From Flower, Seeds, and Leaves; We eat all those parts of The Belinjo Plant

 

Belinjo (Gnetum gnemon)  seeds - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

People in my hometown know this plant since it was a common ingredient in one of the dishes we call "sayur asem." I wrote this particular soup on Ichi's Fusion Recipes and it was without Belinjo seeds and young leaves. We, Indonesian, pick from flowers, seeds, and young leaves of Belinjo to add them to our foods. 

In the place where I come from, Sumatera island, we do not grow Belinjo plant or Melinjo as it is not a native plant in our region. Mainly, it grows in Java island where we could find this tree at household yards or gardens. However, we are familiar with its products, one example is Belinjo crackers made from Belinjo seeds. The crackers have a bitter taste with garlic and salt in it. For some children in my hometown, it was not their kind of thing to indulge their tongue. Unlike them, for me, I liked  Belinjo crackers and it has become one of my favorite snacks on some occasions since then.

Besides using the seeds for crackers, Indonesian take Belinjo's young leaves, and flowers in some traditional cuisines for instance "sayur asem" (sour soup) and Melinjo flower as one of the ingredients in "urap" (Indonesian salad). The sour soup consists of long beans, corn, young jack fruit, eggplant, ground peanut, tamarind, Belinjo seeds, and young leaves. No wonder the taste of the soup is sour which is both intriguing and challenging for me yet I love it!🤩 For someone who is not fond of tamarind taste would skip this menu from the dining table.

I wish I could pick those Belinjo fruits!😐 - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

After moved to a particular city to study at a university, I found that we can cook Belinjo skin seeds as delectable food on the table along with other ingredients; local calls it "bronkos." I often bought a meal with this menu at the food stall as this menu is the signature of this city. Moreover, we can find a snack made from the Belinjo skin seeds. It sounds amazing, isn't it? I discovered this knowledge when I decided to move out from the place where I was born and grew up. It is the advantage of being brave to see the world.😃

Nowadays, I have seen the Belinjo tree standing proudly nearby our block where no one takes the flowers, seeds, and young leaves. There are lots of Belinjo trees just across the street from our residential. To be honest, I wish I could pick the Belinjo young leaves and their fruit so that I could make sour soup at home. However, it is virtually impossible in Singapore as those trees have been grown by the government (National Park). What I can do is just take pictures.🙄

An abundance of ripe Belinjo fruits and I just took the picture😏 - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

From the flowers, seeds, and young leaves, we can use all those parts of the Belinjo plant as food sources. Some people from my hometown said it had some health benefits if we consumed those food sources, one example was to reduce high blood pressure. However, some people were not on the same page where a person with high blood pressure and cholesterol should have avoided Belinjo products such as Belinjo crackers. Moreover, an individual with gout should remove Belinjo (flowers, seeds, young leaves) from their menu as it brings a bad health issue.

In spite of some benefits that we have from a Belinjo tree; the first is food sources as we can pick the flowers, seeds, and the young leaves, in addition, is where some people have believed that this food source is good for our health.  On the opposite, this source of ingredients is bad news for a person with gout and some people argue that individuals with high blood pressure and cholesterol should avoid those ingredients from their diet. 

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission

The Story of Monstera and Its Meaning in My Life

 

Ichi's Garden: Cheese plant - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Who says and where does the name come from? "widow" plant? Many people have known this plant as Monstera. So, what is the story about it,  any intriguing side behind this green foliage? This is my story that I treasure and stay in my storage of mind forever.

Cheese plant or some say Swiss Cheese plant was one of the foliage plants in my father's mini botanic garden. There were numerous flowers and plants with rage diversity in my father's garden landscape. He had been starting to collect those floras since the house finished. My father designed our big yards perfectly with a meticulous job where he selected the flower, foliage, and trees, that suited each spot. He said all black shiny stones with medium and small sizes that used to create a more natural look view at the garden were freshwater stones. I had no clue where he got those stones as we did not live in any nearby river. He chose a Cheese plant to fill one of the pots arranged in the terrace house.

Like other flowers collections, I did not know where this Monstera came from, did my father bought it from a garden shop or picked it from his friend's house, I was clueless. I even did not take notice when he planted it. It was probably during weekends when I had always been busy with my friends, my father spent his time doing gardening at home. Eventually, I found Monstera was fascinating when one of my father's siblings said, "Oh, I have this plant too at home, the name is "Holes of The Widow"." I was curious why a plant had such a name, it was weird and improper for me. I loved Biology and I was not on the page in this name. Moreover, I had believed this greeny plant had a Latin name just like another. For that reason, Monstera captivated me and I have admired this unique foliage since then.

After years living in Singapore, someday I saw a greeny foliage plant that have holes in its leaves. No doubted that it was the same plant in my father's garden collections. I bought it and now I have had this plant for about 5 years. I am delighted to have it in my mini "garden." It does not only remind me of my father's garden but also gives me a smile whenever I miss my father. Yeah, I have tried to find and buy flowers and plants that exist in my father's yards in the past because nowadays those are not in there anymore.

Each plant and flowers in my "garden" have their own stories. For me, personally, gardening is not a hobby like many people say. This is a passion, a job, and about responsibility to mother nature. That was what my father taught me. If some people think that planting flowers is a hobby then they would only fascinate with extravagant plants. This is what I have seen nowadays where many (mostly) my friends from the place I come from do gardening for a fancy and status social in the community. The more they collect such pricey plants or flowers, the more they wish for compliments. The aim is different if we love nature, the goal is to preserve and protect nature including the habitant in it so that we can create a better world for the next generation where humans and nature coexist side by side. Sometimes I just wonder, those priceless plants and flowers actually exist in the village some years ago where I lived in my hometown. Aglaonema, Caladium, Alocasia, Euphorbia, including Monstera, and many others, those were abundant in the past. For the past years, many villagers have been chop down trees, decimate plants that create habitat loss for some creatures for example birds, dragonflies, butterflies, squirrels et cetera, as the result, native village plants and flowers are sold in the garden shop at high-priced. One of my friends acknowledges it as he mentions that the nectarine bird is no longer spot in his hometown and is long gone because some or many people do not aware of the importance of trees and flora to its residents. In addition, deforestation will definitely aggravate the damage to nature. We, humans, are the ones who ruin our own world. If our world changes, the balance collapses, where would we live? 🙄 Exodus to Mars?🤔

My Cheese plant is also known as Monstera story has lots of meaning in my life. Besides reminding of my father, it is also my responsibility to preserve this unique plant. This is one of my jobs to keep it exist so that someday when I have kids I can tell them the story of my Monstera. It would be intriguing storytelling and will encourage them to do the same thing; love our nature and treasure it.

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse this photograph anywhere else without permission

The Story of Cuphea Purple in My Childhood

 

Ichi's Garden: Cuphea Purple - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Have you ever heard Cuphea Purple flower? Or probably you know about it? For me, the Cuphea flower is not only just a plant but also has a story during my childhood life. It was a great and amazing moment and stay in my mind until today. 

I bought Cuphea Purple about 2 weeks ago where I went grocery shopping. The price is cheaper only $3 for one small pot of Cuphea Purple. Therefore I did not hesitate to pick it up and brought it home as my new member family in my "garden." After moving it to a bigger pot and place it in the right spot, my Cuphea grows well in health condition. I am delighted since it brings back my childhood memorable story!

It was one of my best friends who introduced me to the Cuphea Purple plant. I know her since kindergarten school and we had been becoming close friends since then. We explored our neighborhood every day with others to find a new flower, plant, or anything that was more interesting than playing with toys or dolls. We were not keen on those city's children's things as my friends and I were excited to ride our bikes and did adventure. It was the time when we were in primary school.

My friends and I had a hobby that none of villager children aren't interested in today. Besides finding a new plant and flower in our neighborhood, we collected and planted them in our yards at home. If one of us found a new one, immediately informed each other and shared what we found. Hence, we had numerous flowers collection and we got all of those without spent a single cent of money which meant free! How? Well, when we identified an interesting flower in one of the households, we just asked the house owner nicely and they gave us permission to pick in order to propagate it by ourselves. Sometimes when I went to my classmate's house, I did ask them to pluck one or some of their flowers and brought them home and propagated them. Yes, I had 2 distinct friends, one was friends from around my father's house, while another was friends from my school where mostly came from another district. These two groups of friends did not get along with each other. The reason was simply that both of those groups had different interests. I reckon I was blending in more than two groups. For this reason, I was able to collect many varieties of flowers effortlessly. 

Someday, one of my friends told me that she planted a plant that had a tiny flower. She showed me at her yards and I was amazed about what I saw. It was clear, she created her name on the ground by planting those tiny plants. "Isn't that great?!", she said. "amazing.", I replied. After saw such a creative idea, another friend and I were copied her bright project. Yes, we called it a project where we grew the Cuphea Purple in our garden. However, I was the one who was not able to create my name on the ground. The reason was that my father's garden had already been crowded with flowers. It needed some space, if I pulled the original flower from the garden landscape, my father would furious. Yes, I was allowed to plant flowers and plants (whatever I like) as long as did not break the original garden landscape; that was my father's rule and I had to comply with it. So, I planted my Cuphea Purple on the top left corner of my father's front yards and grew some others on the edge of the terrace house. 

Something that was intriguing about our journey to grow Cuphea Purple was that my friends and I did not know its name! That's true! Common flowers such as Rose, Jasmine, Hibiscus, Allamanda, Gardenia, we all knew as it had been taught in the class. Unfortunately, we did not have the ability to identify many species of flowers and plants around our neighborhood. It was sad, but we could not do anything about it since we could not barely buy books. How about the library? Our village did not have a library. School's library? Our school's library did not have those particular books collections. Internet? Well, dream of it!😆😅

Years passed, nowadays, I am easy to find this tiny purple flower in the flowers/ garden shop nearby at a cheaper price. Moreover, I can identify it! this is my progress after took years!😂 Another good thing is that it brings back my memorable moment with my friends in the village! On top of that, what I had done in the past when I was a child is the core of how I can become like I am today. And I am glad had many friends in the village who encouraged me to sharpen my knowledge and did something to preserve our nature.

The story of Cuphea Purple in my childhood life was unforgettable. It brought a friendship, learned nature, and how to take care of our environment into a better one. As far as I remember, many villagers adored our act because my friends and I created the village more lively. What we did was more educational rather than damaged the village's reputation. Therefore, it is a great story that I want to treasure.🤗

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse this photograph anywhere else without permission

How to make Hibiscus bloom continuously?

 

My orange Hibiscus flower - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Look at the stunningly beautiful orange Hibiscus in the picture above, it is pretty, isn't it? Unlike nowadays that has bloomed continuously,  this plant hadn't flowered for more than a year! So, what did I do to make this plant finally back to track to produce buds and bloom?

It's unbelievable when I saw for the first time after more than a year my orange Hibiscus hadn't bloomed! Last year, I didn't do any gardening activities in my corridor due to the coronavirus situation. Yes, last year was a hard time for everyone here in Singapore, even we were under circuit breaker for 2 months or you can call it semi-lockdown as the new cases in the community spiked and many people felt uncertain with the situation. Therefore, I didn't care about the healthiness of my plants nor bought new flowers. Completely, we just sit tight at home, watched and read the news and listen to our government conference, what do and don't during this unprecedented crisis. Because of this, sort of to say, I abandoned my plants! Sorry...😐

Since early 2021, I have gradually started my gardening activities as the condition far more stable by buying chicken fertilizer to give my plants nutrients so that they are in good shape again. However, I noticed one of my plants; and it was my orange Hibiscus, looked skinny without any leaves along the big branch. Only some leaves on the top even though I put chicken fertilizer but still it hadn't any improved. What happened? 

My orange Hibiscus looks fluffy now and produces more buds! - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

A Hibiscus flower is typically a plant that loves planting on the ground. But, for me, it's virtually impossible to grow it on the ground since I live in an apartment. The only option is a pot to raise this flower. Well, it's quite challenging but I would like to try it. So, after bought from the flower and plant shop, my orange Hibiscus bloomed for some time until one day it didn't show any sign of buds. At this point, I trimmed in order to stimulate the growth of the flowers and gave it organic fertilizer. It failed!

More than a year, finally, my partner had an idea to buy fertilizer for bloom. Since then, once every two weeks, I put this special fertilizer to make it blooms! The result is fantastic! After the first fertilizer, I saw the growth of the leaves along its branch. Gradually, my orange Hibiscus produces buds and blooms! 

Nowadays, My orange Hibiscus looks fluffy than before. And now it's 8 weeks and produces buds continuously and attracts Sunbird. Yes, I have 6 pots of Hibiscus Flowers now which two of them are still growing. With those flowers in my "garden", it brings the bird in the garden every day. Start around 8 AM until 5 PM, my "garden" just similar to the feeding station where Sunbird comes and goes from dawn to dusk! 

That's what I did to make my orange Hibiscus blooms again and again. I put a special fertilizer for bloom. And it is not a big deal since the price of one pack of fertilizer (for bloom) only cost around $4. I can use it repeatedly because one plant only needs 1 tea table spoon or 1/2 of tbsp. So, it's quite a cheaper maintenance yet an amazing result. Moreover, I can use it for other Hibiscus plants so that I could provide a food source for the Sunbird. In another word, I create the Sunbird habitat in the apartment!😊

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission

How to Get Rid Caterpillar Naturally

 

A big and fatty caterpillar on my Kaffir lime plant - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

I hate caterpillar! Because of them, my kaffir lime has almost no leaves! However, I do not like to use chemical pesticides to exterminate them. So, what should I do then? 

I have had this Kaffir lime plant for about 5 years. I do remember when I bought this plant at the flower shop nearby in the market, I was hopeful that I'll harvest green and beautiful lime someday. Therefore, I have always maintained it carefully and give it much more of my attention because it is tricky to grow lime in a pot. Moreover, growing fruit tree in the apartment is quite challenging. Unlike other plants in my "garden" that some of them don't need my full care, for instance, Betel leaves. Betel leaf is a stubborn plant. Without water for several days, they still survive. Why I need to get my eye on my lime? Simply because I want to see my kaffir lime has fruit so that I can pick it and enjoy the day. 

One of my neighbors in the old place told me that I needed to cut the stem in order to force the growth of a new stem and leaves. This method, it would stimulate the kaffir lime to flower and then bear fruit and keep controlling the high since I have planted it in a small pot. It was successful in 2019 and I was delighted with the result. Finally, it bloomed and I could see some tiny kaffir lime on it. However, we had been busy and went overseas many times that year. And because of this, my Kaffir lime failed to produce fruit that I had been waiting about 3 years!😢 Nowadays, I am trying to make it bloom again. But, the big issue is because a lot of young laves, it attracts butterfly to lay their egg on it. The next thing that happens that I see many caterpillars on my beautiful lime plant! 

I tried to fix my lime plant by cutting all the stems and leaves that had been attacked by this little pest. What I can say that my way to get rid of them was futile because butterflies love this spot and relentlessly build a family on my lime. Using a chemical product to fully kick them out is also not my wise choice since sometimes I use kaffir lime leaves as one of my ingredients in the kitchen. Moreover, the fruit itself, when the fruit blooms, I also want to use it further. I need to find a way to get rid of caterpillars from my lime plant, but how? The answer is naturally!

Last year I did not do any gardening activity because I avoided outside activity even though just in my corridor due to the coronavirus situation. We were in a bad situation when daily cases more than 1,000 new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection. So, I just watered my plants and flowers without any care. I realized my lime had caterpillars on it because I often saw a butterfly laid down her eggs on my young lime leaves. I also saw many caterpillars poops on the floor in my "garden" spot. But, something strange happened that time, the caterpillars were gone! Where were they? I didn't have any close answer to relieve my curiosity.  I had no idea.🤷‍♀️🤔

I read that when Sunbirds raise their brood, they must find a caterpillar in order to give enough nutrition for the young. I have seen a couple Sunbirds visit my Hibiscus flower. I also saw them perching on kaffir lime plant. Based on my observation of the habit of Sunbird, my conclusion is they took the caterpillars. However, not long ago I discovered that something else, something that I have never imagined before, what was that? My husband and I saw another bird perched on my lime. The color was brown and had a distinctive crest on the head. We did not know what's the bird name. But somehow I felt familiar with the sound of this particular bird. I often heard this bird sound but had never seen their appearance. Just recently I saw it walking and jump from one pot to another then perched on my lime plant. It was the first time my eye caught it. After googling for some time, finally, we knew about this bird, the name is Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Yellow-vented Bulbul is one of the birds in Singapore that we can found around the environment, including in the residential area where the vegetation surrounding. I am lucky that we found this area to live in because surrounded by a green view. Furthermore, the national park is just in our area which means a few steps from our block. No wonder it is easy for us to spot various birds around, or they just visit my "garden" like Yellow-vented Bulbul. The simple answer why this bird often visits me is because I have food for them, caterpillars on my lime.🙂

Caterpillar is my enemy, but it has a natural predator. The natural predator for caterpillars is birds. So, do I need to wait until the bird comes and eats them? I think first of all we need to attract birds by growing flowers or plants; nectarine flowers and plants that produce seeds or some kind of berries. But it doesn't mean we can't grow another flower or plant. What I have believed is bird loves a greeny and vibrant place that a look-like their habitat; where they can find food or just hang around. Therefore, planting another plant is also needed in order to create a beautiful scene. It should our responsibility as humans to save this little creature to live in harmony with us, isn't it? That's what I had seen when I lived in my father's house a long time ago. It was the best moment in my life where I experienced something unusual, for example seeing three small owls in my father's garden. My father took me to the garden and brought a torch because we did not have electricity in the village. I was in grade 3 or 4 and I was thrilled! What I have learned from my father is the fact that nature is beautiful and it's our duty to keep them in balance by doing a small thing, for instance, do gardening even though in a small place. I do not have yards or a garden because I live in an apartment yet I grow flowers and plants. As a result, it attracts not only Sunbird but also Bulbul to come and visit my little "garden" to feed. In return, they exterminate my enemy: caterpillar. I am relieved, the bird satisfied. Everyone has the best day! Cheers!✌🤩

To make my lime blossoms is quite hard. However, I still can use the leaves as my cooking ingredient whenever I need them. Even though its leaves gone, hopefully, it will grow soon because I added chicken fertilizer to help my lime growth. Yes, I do like natural fertilizer like this one because I want to minimalize the use of chemical fertilizer since kaffir lime is one of my food ingredients.  

This is the way I get rid of the caterpillar on my lime plant by dragging down its predator. Planting diverse plants in my "garden" would create a look-like home for small birds. Of course, it needs distinctive plant and I have to learn what kind of flower that provide their foods to get particular birds attention. Though it is not easy and requires some effort, I still do like this job. Who's giving me the job? No one!😅😄 If I do not take a step they might be gone or extinct someday, both the plants and the bird. For this reason, I volunteer to preserve what I believe.😊🤗 

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse this photograph anywhere else without permission

I Found A Cute Creture in The Car Park: Swinhoe's White-eye

 

Swinhoe's White-eye in the Car Park - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

It's been a while since the last article I published on Ichi's Garden. I have been busy recently with many things so that I could not write a new article. However, I love writing and I want to always share something that I know, my experiences, knowledge, anything that could give a positive mind for others including this topic where I found a cute creature in the car park. I hope it would give you peace of mind and a little smile for your day! 🤗

Swinhoe's White-eye in the car park - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

For the past few days, we have nice weather where the rain comes. The best thing about is that after it over where I can hear birds sing a song continuously. I did not know where was coming from, but for sure that beautiful sound is from the car park. I failed many times to identify the sound and the bird name that dance in the rain. They are tiny creatures, moreover, the color is the same as the leaves. We could not see them clearly.

Swinhoe's White-eye in the car park - Photographed by RDZ

A few days ago, after the heavy rain over, I felt curious when heard the same sound again in the late afternoon. I saw a pack of tiny birds flew and perched from one tree to another in the car park. From our laundry room, I found about 8-12 green tiny birds sung their song and looked happy. I did not know what were they doing, but I assume they ate something from the young leaves. Minute to minute we observe their behavior, some of them just played around, while others just take a rest and groom. What a cute creature that perfectly blends in this residential area. That is why we like the area where we live where I can see the green views from our windows. Furthermore, I can found some birds that live surrounding. 

A beautiful tiny creature: Swinhoe's White-eye - Photographed Acik Mardhiyanti

What I can see is the bird has a white circle on their eyes, and most of their fur is covered with olive green color on the upper part, lower breast and belly is pale grey, while the throat, upper breast, and forehead are yellow in color. My husband said it looked they are wearing glass or masks. I think it is the reason why Malay people call this bird is Kelicap Kacamata Biasa which means the word "Kacamata" is a glass.😅What a funny expression! If you see them, you would say the same thing. I assume the body size may be the same as Sunbird, but it has an almost round shape, I guess.🤔 They are in a pack not single or couple like Sunbirds. This bird is called Swinhoe's White-eye.

A cute creature: Swinhoe's White-eye - Photographed by RDZ

What they eat exactly? Seeing their beak we can identify them eating small things, specifically flowering trees. No wonder, I saw them busy on some particular tree for example Raintree. Last month our town council did trim all the trees in our residential including in the car park. And now that trees, Raintree, Yellow Flame trees, all of them have many young leaves and start flowering again. I think it is the reason why Swinhoe's White-eye bird comes in a pack, gathering to feed on these flowering trees.

Are you able to find Swinhoe's White-eye among those leaves?😍 - Photographed by RDZ

By watching this bird, we can feel some peace in my mind and smile while taking the videos or their pictures. These activities, somehow, become our new hobby. Even we set a camera to record Sunbird that visits my "garden" every day to take nectar from my Hibiscus flower. Well, nowadays, I have 5 pots of Hibiscus flowers! It sounds like a gas station to represent my "garden" because each day, yes, each day at least 4 Sunbirds come to enjoy the food that I serve for them.🥰 Nature is beautiful with the tiny creatures that will make our day is great! How about you? Are you enjoying nature around you and find a sense of peace? 😊

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti and RDZ
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission

Discovering Beautiful Birds Around Our Home

 

White-collared Kingfisher in the car park, what is he doing in the rain?🤔 - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Living in the bustling city would make many people wonder what it looks like living in this busy city, Singapore. We thought that we could not find or feel nature anymore and possibly impossible to find biodiversity when we knew that most of the people here live in an apartment. However, we were wrong! 

I hadn't imagined that after moving to Singapore would find some fresh nature and a greeny view. For me, personally who love flowers and plants, of course, I would be happy if I can do gardening and create a little community for the nature creature for example bird. I  grew up with a beautiful green view surround where I could hear the birds sing a song every day. So, deciding to stay in Singapore was like having a hard deal. However, soon after set my foot here, I amazed by the nature around me. I can't believe that we live in the busier city yet can feel the green scenery!🤗

Olive-backed Sunbird visited my Hibiscus flower - Video by RDZ, picture taken by Acik Mardhiyanti

I wrote about "spring" and "autumn" in Singapore before. In this article, I want to share about colorful birds that live with us in our residential or the block we live in. In general, from our windows, we can see the green view around us and lots of trees and tiny creatures. The first thing when we decided to choose this location was because the flat has a "television" for my cat, Ichi, so she could enjoy her day by looking through the big window. Whenever she saw the bird, she excited, and sometimes we could hear her meow, not meow, almost like a laugh. That was how she express her happiness when the birds caught her eyes. Well, "spring" and "autumn" is the perfect time to see flowering trees and colorful birds around! That is why we like this particular location.

A couple Olive-backed Sunbird in my "garden" - video by RDZ, picture taken by Acik Mardhiyanti

In general, Sunbirds come to my "garden" to feed themself. Yes, now, I have 3 pots of Hisbiscus flower that actively produce buds. And 1 pot Hibiscus is still growing because I trimmed it. In total, I have 4 Hibiscus plants, 2 red colors, 1 dwarf yellow flower, and another is orange color! We often see the Sunbirds make a visit every day whether a couple or single Sunbird! I have another plant that attracts Sunbird, unfortunately, I have failed to identify this plant, still trying...🙄This plant has a tiny pink flower that has a bird shape. So, it is a cute flower! However, We haven't taken a proper Sunbird picture since they are very sensitive to movement. Instantly they fly away once see a human.😐 So, I would just love to watch them perch, play, and feed, on my plants. They are tiny and cute creatures!😍 Just like their name, Olive-backed Sunbird, the Sunbird that stops by in my "garden" has olive color on the back, meanwhile, their other body is yellow. I wonder, how much their weight since I have always seen them easy to perch at the Hibiscus flower.

A beautiful White-collared Kingfisher. Took this picture when we walked around the park - Photographed by RDZ

The other day while preparing our meal I saw White-collared Kingfisher perched on the Yellow Flame tree in the car park. I did not know what this little guy did in the rain. However, I captured some pictures of him. We can also easily found this bird every day if we carefully look at the trees around our residential. The other day on Sunday, we took a walk at the park. Like I mentioned before, our block is a nearby national park. we found 2 White-collared Kingfishers and took their pictures. We just followed their sound and found them! This bird has a distinctive sound that very loud even though has a tiny body. Sometimes we can hear Kingfisher sound in the early morning. Basically, in the morning and evening, they would sing their song! What we love about this bird is the color they have; it is blue and white! I imagine it like aquamarine blue, just like the ocean! Indeed, Kingfisher eats small fish, but they also eat other small living things such as grasshopper and small lizard.

A beautiful Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot - Video: RDZ, picture taken by Acik Mardhiyanti

Our day is also colorful as the next bird we discover around our block. What is it? It is Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot. Like the name blue-crowned; the head has a small round blue color. Male has the bright one, while female their blue-crowned fade away. Male Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot has also had a red mark on their chest. Yes, overall, this parrot has bright green color; I just imagine a rainbow to associate Blue-crowned Hanging parrot color. This bird eats small seeds and fruit. I think there are trees that produce small seeds around here because not only this particular parrot we found here, but also squirrel as well. Lots of squirrels live on the trees around our block. 

A cute squirrel in the park nearby our home - Photographed by RDZ

The next bird that I want to talk about is the shy one, it is Black-naped Oriole. The bird has a bright yellow color and black on the back. I think male and female are very similar in color, but some said the female has yellow color but little green. They stay on the trees that step away from a parking lot. I often see them flying around in the car park from one tree to another. However, they are shy birds, and hard to take their picture even though we often spot them in the parking lot from our kitchen window or laundry room.

Black-naped Oriole in the rain; I wonder what this little guy doing in the rain?🤔 - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

We had a lucky day when could spot Common Falme-back bird from our laundry room! But this bird is hard to spot in our area. However, if we are lucky enough, the day would come! Like in the morning when my husband did an online meeting in the laundry room, he was able to see a Common Flame-back. I think this bird lives around the park. The one that spotted was a male with a reddish crown on the head. Feeding insects is their behavior. 

Lucky enough to spot this little guy; Common Flame-back bird in the park - Photographed by RDZ

Actually, there is lots of pigeon and Myna bird all across Singapore. In our block, we can easily find pigeons and Myna as well because wherever they find food (human food), they would come. These two birds are common in Singapore. The pigeon breeds are faster than others so that makes them in a high population.

Raven in the car park - Photographed by RDZ

Another bird that I spotted in our block is the crow, but I would like to call them raven. The raven is also a part of the birds that live around our residential. My Japanese friend mentioned that the crow color in Singapore is not black shinny but has a brown color. When I walk to the market or other places around, I often spot them in a particular tree nearby. However, they avoid humans.

That's all the beautiful birds that I have discovered around our home. Maybe there are more of them. This is an unexpected event to find beautiful birds that live around us. However, the reality is wonderful and awesome! That is why I call my life is a wonderful journey!

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti and RDZ
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission

"Spring" & "Autumn" in Singapore

 

Yellow Flame in our block car park - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Are you kidding me, spring and autumn in Singapore? Indeed, living in Singapore we only experience a hot day, sweaty a lot, and only have sort of rainy day. To feel spring and autumn, it virtually impossible. However,  we can see "spring" and "autumn" around our neighborhood when the time comes every year.😊

White Trumpet Tree - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

a Male Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot; took this picture and videos from our laundry room - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti and RDZ

For quite some time, we realized our environment around us, observe it, we found something amazing and wonderful that we hadn't imagined before. What is it? Feeling like spring and autumn but still on a hot day, humid, and lots of sweaty. It sounds weird, but when we see the trees around us bloom, some others change their leaves color turn into vivid red and yellow, many beautiful birds fly around, suddenly we can smile and feel peace in our heart. Maybe because I love nature, however, I think lots of people here feel the same. Moreover, we are very, very happy!

"Autumn" in Singapore - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Capturing the moon from our laundry room - Photographed by RDZ

I think the Rain Tree bloomed in early March when I saw many sunbirds flew around that trees in our car park in our residential. The flower color is pink-white that could cover all its big umbrella-shaped crown. This tree is beautiful in my eyes because every time I see it, I just like saw a painting. In the morning, Sunbirds had a big party at this tree, while others stopped by in my "garden" to take nectar in my Hisbiscus flower. I like their announcement when arriving, we even got the opportunity to take videos! I can see the Rain Tree from our window kitchen and laundry room.

a female Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot; taking this picture from our laundry room - Photographed by RDZ

Yellow Flame in our block - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

a female Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot in the car park - Photographed by RDZ

a Male Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot; they are a couple who build a family and has a nest on the Yellow Flame Tree in the car park where we live - Photographed by RDZ and Acik Mardhiyanti

Another amazing tree is called Yellow Flame. We can see it in our block car park as well. These trees are still flowering now and easy to caught our eyes since the flower is bright yellow. Is not only Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot that uses this tree as their nest to build a family, but the fruit also attracts the squirrel. Yes, we can see this beautiful green small parrot along with White-collared Kingfisher birds! How about the squirrel? Believe me, there are lots of squirrels in our neighborhood that we could easy to spot them. We can see this beautiful bright yellow flower from March to May and September to November! So, I would be ready to capture this moment!

White-collared Kingfisher in the car park - Photographed by RDZ

At the same time, here in my neighborhood, I can have a chance to catch autumn from other countries when Malayan Crape Myrtle Trees turn their leaves into yellow or vivid red/ red. The question is why they turn their leaves color? The regular leaves of this particular tree are green, but, when the temperature cooler which means the rainfall level is higher, those weather activities speed up the shedding process, so that we can see yellow and red/ vivid red leaves here, just like autumn.

Malayan Crape Myrtle Tree in our neighborhood - Photographed by RDZ

While Yellow Flame Tree, Rain Tree, and Malayan Crape Myrtle Tree are showing off their beauty, Trumpet Tree also gives the best moment by showing pink and white its flower. When we see it, instantly feeling like spring in another country. I captured some pictures of Trumpet Trees from our front door. The flower color is white, however, the most popular one is pink that we could find in our neighborhood. By enjoying this beauty, we can't believe that we are in Singapore. Many people call it "Sakura" in Singapore.

Crown in car park; took this picture from our laundry room - Photographed by RDZ

Sunbird visited my "garden" - Photographed RDZ & Acik Mardhiyanti

I also found the Penda tree that blooms at the same time. When it blooms, the bird would come. What kind of birds is that? They are Sunbird, Myna, or Javan Myna. I spotted one Myna and captured the pictures! No wonder that the Sunbird hasn't visited my "garden" for some time to take the nectar of Hibiscus flower because they have lots of food sources out there. That is why I hear their party in this tree along with Myna's song. 

Penda Tree and Myna; took this picture from our front door - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

That's how beautiful our environment around our block. I remember before moved to Singapore, to be honest, I was worried that we could not feel nature again because what had I know about Singapore was a busy and bustling city. But I amazed that I still feel nature, beautiful green view, and even feel "spring" and "autumn" here! Moreover, I found and spot some pretty and beautiful birds that I haven't seen before from the place I came from. So, besides spotting Sunbird, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, White-collared Kingfisher, we also see Crow and The common Flameback or Goldenback bird, Black-naped Oriole, and Asian Koel bird! Actually, there are many more birds in our neighborhood!

Capturing this picture of The common Flameback bird in our block from our laundry room - Photographed by RDZ

Even though we live in an HBD apartment and bustling city (people call it), we still connect with nature and find the wild creatures and live with us in a common resident. Furthermore, I can create a mini "garden" and planting Hibiscus to attract Sunbird. It is my wonderful life! 

Yellow Flame Tree in our block - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

My new article on Ichi's Fusion Recipes; Fried Selar fish: here is the link https://ichi-recipes.blogspot.com/2021/03/quick-simple-and-tasty-recipe-fried.html

See you in my other article, bye for now!

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by RDZ and Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission

 

The Challenge of growing The Oxalis Plant in the Apartment

 

Oxalis plant in my "garden" on a rainy day - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Look at that picture above? I like the leaf's shape and color! Yes, it is my Oxalis plant or you can call it Oxalis Triangualris purple leaf.

The first time I saw the Oxalis plant maybe 8 years ago when one of my neighbors showed me the plant that she called "Butterfly" plant because of the leaf's shape. Wow, I was falling in love at first sight with this beautiful plant! I hadn't seen a plant like that before even if I planted a bunch of flowers and plants in my father's garden and yards. I didn't know the name of that plant. My neighbor was no idea what was the name either. The intriguing thing was when she said the leaves will close in the evening. So, the leaves have responded to light, opening during the day, and closing at low light (evening/ night) where the leaflets fold at the level of the central vein. What a unique plant! 

Oxalis in my "garden" - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

After moving from one place to another, about 2 years ago I bought a purple Oxalis plant at a flower shop nearby. The reason why I chose Oxalis because of the position of my corridor that I could say difficult to grow some flowers that I had always grown before such as Sunflower, Marigold, Portulaca, chili, Coleus, et cetera. Even I had lost some of the plants or flowers that I already planted before. Therefore, I needed to figure out what kind of flower or plant has possible growing in my new "garden" space. So, I tried to grow Oxalis that is said could grow in shade sun. It fits with my "garden."

Struggling from direct sunlight, but they survived! - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

However, the sun's position changes twice a year which means there is a time when direct sunlight has a chance to reach my "garden."  Growing flowers in this spot are really challenging. But I do not know the result if I haven't tried. So, I bought and grew purple Oxalis. For the first a few months when the sunlight did not reach it, the plant had been growing wonderful and healthy until someday the sunlight struck it directly. That time my Oxalis plant gradually had shown unhappiness and died.😥 

My Oxalis: some of the leaves damage because of direct sunlight, but others are still pretty - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Before coronavirus year, I bought purple Oxalis again and planted it in the same pot, and place it in the same spot. I thought it would die like before when the sunlight reaches them. Surprisingly, this time, my Oxalis plant survives even if some of the leaves damages. But it still there and produces lots of flowers than before. I have had this plant for a year now!🤗

The interesting question is what happened to my old Oxalis, why didn't survive meanwhile my new Oxalis can adapt even has many flowers? I think the first reason was that I didn't know much about the Oxalis plant. Overwatering, overfertilizing, is just one of the reasons why my old Oxalis died. Moreover, I hadn't observed much about my "new" garden space that completely different from my corridor before. The position of my corridor which is where my "garden" took a place, will determine what types of plants or flowers can grow. Furthermore, a new plant means I have to observe them whether they suit or not in my little "garden." Not only that, I need to learn about Oxalis habit, for example, dormancy. I thought only some animals will have this habit. It sounds weird but Oxalis has a dormant time where the leaves closed for some time and then reopen again. This is something new for me. My old Oxalis showed this period and I didn't know about it. As result, I kept watering every day because I was worried it would die and needed more water. And I made a mistake, I should have let it for some time and it would be fine. 

Some leaves damaged but they are still looking for the sun and face it! - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

The Oxalis that I have now is much more struggling, I assume because direct sunlight hits its leaves and damages them. Luckily, somehow this plant survive. I do not water it every day. I also do not give it fertilizer frequently like before. Last year when we were in a tight situation, I did not do any gardening activities which is I just let my plant without any maintenance, including Oxalis. 

Even though some of the leaves damage, but it has lots of flowers - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

What I have been learned is that I do not need to give organic fertilizer to my Oxalis if my pot soil has compost in it. Watering just sometimes and depends on the weather. How do I know when my Oxalis need water? I check the soil before give it water. If the soil is completely dry then it is time for watering. Sometimes once a week.  However, in the rain season, most of my plants get enough water from the rainwater, except some plants like Hibiscus; it needs water every day. However, it depends on the soil that I use for my Hibiscus.

So, technically, I put my Oxalis outdoor. I wish I have a spot indoors that perfect to grow Oxalis. However, the flat that we live in has not such a "luxury" spot to grow plants indoors. Hopefully, my Oxalis will survive until next year. 

After suffering from hot weather, my Oxalis was happy when the rain came! - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

It challenges tasks for someone who wants to create a garden in an apartment where they live. Not easy, but give up is not my personality. That's me, I am a persistent person. I can't live without growing flowers and plants. They are a part of my life. Growing Oxalis in my "garden" is challenging. But I want to try to get the experiences that will make me a better gardener someday.😊

See you in the next article. Happy gardening!🖐😉

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission

Red Hibiscus: The forgotten Flower

 

Red Hibiscus in my "garden" - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Welcome to Ichi's Garden! Look at the picture above, it is a beautiful and magnificent flower, isn't it? The red color makes this flower could easy caught in our eyes. The good thing is we can use it as a small Biology project if you want to learn parts of a flower and its functions. That's what I did when I was in the third year of secondary school. However, how Hibiscus become a forgotten flower and everyone ignore it? 

I mention in my article before that Hibiscus was a common flower in the village where I lived and grew up. We could easy to find red Hibiscus on the side of the village streets, gardens, or villagers' yards. Everyone knew it and seemed nothing special about it because lots of households had this bright beauty flower that attracted butterflies. Not only butterflies, but villager's children also used to pick this red flower when they played. I could say, maybe the people in my hometown didn't realize that this flower is really beautiful and become one of the flowers that sold in the flower shop and an expensive price in another country for instance, in Singapore. The price for 1 pot of Hibiscus flower is around $8 - $ 10.

My red velvet flower aka red Hibiscus in my "garden" in rainy day - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Year by year, one by one flower and plants that common in my hometown goes to in the edge of cliff including Hibiscus along with another flower, for example, Jasmine, Periwinkle, Crepe Gardenia, Gardenia flower, Aglaonema, Caladium. I remember one of my Indonesian friends told me that the Jasmine flower that growing in my "garden" was priceless and rare. I just wondered how does it happen because as far as I know, the Jasmine flower was a familiar flower in villager yards. Even my father grew 2 kinds of varieties in his garden, single petals, and double petals.

It started in 2000an when many of the new generations didn't care anymore about their flowers or plants that had been growing in their yards and garden. Meanwhile, their parent grew old year by year and fallen sick. Many of them cleaned up the garden and their yards just because they didn't want to take care of the plants. I asked one of them, "Why you chop all those fruit trees and all the beautiful flower plants that had been there for so many years?" Here is how she answered my question, " I do not want to rake the leaves that are an annoying thing." I was speechless!🙄 Why I speechless? Because when I lived in my father's house, I did rake all the leaves in my father's big yards every day. Moreover, on Sunday I helped my father to take care of flowers and plants. I would pull the weed as well. 

Red Hibiscus in my little "garden" - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Nowadays, I have seen many people in my hometown admire expensive plants that they think it is more have prestigious or could show their status in the community. One of those people is my classmates. They say it is their new hobby to collect plants that they call expensive. When I look at the plants that they claim priceless, I do not have any surprise. Why? Because it is some plants that actually exist in the past where many households in the village had planted in their yards or garden. The question is why these plants costly? I am sure you know the answer. First, they did not care about flowers and plants; second, as a result, many common plants and flowers in the village become rare every year; third, nowadays, they completely forgot their root and just following the wave where some people sells flower and plant that they claim as unique or inimitable plants. What I can say, some people took advantage of a business to promote flowers and plants that actually it was there in the same place many years ago before finally becoming a rare plant. 

What happens when people take gardening as a hobby? After those plants or flowers do not have any prestige or the price in the market falls down which means the price becomes cheap or no value on it,  they abandon those plants or flowers. I have seen these events repeat again, again. Moreover, they get bored because, in deep their heart, they buy that expensive plants or flowers for status in the community. Furthermore, taking care of the plants or flowers is just part of making the plants look good when their friends come to see them. 

My pretty red Hibiscus in the morning - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

In my view, people who love nature, basically, love flowers and plants without thinking about the status or prestige in it. They grow those plants because they want to. Me, for example, I grow flowers because I want to grow them and see the flower when it blooms. Moreover, it is a good thing if I can planting flowers that can feed butterflies and birds. That's it, Yes, just simple like that.😊

Back to the topic, why Hibiscus flower become a forgotten flower in the place where I lived. The answer is the same as many flowers or plants that I talk about. Hibiscus flower does not have any value in it which means there is no prestige or guarantee that will make someone getting high status in the community. If this happens continuously, someday Hibiscus will extinct for sure. Furthermore, when it happens, the environment has also gone where no more butterflies and nectar-eating birds around. 

When I was thinking about why it does happen, I just can see it because most of the children in my village did not get to school which means they grow and become uneducated adults. Many of them drop off from elementary school or secondary school. Some of them because they think school is not important and rely on their parent's money. Some of them simply did not have money to continue their study or lived in poverty. When children do not go to school and study, they do not know how fun to study floral in class and knowing it as knowledge. Like I said in the first paragraph, I picked Hibiscus flower to study the Biology in-class experiment. I was just excited to study parts of flowers. That's how I grow my respect for nature.

Start the day with my red bright Hibiscus - Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti

Growing Hibiscus as a part of my "garden" plants is not only to remind of good memories about my hometown but also to create harmony with living around for example Sunbird that has always stopped by to feed themself. Another reason is to enjoy the beauty of this red velvet flower. Furthermore, I give my respect to nature that I have believed if we care the Mother nature, it will bring luck for us. Like my neighbor said, "if we grow flower or plant then bird come that means a good thing will come to us."

I think every flower has its own story. For me, like another flower, res Hibiscus also has its story that I could share with all of you. The bottom line about this story is that we have to respect the environment around us. Doing a small thing such as planting just some flowers or plants, that will make better harmony between us and small creature for instance butterflies and birds. Moreover, it is not that bad to planting some kind of flower that call "cheaper" and "kampoeng" ("kampoeng" means village) because every flower has its own beauty.

Read my another article on Ichi's Fusion Recipe, link here https://ichi-recipes.blogspot.com/2021/03/veggie-fried-hokkien-mee-with.html

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permission
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permission