The story of wildlife in the garden

White-breasted Waterhen

Long-tailed Shrike

 The list of wildlife that are loved for the garden includes the butterflies, grasshoppers and of course birds.  The birds that are regular visitors to the Kambatik garden as encountered in Kuching consist of the Brown-throated Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Pied Fantail, Olive-backed Sunbird, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Long-tailed Shrike,Pied Triller, Phillipines Glossy Starling, Common Myna,   White-breasted Woodswallow, Peaceful Dove, Spotted-necked Dove, Oriental Tree Sparrow and the Chestnut Munia.  For stories related to their visits please follow this link...>>>>>http://kambatikgardenkch.blogspot.my/search/label/Wildlife

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Kambatik crowning glory

Pastel purple flowers of the Saitaceae magnifica assume a crowning glory effect over the Eugenia oleina tree.
Location: Kambatik Park, Bintulu.

 It has been more than a year since the last post I made in this blog.  I feel it is about time to complete this year with at least a post.  It is not that the blog is not being attended to.  More than that.  I have been exceptionally busy with doing the Kambatik garden concepts in two other blogs as in here and here. 
Today's posting is about the concept that I have experimented regarding the use of free-flowering woody climbers for big trees.    In the tropical rainforest ecology such climbers are a crowning glory over the rainforest canopy.  The species I used in Bintulu is the Saritacaea magnifica or Bignonia magnifica.  This climber has masses of big purple flowers that blossom all year long.  It is therefore a prime candidate for the Laman Kambatik 'crowning glory' plants.

Saritaceae magnifica/ Bignonia magnifica
Family : Bignonia family (Bignoniaceae)

Up on the Poui tree

Scaly-breasted Munia

Olive-backed Sunbird

 The Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea) is starting to flower, though not profusely.  It has started to attract many birds to come for various reasons.  The Scaly-breasted Munia which has been absent on the scene for quite a while sprang a surprise.  They were a small company  and seemed happy with the presence of tiny insects and ants on the branches and leaves of the Poui tree.  The male Olive-Backed Sunbird was busy piercing the tubular base of the Poui flower to get direct access to the nectar.  A third bird came along and joined the list of common birds seen at the garden today.  It was the Asian or Philippines Glossy Starling so easily recognizable for its red eyes and glossy black body.

Asian or Philippines Glossy Starling

Left to right - Mango tree,Eugenia oleina, Poui tree

Have a surprise in the garden

A hibiscus flower that was a surprise today

Ever-flowering species

 Let the garden spring a surprise.  Try the hibiscus.  There are many varieties of the hibiscus.  The best ones to plant are those that are ever flowering.  Day in and day out of the year they continuously  flower despite the rains and shine, wind or clouds.  They colour the garden.  Some varieties however flower occasionally.  Hibiscus are a tropical beauty.  Now many hybrids are available but these may give out more problems than prospect.  Hybrids are generally weak against diseases and costly to maintain.  For a Kambatik garden it is a must list, if you will.

Side garden with trees.

Colour the garden

Ixora 'Pink Deluxe'

Red Ixora

 Choose a most colourful palette for your garden.  From white, cream to yellow, orange, red, pink to purple or their many tones and variations, just colour your garden.  Colours wake up your senses, are attractive to birds and tell us of the varying seasons or cycles in nature ecology.  Colour is a celebration of nature.  Colour speaks to us of undying love, gentleness of character, goodness of life and a kind soul, bravery and strong will.  Colour is for everyone to see, love and cherish.  Colour then  the Kambatik garden in nature's glory. Here's a sampling of colour seen today at the Kuching garden.

Orange Ixora

Cream petals of the Canaga odorata

Orange bracts of the Heliconia latispatha

Pink to purple bracts of the Congea velutina

Mixed palette of the Heliconia psittacorum

Purple orchid colour

Yellow leaves of the Eugenia oleina

More birds, more music in the garden.

Yellow-vented Bulbul with a fruit of the Carpentaria palm

Brown-throated Sunbird

 The Yellow-vented Bulbul held in tact the round fruit of the Carpentaria palm in between its beak.  The Brown-throated Sunbird was seen making calls merrily from the Tabebuia rosea tree.  The garden is never quiet.  The birds make the garden a delight to immerse in.  The birds make the loudest natural noise called music in the garden.  It is this aspect of wildlife in the garden that gives the local gardener  a pleasure beyond words.  He has the birds to sing out his grateful soul.   More birds, more music in the garden.

View of tall trees at the back garden with newer fronds of the Foxtail palm in the foreground.

Colourful and fragrant plumerias

 Plumerias have scented or fragrant flowers.  They are among the favourite plants of the Kambatik garden.  Here are some images of a few varieties of plumerias or frangipanis that I have managed to photograph in many garden visits throughout Malaysia.  The varieties are recognised by the shape of the petals, which could be  pointed or rounded.  Here's some pictures that can convey their beauty and appeal.  Follow this link to see one of my postings on the plumerias in the landscape here..>>>