Corpse flower blooms in a decade

For horticulturists and nature-lovers, here's an image of a rare Indonesian flower known as the “corpse flower” named thus for it emission of a pungent odour of rotting meat, luring pollinators that feed on dead animals.

Visitors flock to the New York Botanical Garden all summer long for whiff of its fragrant blooms.

The six-foot plant - it grows much taller in its natural habitat of Indonesia - has not bloomed for a decade, and has been carefully tended by horticulturalists here in the Bronx every day.

The “Amorphophallus titanum” was last on display in bloom at the botanical garden in 1937, the first time it was showcased in the western hemisphere. It takes years to conserve enough energy to go into bloom, during which the yellow “spadix” - the spike of the plant - self-heats to human body temperature to emit the rotten smell - and it is all over within about 36 hours.

After the plant withers back over the weekend, we will have to wait years before the unpredictable bloom takes place again.


Source: The Independent

Friday Frolics - The Cherry Blossom Test

Do you love cherry blossoms? This week we are doing a quiz on cherry blossoms. Pick the cherry blossoms you like best, and see what they say about you. Here's what my choice says about me.

Happy Friday, everyone!

You Are Fearless

You live your life boldly, without fear. You are a true pioneer and nonconformist. You may be different, but you aren't disagreeable. You like to cooperate and work with others as much as you can. Your quirky ways inspire people to be themselves and let loose a bit. You radiate acceptance and confidence. You are spontaneous and a big believer in following your bliss. You can't go wrong making yourself happy.

The Cherry Blossom Test

Fun, Free Quizzes!

What Makes You Resilient is last week's Personality Quiz

Springtime in Malaysia

We don't have the four seasons per se here in Malaysia but every spring in the northern hemisphere we do get lovely blooms on trees all over the country. This picture was taken last month - lovely white flowers against an oh-so-blue sky.

Speaking about the weather, it's been pretty erratic here of late. We can get bright sunshine and blue skies in the morning and then a heavy thunderstorm hours later. The plus side, no haze (yet) but soon when the planting season begins in another three months or so, then we (and the region) will be battling it again. Sigh..

KLM's Annual Charity Tulip Sale is back - Sat, 10 May, 2014

KLM Royal Dutch Airline's annual tulip charity sale is back again, for the 16th year!

3,800 stalks of fresh tulips in a variety of colours will be flown by the airlines in time for Mother's Day the following day, May 11th.

This year, funds raised will benefit AUTORR (Aged Unite to Organize Rest & Recreation) Foundation, founded by Yap Swee Lin, the grand-daughter of Malaya’s last Chinese Kapitan, the late Kapitan Yap Kwan Seng.

The sale will be at Sungei Wang Plaza, Concourse Level, 11:00 am onwards (while stock lasts).
Each tulip is priced at RM5 per stalk. Hand-pick a bouquet for your mom..

To All Mothers..

Image source

Friday Frolics - The Poppy Test

This week's quiz is about the Poppy flower.

According to the Wikipedia:

Poppies have long been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death: Sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy in particular. In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead. Poppies used as emblems on tombstones symbolize eternal sleep.

A second interpretation of poppies in Classical mythology is that the bright scarlet colour signifies a promise of resurrection after death.

Pick the poppy that appeals to you most, and see what it says about you. Mine says I am protective.

You Are Protective

You're a fighter, but you pick your battles extremely carefully. You have a long fuse. You know a lot in this world isn't worth getting worked up about, but some battles do need to be fought. You are quite protective of your family and friends. You'll step up and fight to defend them. You may seem quiet and still on the outside - but on the inside you are always ready and prepared.

Take
The Poppy Test

Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

Tulips for Mother's Day

Source: The Star
It's springtime in Paris where tulips and primroses are in full bloom in front of the Eiffel Tower as pictured above. Remember there is a Tulip Sale for Charity at the concourse of Sungei Wang Plaza today from 11am onwards. Surprise your mom with tulips this year. Buy her a pretty bunch of tulips flown in by KLM all the way from the Netherlands.

To All Mothers, Happy Mother's Day,  May your day be filled with love and happiness.

Get Tulips for Mother's Day - KLM Charity Tulip Sale

Like last year and the years before, the KLM Annual Charity Tulip Sale will be back again for Mother's Day this year.

Be at Sungei Wang Plaza concourse on Saturday, May 11 from 11am onwards for a chance to buy a lovely bouquet (tulips air-flown by KLM all the way from the Netherlands) for your mother, your loved ones or for yourself.  All for a good cause.

Priced from RM5 each, there will be 3,777 stalks for sale.   Purchase 150 stalks of tulips and get a FREE bottle of Lanvin Eclat D’Arpege EDP worth RM205!


Source

Kuala Lumpur blue skies and flowers

It's an unusually blue-sky weather today. Unusual because being the monsoon season that we are experiencing right now, skies turn overcast very quickly sometimes even before the sky has the chance to show off its blue. The sun? At times, nowhere to be found.

I took this shot a while back. It is hot out there so it is best to stay indoors though a lot can be accomplished outdoors in this weather, I presume.

The city is bustling with life, as always, though on hot days, the air over the city can be quite unhealthy(?). This shot I took this morning shows our iconic Petronas Twin Towers in all its glory in the sunshine. Only thing is, they are shrouded in smog. Like most cities in China (which I saw on documentaries the last few days), the city of Kuala Lumpur is no different. We are all covered with smog and breathing in all those pollutants. Sometimes I wonder if this is a trademark of developing or Third World countries..

On a positive note, trees are blooming in purples, reds and yellows. These are some pink-purplish flowers among their lovely cousins blooming on the branches of a medium-sized tree.

These trees are planted by the landscaping department in public places mainly along main roads. Tree-planting here is regulated and only certain species are allowed to be planted. Corporate landscaping follows similar guidelines where trees are concerned.

Friday Frolics - The Abstract Rose Test

Yay, it's Friday again! Let's do a simple quiz this week and maybe get rewarded with a nice reading, shall we?

Happy Friday, everyone!

You Have High Standards

You'll do almost anything for a friend, but you won't be friends with just anyone. You're the perfect combination of simplicity and divinity. You are a secret hedonist, and no one knows how indulgent you can be. You are very reliable. Many people count on you, and rightfully so. You are intense, internally driven, and passionate. You have a purpose to your life.

The Abstract Rose Test

Friday Frolics: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

What's in store in the Sixth Lunar Month

Today is the first day of the sixth lunar month and according to a prediction I read about this lunar month, (from 19th Jul to 16th Aug), this is going to be an intense month and which it’s intensity will build up very quickly.

The report went on to say there will be displays of aggressive behaviour with people fighting to lead and having a strong desire for independence and freedom. This will be caused by people’s willingness to do what it takes to achieve their objectives that will include doing the right thing as well as adopting any underhanded means. Spreading rumours, engaging in gossip, partaking in corruption or scandals might be considered and adopted.

However, there will be rewards, job opportunities, good news and even money making opportunities in the midst of such misery. However such positive outcomes will not come about easily and be without conditions. A great deal of diligence, self-discipline, an eye for details, patience and perseverance will be required to work through the odds. Even though it will be necessary to work hard, it will also be vital to maintain good healthy habits and avoid being a workaholic. You might want to prioritize your tasks to handle important matters and plan your schedule properly. Failure to do so might result in a high likelihood of losing control and end up in a cycle of a cat catching its tail.

Incidents recorded in The Star in the past week or so include..

UK border staff vote for strike during Olympics
Passengers arriving for the London Olympic Games could face long queues at airports after a union representing passport officials said its members had voted to back a strike in a dispute over pay and job cuts.

Protesters stand under red umbrellas during a Day of Action for the 2014 Health Accord in Vancouver, British Columbia July 18, 2012. The red umbrella has been adopted by health care advocates and medical practitioners concerned about the federal government's announced cuts to provincial health transfers in coming years. The protest was held in several cities across the country. -Reuters - 19 July, 2012

Mapuches take part in a protest against the government by placing their hands through a barrier into a jar of cement, which hardened around them, in a public square in Valparaiso city, about 121km (75 miles) northwest of Santiago (Chile) July 18, 2012. -Reuters - 19 July, 2012

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest in front of the ruling government party Popular Party headquarters in Madrid July 13, 2012. Spain created an emergency fund to protect its regional governments from defaulting and warned pensions will also be overhauled as public anger mounted on Friday over the deep spending cuts needed to dodge an international bailout. REUTERS/Juan Medina - 14 July, 2012

Firefighter Fabian Corona, 36, remains tied with strings and chains to a lighting post at Zocalo square in Mexico City July 11, 2012. Corona, a firefighter for 16 years, along with seven other colleagues, began on Tuesday a hunger strike as they claimed that they were unfairly dismissed. - REUTERS/Edgard Garrido - 12 July, 2012

An Occupy Wall Street activist takes part in a march in downtown Manhattan in New York July 11, 2012. - REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz - 12 July, 2012

A protester wearing a mask takes a photo with a cellphone at the entrance to Congress in Guatemala City, July 10, 2012. A group which calls itself Anonymous Guatemala, is protesting outside Congress against the high salaries of politicians and unnecessary expenses when the people in Guatemala are still poor, according to the protesters. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez - 11 July, 2012

...and something pretty for a change..

A young woman picks sunflowers as the sun sets near the small Bavarian village Puchheim on July 18, 2012. Meteorologists forecast nice sunny weather during next two days for southern Germany. -AFP - 19 July, 2012


Sources:
- www.jmine.com.sg
- The Star

Happy Mother's Day

A video for Mothers..

- Moms are always there for you
- Moms shape lives and inspire dreams
- Moms are the heart of the family
- Moms grow love better than anyone, especially Moms like you

If there are trophies for loving and caring, for being the best of friends, for taking care of scrapes and bruises, for mending socks and hearts, for that special bowl of chicken soup or dose of wisdom, for that figurative knock-on-the-head, I believe Moms would win them all! :D


Happy Mother's Day!


and here's Google's Tribute to Mothers..

Buy tulips for Mother's Day at Sungei Wang Plaza

Each year around this time of the year, fresh tulips are being flown in from The Netherlands by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. No difference this year. Surprise your mom with fresh tulips this year or indulge yourself with a beautiful bouquet of these fresh air-flown tulips and in the process contributing to a charitable cause.

Hand-pick your own colourful bouquet of beautiful tulips at the 14th KLM Annual Charity Tulip Sale which will take place today at the Concourse Level of Sungei Wang Plaza from 11am onwards.

Priced at RM5 each, there will be 3,500 stalks for sale including the double tulip. Proceeds this year will benefit the Special Children Society of Ampang (SCSOA). The fundraiser targets to raise RM28,000 this year.

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms out there!


Source: The Star..Saying it with lovely tulips

Where to get Flower Coupons

Flowers never go out of style. You don't even need a reason to send someone flowers no matter the distance. Right?

If you have friends and family overseas and you have sometimes been in a dilemma as to how to go about getting them flowers, here is a site blossoming with great deals where you can compare flower coupons to get them the best rose bouquets or basket of flowers at the very best discount.

Friday Frolics -What Primary Color Flower Are You?

Great weather today for frolicking outside. No raincoat needed, no umbrella needed too. But before that, let's do our own Friday frolicking first.

Ever wondered if you were a flower, what color flower would you be? Hey, there are male flowers too. No?

HappySurfer is a Blue Flower

You know a lot, and you're always learning more. You believe in being self-sufficient. You are a rule breaker but not a rule maker. You generally despise all rules. You are very fantasy prone. If you don't like how the world is, you imagine how it could be. You are an open, flexible person who is able to see the world through many perspectives.

What Primary Color Flower Are You?

Friday Frolics: Cheaper Than a Therapist

Peas & Bees, Iris flowers and a traditional wedding in Japan

Isn't it nice to be remembered on your 189th birthday? Today is the 189th birthday of Gregor Mendel and Google is celebrating it with a logo honoring the scientist and his work.

A little information about Gregor Mendel from Wikipedia:

Gregor Johann Mendel (July 20, 1822[1] – January 6, 1884) was a Czech-German Augustinian friar and scientist, who gained posthumous fame as the figurehead of the new science of genetics for his study of the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants. Mendel showed that the inheritance of these traits follows particular laws, which were later named after him. The significance of Mendel's work was not recognized until the turn of the 20th century. The independent rediscovery of these laws formed the foundation of the modern science of genetics.

While we are on peas and bees, let me tip you off on a million beautiful iris plants of 500 varieties and a lovely wedding tradition in Japan on Pandabonium's site. PandaB shoots very nice pictures. Enjoy the site!

Grow Sunflowers

Probably next year, the northeasterm region of Japan will appear attractively yellow seen from space. This is because, folks in that region have been asked to grow sunflowers. The call to plant this radiant yellow flower is related to the Fukushima nuclear disaster that followed March's earthquake and tsunami. Sunflowers can help decontaminate radioactive soil.

Volunteers are being asked to grow the flowers then send the seeds to the stricken area, where they will be planted next year to help get rid of radioactive contaminants in the plant's fallout zone.

Thousands of sunflower seeds have been sold including to the city of Yokohama, which is growing sunflowers in 200 parks.

On the home-front, yellow is no longer a tricky color to wear as yellow attire but without the Bersih logo is now allowed according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar.

For foreign readers, Bersih means Clean in the local language. The rally recently held on July 9 is a call by Bersih, an NGO, for Clean and Fair elections advocating electoral reforms.


Image source: Wikipedia

Of Flower Festivals, Earphones and a Lightning disaster

The Met department a few days ago forecasted thunderstorms this week and that hopefully they would clear the haze in the country. Yesterday evening, we experienced strong winds and a thunderstorm in the Klang Valley. The atmosphere is clearer today as a result and if you are in the vicinity and are a flowers and garden enthusiast, probably a great day to spend at the Flowers and Parks Festival at Putrajaya which ends tomorrow. Stay a little later after sundown, you'll get to enjoy the river floats all beautifully-lit and decorated with flowers, of course.

On the subject of weather and thunderstorms, here is an interesting article spotted in The Star about the danger of using the earphone when there is lightning. Good to take note and spread the word.

KUCHING: If you are in the habit of moving around with the earphone of your handset stuck in your ears, an incident here yesterday will have you thinking twice about doing that.

It was about 5pm and a mosque cleaner at a teachers' training school at Jalan Batu Lintang was happily working away with the earphone of his handset plugged in his ears when lightning struck.

A source said in the split-second incident, the youth, 18, was flung to the floor, and friends who came to his rescue were shocked to see what used to be his handphone looking like a mere lump of metal. Apparently, it had instantly melted and then hardened.

A lecturer rushed the unconscious youth to the Sarawak General Hospital.

The source said there were clear burn marks on the youth's ears.

At press time, he was still in critical condition.

Window Flower Boxes, I Like

There is nothing more delightful than to have lovely flowers around you especially in the home. Gardening is a rewarding past-time albeit some hardwork and gardening knowledge involved.

The thing about flowers is that they can be planted everywhere where this is soil - on the ground, in pots as well as in box planters. Window flower boxes are popular and with flowering plants are great to beautify windows and enhance the facade of any home.

However, it is not easy to buy these window plant boxes as not many stores carry them and even if they do, there is a limited selection.

If you are looking for window boxes or garden window boxes, WindowboxPlanters.com carries Window Boxes of every size, finish, style, and material. They offer a low price protection and free shipping. Check them out!

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Even though we do not have seasons here, somehow, some trees bloom with lovely white, pink, violet and yellow flowers much like those of temperate climate when it comes to Springtime in the northern hemisphere. Did you notice that too?

Last year and the year before, I managed to take some pictures of the colourful blooms somewhere in March or April. Below is a picture from last year's post.


But this year, the blooms came and went just as quickly that I missed them. No picture this year of Malaysian flowers but better yet, let me take you to Japan for cherry blossoms and other beauties of Spring on Pandabonium and the Moody Minstrel's blogs.

This is borrowed from Pandabonium's blog. You can see more beautiful pictures on PandaB's blog.



And this is from the Moody Minstrel's blog. Visit MM's blog for more beautiful flowers including lovely colourful tulips.



Ahh..... beautiful colours of Spring. I belong in Spring.