Miniature Pineapple (Dwarf Pineapple)

This morning, a nice surprise greeted me as I ponder over the balcony  railings , where we hang a few potted plants. A beautiful yellow-golden 'dwarf pineapple' fruit with a proud crown on top ....

my own  'dwarf pineapple'

Took the flower pot indoors and immediately

 captured a few images using my tiny digital camera

Nanas Hana69 - MAHA 2008

: Pineapple Industry Board Malaysia

Not sure whether it is edible but have seen in being sold in the supermarket, Chinese fruit stalls and often used in flower arrangements, especially during the Chinese New Year celebration. Maybe it can be used as an exotic drink stirers as it has long nice stalk. I planted this dwarf pineapple from a cutting given by my sister in Melaka who was clearing her plot of front yard garden almost a year ago. Initially, I have given up hope that it could  fruit.

Browsing the internet to get some information on this plant :

Family  :    Bromeliaceae

Species :   Anana Nanus

Known to originates from Brazil as ornamental plant with longish green-grey leaves with spines. The ripe fruit look like a small pineapple.

Sunday Morning Walk Taman Botani Putrajaya

Bromeliad

Oncidium Twinkle ' Fragrance Fantasy'

a miniature plant that produces clouds of light yellow fragrant flowers

of similar shape as the Dancing Lady

on this particular Sunday on our morning walks.....

the Taman Botani of Putrajaya  organised a 3-days Orchid Expo with a colorful display of

Orchids by various orchid growers and associations

I came across this beauty , a dwarf of the dendrobiums orchid being sold at RM70/-,

(dendrobiums often selected for my fresh flowers arrangements re:

http://cikjahonlineflowers.blogspot.com/)

Pandanus

cylinder-shaped fruit tree

~ along the Botanical Garden African Collection Path, came across this tree

which has an unusual cylinder-shaped fruit

Jarak China (French Physic Nut)

this shrub probably may grow taller and bear fruits

 its spider-webbed leaves caught my eye  and my camera

Red Pineapple

its called 'red pineapple' but no pineapple fruits can be seen

Sword Agave ! sharp and pointed bladelike leaves ...

look like the 'mother tounge plant' but it is a different specie

Purple Bell Flower

just called it 'puple bell' coz do not its name

Mickey Mouse

so called 'mickey mouse' coz of its flowers

Colok Cina/Water Candle ~ Tyhpa Angustifolia

Flower arrangement & design ~ Landscape Design

this piece of flower arrangement was done some time ago.

 ( http://cikjahonlineflowers.blogspot.com )

taken at Putrajaya Floria 09

                                                (ref : wikipedia.org)

PetalFlies~Oxalis Regnelli

More on 'Petalflies'

displayed - Putrajaya Floria 09

                                                    (ref:  wikimedia.org)

Got to know some facts on this particular plant   (posted on September 6, 2009) , it is named as 'Oxalis Regnelli' ...ref: Laman Impiana Edisi 23.pg.085

It attracted my eye and took a shot during the last Putrajaya Floria 09 last August 2009. Then later in the week, I met a Malay lady entreprenuer in Gadek (Alor Gajah) who has a Landscaping company and often sells herbal plants, flowers and other gardening needs at the Friday farmer market in Tampin. She named this plant 'petalflies' and has several potted in her garden.

Oxalis Regnelli - the beautiful purple color of the leave,the long stems for the ground are topped with a cluster of three triangular-shaped leaflets, which folded at the mid-vein and look like purple butterflies. Would be beautiful if planted bordering or edge of flower beds. Its white beautiful blooms creates an attractive outline in any garden.  It is said to originates from Argentina and has over 800 species worldwide.

I believe there could be other uses beside being a garden plant but probably not known here in Malaysia.

Something That Inspires Me > Ideas for my Flowers Arrangement

cabbage - "centerpiece"

Cabbage is a good source of vitaminC  and  contains glutamine plus amino acid. The Malay Midwifery (amalan perbidanan Melayu) often advises mothers with engorged breasts problems

to wrap cabbage leaves so  to reduce discomfort.

Torch Ginger - High and Mighty

Torch Ginger

Torch Ginger (Etlingera Elatior) commonly grown in Malaysia mainly for cooking, especially to flavour 'assam' dishes. Now it is also used  in fresh flower arrangements.

Roselle - Sweet and Fresh

Roselle  or Hibiscus sabdariffa , known to have anti-hypertensive effects and used in traditional medicine as a diuretics or as a mild laxative. Roselle flowers are sometimes use to make herbal tea and believed to help reduce cholesterol . In Malaysia, fresh roselle  calyxes (calyx- a certain part of the roselle flowers) are made into health juice because ot its high vitamin C content. This plant is recently introduced by the farmers association in Malaysia but it has been  known extensively in Thailand, China, US  and Africa.

These pictures of common vegetable plants were taken from my previous visits to the flowers exposition. Browsing the images gave me inspiration to do flower arrangements

http://cikjahonlineflowers.blogspot.com/