise Fields" ("Champs Elysee") by Guerlain.


This Ylang-Ylang tree in my photo is a dwarf version that is about 3 feet tall. It is planted by grafting. The tree that was planted from seed was over 30 feet tall. Unfortunately I didn't capture any photo of it. That big Ylang-Ylang tree can be found in the Herbs Garden section of Alokarama.

I brought a stem-cut from this Ylang-Ylang bush home to propagate. But the whole tree dried up. I read online that it is very difficult to grow Ylang-Ylang from stem cutting. Mmmm....sigh.......I should have bought the pot of Ylang-Ylang that I saw at a nursery in Tangkak. We went shopping for plants there. A pot of Ylang-Ylang was only RM6!! Probably I will have to check out the nursery in Sg. Buluh to find this plant. Another item to be added to my fragrant blooms list!

According to an article by TopTropicals on Ylang-Ylang:

The Ylang-Ylang flower changes color from pale green to lemon yellow. Old flowers have a dark yellow color with brown spots and are about 2" long with narrow petals gracefully hanging down.

In addition to its wonderful fragrance, the plant blooms practically year round. Its branches are entirely covered with clusters of flowers and dark green oval fruits. Ripe fruits have a black color. Ylang-Ylang fruits are not used in foods; however they are quite edible.

Ylang-Ylang features are numerous:

1) it is very fast growing - you'll have a mature tree in no time

2) its nice columnar shape requires no special pruning

3) its roots are non-invasive

4) it has practically no pest problems

5) it is not messy because it doesn't drop much leaves, and it's evergreen

6) its branches are flexible in the wind

7) it blooms almost year-round and will suffuse all of your neighborhood with a fine fragrance.

8) its flowers are pollinated by night moths; therefore the most intensive smell is released from dusk until dawn.

Conditions for cultivating Ylang-Ylang:
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Light: Provide full sun to ensure better flowering.

Water & Humidity: Water your Ylang-Ylang daily for the first 2-3weeks after you plant it. Then regular sprinkler irrigation will be sufficient. Cananga Odorata is a rainforest tropical tree that thrives best in a high-humidity environment. Average water is needed; water regularly; but do not overwater. Suitable for growing in containers

Fertilization: Fertilize the plant with one-half dose of blooming-grade balanced fertilizer at least once a month during the growth period to encourage blooming.

Pests: The tree is practically pest-free. No special treatments are usually required to keep it healthy.

Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)

Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; direct sow

Seed Collecting:
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds. Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds.

Legend of Ylang-Ylang:

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There is a Philippine legend that tells about a married couple who had everything in their life except children. In a dream, the gods came to them and promised to grant them a daughter, provided that the girl should never touch a man once she matures. The girl was named Ilang ("Flower"). She grew to be a true beauty, and there was no lack of men asking to marry her, but her parents guarded her in order not to break their agreement with the gods.

One day when the parents were not at home, Ilang went to her garden to collect a bouquet of flowers. Unexpectedly, there appeared a young man who for a long time had been in love with her.

He held her by her hand and said, "I love you, be my wife." Instantly the girl disappeared, turning into a small tree with very fragrant flowers. "Ilang! Ilang!" cried the young man. Since that day, it is said that the young man continues to wander in the magic garden, calling out her name throughout eternity.

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Added on 3 May 2009:

I was in Sg. Buluh yesterday. The nurseries there called the Ylang-Ylang as Bunga Kenanga. They don't know what is Ylang-Ylang.

Green Thumb Workshop @ Alokarama (25-26 Apr 2009)

The herbs garden at Alokarama.

I am back from the Green Thumb Workshop in Alokarama retreat centre in Asahan, Melaka.

Unfortunately, the soil specialist who were supposed to speak on soil improvement didn't make it to the workshop. However, we still had a good time working in the herbs garden (as seen in the above photo) ~ weeding, pruning and harvesting.

We also learnt the various benefits of the variety of herbs planted there. There are so many herbs and it would take me a very long time to learn them. We also used the harvested herb i.e. misai kucing, lemon grass and pandan leaves to boil tea with them. In preparation of our meals, we also used various herbs to prepare our meals, e.g. sawtooth coriander for nasi ulam, cili padi and limes as condiment and lemon grass for assam pedas. It was so fun to cook while in Alokarama as those herbs are easily available as they are also planted just outside the kitchen area.

There are so many fruit trees (durian, papaya, jackfruit, duku langsat, mulberry), flowers (birds of paradise, ylang ylang, kerak nasi, jasmine & etc), herbs, leafy & aquatic plants (lotus & waterlily) in the Alokarama's orchard. I will try to share them here with all of you in the next few days.

Durian fruits on tree.

I don't know what's the name of this herb. We pruned this plant. I like the beautiful flowers.

Added on 30 Apr 2009. Found on Malaysian Herbs website that this plant is called Ekor Kuching. USAGE : The root of this herb is considered useful for healing bone fractures and for the treatment of urinary diseases, tumors, oedema, burning sensation and difficult breathing. The leaves are considered antiseptic and are used to treat gonorrhoea. The root is credited with aphrodisiac properties; its paste, mixed with water, is used as an antidote for snakebite. Its decoction is prescribed for cough, chiles and fevers. The roots and pods are used in the treatment of anal prolapse in infants, and pods are used to treat sore throat in childrenParts Used: Roots, leaves and pods.

Misai Kucing

Pineapple

Silhoutte of a durian tree

The beautiful view of Gunung Ledang from the stupa site

Banana fruit

Mulberries




All of us planted a plant together with Rev. Mahinda & Sis. Sumangala. The sapling of this fragrant flowering plant was brought back by Rev. Mahinda from Sarnath, India (which was the deer park where the Buddha preached his first sermon).

A video of us planting a plant at Alokarama during the recent Green Thumb Workshop.

Earth Day - 22 April

Earth Day Unofficial Earth Day flag,

by John McConnell

featuring the Blue Marble on a blue field

Happy Earth Day!! I am dedicating today's posting for Earth Day activities and continue with the posting on Adenium tomorrow.

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 in San Francisco and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. [Source: Wikipedia]

Today's The Star paper featured green initiatives by our local communities.

In Malaysia, local communities and NGOs will organize all sorts of green activities to commemorate the Earth Day celebration as part of their commitment to promote the preservation and maintenance of Mother Earth. Read more about it at today's The Star paper's 'In Celebration of the Good Earth'.

My friends and I have signed up for a Green Thumb Workshop that will take place this weekend at Alokarama, Tangkak. According to the organizer, Aloka Foundation:

'Green Thumb aims to aims to provide a platform for individuals to come together to learn, practise and share and get up close and personal with nature of the mind, body and environment.

It also aims to disseminate green thumb knowledge and skills, especially the usage of medicinal plants and herbs; to maintain the Herb Garden; and replant and harvest the herbs.
'

The workshop will be led by Rafael Legaria, an expert in soil improvement, soil bio-dynamics and nutritionist will share with us his vast knowledge in this coming workshop. Some of the topics that will be addressed during this hands-on workshop would be:

SOIL: the medium for planting food. But, how do we improve the soil fertility, organically?

Want to find out this and more like the nutritional difference between commercially planted and organic fruit?

I am excited about this weekend's workshop. Hope to share the knowledge that I gained at this weekend's workshop with all of you when I return. Will continue the post on Adenium tomorrow.

Happy Earth Day everyone! Think again.....what have you done for the good of our Mother Earth?