Flowers of Kuching - Jacaranda filicifolia (Jambul Merak)

Flowers of Kuching - Canna hybrids

Flowers of Kuching - Bougainvilleas

Colourful Hibiscus

Walking around the Sarawak Musem Garden this afternoon, I was able to capture a few more samples of flowering hibiscus plants as shown above. Hope they can be a source of inspiration for today. Have a beautiful weekend.

Flowers of Kuching - Hibiscus

Flowers of Kuching - Varieties

Below are the flowers that I have planted at my Kuching garden. For your eyes only.

Sepenuh ( Eurcycles amboinensis)

Costus woodsoonii

Pink Canna hybrid

Pink Frangipani ( Plumeria rubra)

Flowers of Kuching - Hibiscus

Kuching Flowers - Anthuriums and Orchids

Kuching Flowers- Coleus

Golden Shower

In the middle of Mile 7 town center where the above mini-park is I noticed today a row of Golden Shower ( Cassia fistula) trees that are in full flowering. The bright yellow flowers are in heavy clusters and sometimes envelop the whole tree. Being deciduous they will be left without leaves for a while after the flowering season is over. Flowers last for a few weeks and then fall on the ground below forming a thin yellow carpet .

White Bougainillea House

Took a left turn before reaching Damai Resort. And came down to the village of Santubong. Followed the road that encircled the village and met this white bougainvillea house. Malay houses here are either constructed as one level or two. Older houses are made from timber, while newer ones of concrete and brick walls. At the far background is the Mount Santubong.

Hanging handkerchiefs

These white to light purple young leaves hang like long handkerchiefs from the the tip of the yellow saraca ( Saraca thaipingensis ) tree branches. I saw two stretches of roads at the BDC housing estate this morning which have these mature trees in their initial blooming stage.
In India a close relative of this tree is the Ashoka tree ( Saraca asoca ) underwhich it was believed Buddha was born and as such the tree is considered sacred among adherents of the Buddhist faith.
The variety we have here has bright yellow flowers which are fragrant, especially at night. This is an evergreen tree and is considered small as they very rarely reach more than 20 m. Over the years I have observed one specimen at the Sarawak Museum gardens and to my knowledge have been there for more than 15 years now and still retain a height of not more than 6m. I think this tree is a rarity even though it is native to this part of the world. As such I think it is good if other places in Sarawak emulate the planting of this species mainly for its unique look and blooms.

Close up of the bright yellow blooms of the saraca.


The flowers are attactive to bees and birds.
A characteristic of the saraca is its peculiar habit of having blooms emerging on the sides of older branches as seen here.

Cordyline Inflorescence

Walking around the city today I stumbled upon this flowering cordyline plant. It's not often that one encounters a cordyline plant inflorescence. Thus I was pleased to record this for posterity.

Location: Sarawk Tourism Complex area

Hibiscus Cultivars at the Museum Garden

At the Sarawak Museum garden yesterday I saw these colourful blooms of the hibiscus.  The red type hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is the national flower of Malaysia and is lovingly called ' Bunga Raya'.  Many people believe that the hibiscus originated from east Aftrica.  However there are claims that it has its origins in China and the Paciific Islands.  Nowadays there are hundreds of cultivars and they can appear in various colours like below.

Satok Flyover in full colours

I was thrilled to see the bougainvilleas planted on the Satok flyover showing their best. Satok Road is a major shopping area in Kuching.  You enter it by turning left just like the car in the foreground is doing.  The road is a mile long and is crowded with traditional markets, shoping malls and complexes ,makeshift food stalls especially erected  at night and the ever popular sunday market which kicks off on Saturday afternoon till Sunday afternoon every week.