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Last week, I had finally tasted the yellow skin watermelons that were growing in the greenhouse like hanging lanterns for the first time.
The flesh and seeds of the watermelon looked just like a regular one, only that it tasted so sweet. Indeed, Teacher Wong told me that this is an award-winning watermelon developed by a breeder/producer in Taiwan. Continue reading Yellow Skin Watermelon The number of orchid species is about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species. Bulbophyllum (石豆蘭 in Chinese), Cattleya (嘉德麗亞蘭), Paphiopedilum (aka Slipper Orchid, 拖鞋蘭), Vanda (萬代蘭), Dendrobium (石斛蘭), Phalaenopsis (蝴蝶蘭)… there are just too many orchid species that it seems like a mission impossible to tell apart the different species of this beautiful flowering plant. But after I saw the blooming of Oncidium orchid (aka Dancing Lady, 文心蘭) a few days ago, I believe that from now on, at least I will be able to recognize the Dancing Lady from all the rest 🙂
We, women, sometimes complain that men only care about food and sex but nothing else (okay, also football games and gadgets). While it can be quite frustrating and disappointing sometimes, we can also try to be more sympathetic, and understand that these poor guys can really do nothing but try to meet their human biological needs. Food, sex, water and air are the four very basic biological needs that the survival of human race will become impossible if any one of these needs is not met. It is just part of the nature. All animals know these biological needs, as well as all insects. And apparently, even orchids know this very well too. Indeed, the orchids understand this so well that the plants use these biological needs to lure different insects to work for them for free! Continue reading It’s Always about Food & Sex
After weeks of anticipation, the 梨瓜 (lee gwar, literally means “pear melon”) in the greenhouse have finally ripened, and I’ve finally got the chance to find out what these mysterious melons actually are. So these are not chayote, as I have guessed. In fact, I have never seen this fruit before. It is like a fuji-apple-size honeydew melon. The fruit has a smooth greenish-white peel, pale green flesh, with seeds in the center. It actually tastes a bit like honeydew melon, only that it is not as sweet, yet much crunchier. Continue reading The Mysterious Melons
 In the bonsai workshop, this water lily is not the hero, if not an extra. Yet, the flower cares not, but only luxuriating in the sun, and enjoying every moment of life. I love fig, especially for its sweet, subtle flavor and distinctive, crunchy texture. It is among the tastiest and most versatile of fruits. But it was always dried figs that I ate. Only until recently, I have seen and tried some fresh ones for the first time.
I got two pots of ground orchids last month. While the orchid with yellow and green leaves was fairly expensive (HKD 250), the other one was dirt cheap (only HKD 10, less than USD 1.5). In fact, I didn’t really buy the 10-dollar orchid, but just got it as a giveaway from the orchid shop. And this is my first time growing orchid. Even though both orchids look equally beautiful, I had more expectation on the one with yellow and green leaves. Hey, this orchid cost 25 times more. It must be better!
I didn’t know that a flame violet can have different bloom colors. So when I saw a flower bud earlier this month, with similar color and look as the one in April, I was expecting another bright orange-red flower. But instead, the color of the bloom I have this time is in yellow, with a tint of orange at the bottom of each petal. What a last minute surprise! Continue reading Blooming of Flame Violet – A Last Minute Surprise |
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The number of orchid species is about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species.
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