Kalanchoe, the Preference

A friend posted these words on his Facebook and I think it is an appropriate quote for gardening enthusiasts like us:

A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil;
but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents
every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.

-Pam Brown-

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Continuing my posting of decorative plants for Chinese New Year, here is a combination of flowering red Kalanchoe and foliage plants in various green and patterns making this attractive spot for shoppers to feast their eyes as they rush through the festive shopping.

I notice that Kalanchoe is often used in Chinese New Year decorations as its bright, colourful blooms that come in clusters are very attractive. Now I wish I have some Kalanchoe in my garden.

What are the plants in your garden that you usually use to decorate your home during festive season?

If you are familiar with the foliage plants in the photos above, please leave me a message. If I am not mistaken, the one right in the centre is the Dumb Cane. I do not know the name of the plants on both sides of the Kalanchoe. Please enlighten me if you do. Thanks ahead!

Ideas for Chinese New Year Decorations

It's time of the year where many of us are busy cleaning up and decorating our houses in preparation for Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration that falls on 23rd January. While visiting the mall, I find many inspirations from the decors that outlets in the mall created in conjunction of this festive season.

I found some very interesting designs in this bubble tea shop. The combination of plants and some CNY decorations such as red ribbons, peach blossoms & fire crackers are simple, yet they produced very fascinating decorativepieces that we can also do with simple plants that we can easily find. A combination of different types of Dracaena plants with Pussy Pillow and Lime are used here. Usage of auspicious Chinese words that carry the meaning of Prosperity (福）, Abundance (满) and Spring (春) can also be seen here. Chinese believes that these auspicious words will attract positive energy that these words carry, similar to the Law of Attraction's principles that Rhonda Bryne wrote in her book, The Secret that 'like attracts like'. Probably Rhonda and all the other writers on Law of Attraction gained this wisdom from this Chinese New Year practice! Ha ha ha...who knows!

Happy New Year 2012!

2012 is knocking on the door.

Remember:
Life is short, break the rules,
Forgive quickly, love truly,
laugh uncontrollably, and
never regret anything that made you smile. 8-)

Happy New Year everyone!

Pink Delights

Pink represents sweetness, playfulness & gladness.
Pink flower conveys youth, innocence & joy.
The charm of pink flowers will always turn
the occasion of life into a memorable moment.

Here are the pink blooms gracing my garden now
~ Hydrangea, Adenium & Periwinkle.

Yellow Warmth

It's sunny yellow, bright and warm! This is the colour that is gracing my garden now!

Ixora

Gardenia Pfordii - Beautiful & Fragrant Yellow Flowers