Yesterday, while strolling in the Singapore Garden Festival, a thunderbolt striked me on my inspiration-cap. And the new interest sparked off from there : VA-NI-LA ! I shall start collecting vanilla-orchids, those plants where vanilla-pods are harvested, cured and used as spices.
It doesn't matter how clueless I am on vanilla-growing. There wasn't much entry on the most popular gardening forum in Singapore. Vanilla-growers must have been hidding their secret collections! Psst, if you have one, share your pics with me :)
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Jul 20, 2010
On the 4-year mark comes a revolution !
'Looking back' is the general mood on our little-island with the coming National Day celebration. As Singapore looks back 45-years to the birth of a nation, I nostalgically browsed through my own blog, all the way back to the new-born entry 4years ago, on 4Sep'2007.
Fondly recalled how an apetite for heirloom tomatoes sparked off a new hobby in gardening; which later fireworked into a large collection of complementing edibles, ranging from herbs to fruiting/vegetables, both temperate and tropical. I had great fun, on top of the sweat and misery of failing crops, pests and bad weather.
Approaching the 4-year mark, I feel like a revolution! Not just a superficial makeover to the garden. But a major change- new directions, new working models, new partners.
So the blog took on a new name, 'We Purr As We Grow', inspired by the new purring-partner on this blog. A delighted gardener is just like a delighted cat. We toil and sweat, then sit back and admired our completed task, still heavy in our breathing, and sounding just like a purring-cat !
Bye to 'We Eat So We Grow'. Now 'We Purr As We Grow' :)
Fondly recalled how an apetite for heirloom tomatoes sparked off a new hobby in gardening; which later fireworked into a large collection of complementing edibles, ranging from herbs to fruiting/vegetables, both temperate and tropical. I had great fun, on top of the sweat and misery of failing crops, pests and bad weather.
Approaching the 4-year mark, I feel like a revolution! Not just a superficial makeover to the garden. But a major change- new directions, new working models, new partners.
So the blog took on a new name, 'We Purr As We Grow', inspired by the new purring-partner on this blog. A delighted gardener is just like a delighted cat. We toil and sweat, then sit back and admired our completed task, still heavy in our breathing, and sounding just like a purring-cat !
Bye to 'We Eat So We Grow'. Now 'We Purr As We Grow' :)
Feb 5, 2010
The Sun. They love; I dun; she does sometimes.
The Sun is back. Was yesterday, being the first day of spring on the chinese farmer's calender.
The dinner-plate hibiscus and sunset hibiscus (she's the color of my nonya-kebaya) love it and bloomed lavishly...
I frown with the heat... 
While kimi enjoys the sun-basking in the morning...
...then she naps on the cool pebbles in the early afternoon... 
... and hides in my room while I work hard at the study at mid-day.
Kimi follows me like a shadow as I move around the flat. So her chosen napping-spots must strategically allow her to monitor my movement while she's napping... Like the exit from the study in the pic.
Cats! LOL.
The dinner-plate hibiscus and sunset hibiscus (she's the color of my nonya-kebaya) love it and bloomed lavishly...
I frown with the heat... 
While kimi enjoys the sun-basking in the morning...
...then she naps on the cool pebbles in the early afternoon... 
... and hides in my room while I work hard at the study at mid-day. 
Kimi follows me like a shadow as I move around the flat. So her chosen napping-spots must strategically allow her to monitor my movement while she's napping... Like the exit from the study in the pic. Cats! LOL.
Jan 1, 2010
Inspiration 2010- It all starts with an ending.
End old habits, start new habits...
End bad practices, start good practices...
Wrap up outstanding work, start new schedules...
Abandon redundant roles, adopt new roles...
Ditch rotten relationships, pick up fresh relationships...
Forgive and forget, write new memories...
...blah blah blah... Tis the new year theme:)
End bad practices, start good practices...
Wrap up outstanding work, start new schedules...
Abandon redundant roles, adopt new roles...
Ditch rotten relationships, pick up fresh relationships...
Forgive and forget, write new memories...
...blah blah blah... Tis the new year theme:)
Dec 7, 2009
First aid to broken stem
What can a gardener do to a Roselle plant with broken main stem, who has shown great determination to continue staying alive for the last two weeks? -Splinting with chopsticks;)
Sep 8, 2009
The balcony evolved...
120kg of pebbles, One happy kitten, and A slimming plan, led to the maturing of our balcony-garden.
The pebbles clearly demarcated the growing strips. Water drained out of pots flow right under the pebbles, keeping the feet and the paws out of the dirt. Thus, the balcony-garden are free to roam again :)
This balcony-garden started at the beginning of 2008. Took a few months to settle into the first completed look in this photo (last Oct), which I liked very much for its dreamy feel sans the congestion (which was a problem this year until The Slimming Plan was written).
The pebbles clearly demarcated the growing strips. Water drained out of pots flow right under the pebbles, keeping the feet and the paws out of the dirt. Thus, the balcony-garden are free to roam again :)
This balcony-garden started at the beginning of 2008. Took a few months to settle into the first completed look in this photo (last Oct), which I liked very much for its dreamy feel sans the congestion (which was a problem this year until The Slimming Plan was written).
Aug 5, 2009
New era - Period of Toms
Changes bring new lifes!
I am excited with the new direction coming Nov. Then, new lifestyles spells adaptations for the existing. Kimi will have to adapt. The garden will have to adapt too.
The present balcony garden is slowing growing out of the existing planting list. We are downsizing the plant list so as to upsize the produces. Too much riddle? Simply, the new lifestyle coming Nov do not give me much time for gardening. Thus a very selective collection will be grown, and whatever is growing out there has to be 'independent'. Too much to ask for from pampered indoor plants? Not really! Tomatoes, cucumbers and many herbs grow wonderfully in hydroponic, which is so addictive cos working-time was reduced from watering everyday to topping up nutrients one/twice a week. There will be lots of heirloom tomatoes in future. And the rosemary, thymes, bay, lemon myrtle, pandan and curry plants in soil are happy to continue standing in lesser-sun and drinking only every 2/3days. The remainings such as mints and basils are really easy-going plants too.
So now we have (on the way) a balcony-garden with more walking space and less work :)
Btw, my dear toms are fruiting again. Looks like a bountiful harvest this round.
I am excited with the new direction coming Nov. Then, new lifestyles spells adaptations for the existing. Kimi will have to adapt. The garden will have to adapt too.
The present balcony garden is slowing growing out of the existing planting list. We are downsizing the plant list so as to upsize the produces. Too much riddle? Simply, the new lifestyle coming Nov do not give me much time for gardening. Thus a very selective collection will be grown, and whatever is growing out there has to be 'independent'. Too much to ask for from pampered indoor plants? Not really! Tomatoes, cucumbers and many herbs grow wonderfully in hydroponic, which is so addictive cos working-time was reduced from watering everyday to topping up nutrients one/twice a week. There will be lots of heirloom tomatoes in future. And the rosemary, thymes, bay, lemon myrtle, pandan and curry plants in soil are happy to continue standing in lesser-sun and drinking only every 2/3days. The remainings such as mints and basils are really easy-going plants too.
So now we have (on the way) a balcony-garden with more walking space and less work :)
Btw, my dear toms are fruiting again. Looks like a bountiful harvest this round.
Apr 1, 2009
Balcony update
Our green-pets on the balcony are enjoying their lifes, generally.
Those perched on the low balcony wall get good wind and nice views of the communal garden downstairs.
The siverbeets especially, are enjoying their spa-bath while taking in the views out there.
Missy Picotees (the morning glories) climbed to get an even more advantages viewpoint.
Bay-sir grows himself up and out of the gap between the wall and railing.
All's good. The Hydroponic box of PakChoy (KY-early fr Known-You) was harvested a few rounds before being 'taken down'. Purple french beans are harvested too, and they continue to throw up flowers and new pods. New vegetable seeds are sown. Sweet basils grew up to 40cm tall, and upgraded to their own container. Ditto dills who stand in their own tub, perched on the low wall, looking out of the balcony.
... Except an unlucky chap, Bonsai-Shuimei, who's infected with black spots on the leaves. Skyfiery came visiting yesterday, smelled rat, and got diagnosis from Sixhunter that its probably black spot disease. Tat is a messy problem.
Poor handsome Shuimei got trimmed down brutally (ALL leaves n secondary branches gone), soil changed plus a root trim to downsize the root ball. He probably will take a long time to recover from tis brutal trim down. IF he survives :p
Today will be an April Fool's gardening day -making concoctions to spray down the plants from fungus-growth (in case of spread), and continue fixing the spider mites problem in the mint box.
Those perched on the low balcony wall get good wind and nice views of the communal garden downstairs.
The siverbeets especially, are enjoying their spa-bath while taking in the views out there.
Missy Picotees (the morning glories) climbed to get an even more advantages viewpoint.
Bay-sir grows himself up and out of the gap between the wall and railing.
All's good. The Hydroponic box of PakChoy (KY-early fr Known-You) was harvested a few rounds before being 'taken down'. Purple french beans are harvested too, and they continue to throw up flowers and new pods. New vegetable seeds are sown. Sweet basils grew up to 40cm tall, and upgraded to their own container. Ditto dills who stand in their own tub, perched on the low wall, looking out of the balcony.
... Except an unlucky chap, Bonsai-Shuimei, who's infected with black spots on the leaves. Skyfiery came visiting yesterday, smelled rat, and got diagnosis from Sixhunter that its probably black spot disease. Tat is a messy problem.
Poor handsome Shuimei got trimmed down brutally (ALL leaves n secondary branches gone), soil changed plus a root trim to downsize the root ball. He probably will take a long time to recover from tis brutal trim down. IF he survives :p
Today will be an April Fool's gardening day -making concoctions to spray down the plants from fungus-growth (in case of spread), and continue fixing the spider mites problem in the mint box.
Mar 6, 2009
A backpacker's garden
What does a backpacker do when she needs to hang a set of 4-feet growlight with adjustable height ever 20cm?
2 ceiling hooks, 2 S-hooks, long polyester strings, plus a couple of knots (Tarbuck knots, Trilene knots and Alpine butterflies)
Job done !
2 ceiling hooks, 2 S-hooks, long polyester strings, plus a couple of knots (Tarbuck knots, Trilene knots and Alpine butterflies)
Job done !
Feb 16, 2009
Making plans to chomp down a balcony
4x2metres balcony is all we got. Did an inventory this afternoon. There are already some-34 varieties (see 'What's growing' on left column) of herbs, vegetables and fruit-vegs within this little space.
To maximise natural sun locations for growing, the double-tier planting rack has been moved to form a continous 4metres sunny-frontline with the existing heirloom tomato collection and suspended herbs rack.
Leafy vegetables -> Started; to expand.
Grown in hydroponic boxes. With 4weeks rotations, and harvesting 4 cooking-days a week, there will be a need for one more hydroponic box. What I have now is Pakchoy, Choysum, Lettuce and Silverbeet. Looking for Spinach and Kailan. Do drop me a note if u will like to propose more greens, or your prefered variety ;)
Root vegetables -> To research & start soon.
This catergory of edibles is completely new to me. Maybe grow some radish or carrots in a soil box? How deep should it be? What kind of soil media? Which varieties? ......
Fruiting vegetables -> Started; to improve lighting condition.
Im partial to heirloom tomatoes. They will all grow up to be giants. However, being indoor, I only allow them grow up to 2.2metres, after which, chop it down and grow new plant. Still, this arrangement is good enough to keep me happy with my little collection. Only problem seems to be that more and more sunny days have been replaced with cloudy (though equally high temperature) days. There is a need for setting up growlights to fill in 2 extra hours of artificial lights a day.
Amidst growlight selection right now... Once set up, the edible-balcony blueprint should more-or-less remains stable till 2010 at least. And I look forward to the exciting actions-days for the following weeks ;)
To maximise natural sun locations for growing, the double-tier planting rack has been moved to form a continous 4metres sunny-frontline with the existing heirloom tomato collection and suspended herbs rack.
Leafy vegetables -> Started; to expand.
Grown in hydroponic boxes. With 4weeks rotations, and harvesting 4 cooking-days a week, there will be a need for one more hydroponic box. What I have now is Pakchoy, Choysum, Lettuce and Silverbeet. Looking for Spinach and Kailan. Do drop me a note if u will like to propose more greens, or your prefered variety ;)
Root vegetables -> To research & start soon.
This catergory of edibles is completely new to me. Maybe grow some radish or carrots in a soil box? How deep should it be? What kind of soil media? Which varieties? ......
Fruiting vegetables -> Started; to improve lighting condition.
Im partial to heirloom tomatoes. They will all grow up to be giants. However, being indoor, I only allow them grow up to 2.2metres, after which, chop it down and grow new plant. Still, this arrangement is good enough to keep me happy with my little collection. Only problem seems to be that more and more sunny days have been replaced with cloudy (though equally high temperature) days. There is a need for setting up growlights to fill in 2 extra hours of artificial lights a day.
Amidst growlight selection right now... Once set up, the edible-balcony blueprint should more-or-less remains stable till 2010 at least. And I look forward to the exciting actions-days for the following weeks ;)
Divide the 'land'; together we will grow.
These are days of mudfish-morale : you know you are a fish, yet you can only crawl on your stomach on the muddy floor of the ocean-of-unlimited-opportunities.
To keep the morale afloat during this period where things just dun seems to go the way they should, i chose to work on one aspects of our life. Knowing and doing at least one thing right/victorious feels uplifting now:)
Now that Wm has chosen also to 'taint' his fingers green, we divided up our gardening area into two sectors :
- Corridor will be ornamental. This will be Wm's domain.
- Balcony will be edibles, thus strictly organic and hydroponic combo. Tis will be my domain.
Let life breath into our gardens !
To keep the morale afloat during this period where things just dun seems to go the way they should, i chose to work on one aspects of our life. Knowing and doing at least one thing right/victorious feels uplifting now:)
Now that Wm has chosen also to 'taint' his fingers green, we divided up our gardening area into two sectors :
- Corridor will be ornamental. This will be Wm's domain.
- Balcony will be edibles, thus strictly organic and hydroponic combo. Tis will be my domain.
Let life breath into our gardens !
Dec 26, 2008
Its delightful ! - more fragrance, more colors
This Xmas sees happy nursery-shopping trips with Renee n Waimun.
Renee is excited about moving back to tampines. She picked up loads of flowers, greens n hardware overnite to start her lovely little corridor garden.
And after 1 year of watching Rummi-at-work, Waimun starts to displays interest in what's growing within his compound. He'll like more fragrance, which sounds like a strange request from a person who wakes up with stuffy nose most of the days, hehe !!
I luv how the corridor look now, with the ornamental greens n flowers.
The balcony air is 'puffed' with Wrightia Religiosa and Jasminum Sambac... waiting for the combination of blooming flowers paired with breeze from the river. Here's pic of left section of balcony.
These 2 colorful pots of Pentas added splashes of colors to Rosemary n Indian Borage.
Maidenhair fern is a Pot-Of-Elegance:)
However, the two pots of polka-dot faces are under stress from repotting, some leaves are curling up at the edge, and some 'faces' losing their polkadots. Opps.
Here's a close-up of the little red lantern flowers on the hanging pot of Abutilon Megapotamicum, in the balcony. Ohh, its a conversation piece ;)
Jaminum Sambac is the flower that is used for chinese jasmine tea.
And finally, a pot of must-have =Wrightia Religiosa. After re-potting in small pot and trimming, it acquired kindofa bonsai-look;)
Renee is excited about moving back to tampines. She picked up loads of flowers, greens n hardware overnite to start her lovely little corridor garden.
And after 1 year of watching Rummi-at-work, Waimun starts to displays interest in what's growing within his compound. He'll like more fragrance, which sounds like a strange request from a person who wakes up with stuffy nose most of the days, hehe !!
I luv how the corridor look now, with the ornamental greens n flowers.
The balcony air is 'puffed' with Wrightia Religiosa and Jasminum Sambac... waiting for the combination of blooming flowers paired with breeze from the river. Here's pic of left section of balcony.
These 2 colorful pots of Pentas added splashes of colors to Rosemary n Indian Borage.
Maidenhair fern is a Pot-Of-Elegance:)
However, the two pots of polka-dot faces are under stress from repotting, some leaves are curling up at the edge, and some 'faces' losing their polkadots. Opps.
Here's a close-up of the little red lantern flowers on the hanging pot of Abutilon Megapotamicum, in the balcony. Ohh, its a conversation piece ;)
Jaminum Sambac is the flower that is used for chinese jasmine tea.
And finally, a pot of must-have =Wrightia Religiosa. After re-potting in small pot and trimming, it acquired kindofa bonsai-look;)
Dec 22, 2008
Its a Charleston Xmas tis year !
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year !
This year, Jean & Waimun are in a dancing mood.
Let our family dance for u
This year, Jean & Waimun are in a dancing mood.
Let our family dance for u
Nov 24, 2008
New season new pets - Green & Blue
Nov/Dec is very pleasant on a tropical island. Rain comes frequently while the clouds shield off the blazing sun rays. Even the view from our little balcony got all dreamy and holiday-resort-looking ;)
With all the buzz-buzz in work n studies completed/procrastinated, now is a good time to start the 'food chain' for 2009. Here's the new Green-pets coming up...
On top of these, our new Blue-pet is coming home with us tis friday. She's a British Blue Shorthair kitten. Susan gave these catnip plants to Kimi. Hmm, Kimi is all pampered with gifts even before she come!
Mister-Oregano is my favourite. He's been around since this little balcony-garden started in Jan. We haven't been able to cook him fast enough to match his growth speed; so tat's how he became a hanging-pot-of-oregano, shaggy hair and moustache. LOL
With all the buzz-buzz in work n studies completed/procrastinated, now is a good time to start the 'food chain' for 2009. Here's the new Green-pets coming up...
On top of these, our new Blue-pet is coming home with us tis friday. She's a British Blue Shorthair kitten. Susan gave these catnip plants to Kimi. Hmm, Kimi is all pampered with gifts even before she come!
Mister-Oregano is my favourite. He's been around since this little balcony-garden started in Jan. We haven't been able to cook him fast enough to match his growth speed; so tat's how he became a hanging-pot-of-oregano, shaggy hair and moustache. LOL
Aug 31, 2008
Wish list
Sunshine, Peppermint, Chocolate mint, Basil (except sweet, thai & holy), Sawtooth coriander, Thymes, Sage, Tongue-of-fire bean
... ...
... ...
Jun 29, 2008
Visit to Punggol community garden
Here's a wonderful community garden in Punggol, under the 'command' of Velvetine-the-dimpled...
THIS is Velvetine-the-dimpled...
and here's Solonavi and Velvetine standing inthe middle of the community garden. Vel was hanging on to her very precious and unique tilandsias pot.
THIS is Velvetine-the-dimpled...
and here's Solonavi and Velvetine standing inthe middle of the community garden. Vel was hanging on to her very precious and unique tilandsias pot.
LittleRedRidingHood & BigBadWolf
Little red riding hood went hiking in the passionfruit forest in Punggol Community Garden...
Along came big bad wolf...
Little red riding hood fled...
Err, wat an untidy escape across the aloe vera field, hehe
Along came big bad wolf...
Little red riding hood fled...
Err, wat an untidy escape across the aloe vera field, hehe
Jun 24, 2008
New layout - Making space for new pots
Two new tomatoes plants & two new cucumbers plants are ready to be go into their final pot. And that's a lot of space to ask from a HDB-flat's balcony and small stretch of corridor.
This calls for ruthless spring-cleaning!! All the bean plants in the corridor trough are taken down. Their ill-health is apparent.
With the corridor rack freed up now, the Basil-Trios moved out...
...here's an 'After'-foto showing the balcony looking naked without the lush-&-green basils...
... and here's the 'Before'-foto for comparison.
This calls for ruthless spring-cleaning!! All the bean plants in the corridor trough are taken down. Their ill-health is apparent.
With the corridor rack freed up now, the Basil-Trios moved out...
...here's an 'After'-foto showing the balcony looking naked without the lush-&-green basils...
... and here's the 'Before'-foto for comparison.
Jun 13, 2008
First cat in the balcony-garden
Maggie gave us a 'cat'. Is that a sign of a a real cat coming soon? i dream...
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