Red Ginger, Red Ti and Heliconias

Arrangement # 133

Having arrived Bintulu safely after a ten hours journey from Kuching by road on the 3rd of March, I felt inspired to do a little composition to indicate the free abundance of red colours in our garden today. From a clump of red ginger ( Alpinia purpurata) I cut a stalk of brilliant red terminal bracts arranged like a parasol. Next on the list were the heliconias, particularly the heliconia stricta with four emerging red lobster claw-like bracts and the orangy red heliconia latispatha with its characteristic green tips. To hold them firm in the glass vase I sandwitched the pastel red young leaves of the Cordyline terminalis or Red Ti and two variegated wild banana leaves ( Musa Hirta) . Since the materials were close at hand it took me less than 15 minutes to finish the composition. Fully satisfied, I call this arrangement....Welcome Back.

Parrot flower, Firebrand and Red Ginger

What would you do if your eyes are feasted by the young leaves of Red Ti ( Cordyline terminalis) and the superb yellow and light pink bracts of the Parrot flower ( Heliconia psittacorum) ? Amazed, I quickly run my thoughts on a composition that could display such vibrancy yet simple to compose.

First I fold up the Red Ti leaves ( sometimes referred to as 'Firebrand') and plunge them into the vase. Four of these fitted in just nicely into the small squarish glass vase. Next I inserted a long stalk of the Parrot flower and firmed it upright. I thought for a simple composition that would do. Some would pronounce it as minimalist. Less is more. However to add to today's glowing show I threw in the terminal infloresences of a Red Ginger ( Alpinia purpurata ) plant that grew nearby.

Arrangement # 132

My feelings swung upbeat. Yes, it is confirmed now that Red Ti leaves are a staple for the kambatik style floral arrangement. But they must be essentially young to exhibit its vibrant and luminous red colours. For today's composition , the blood in me says.....Call Me Hot.

Red Ginger, Red Ti , Sassy Pink and Seven Golden Candlesticks

Arrangement # 121

I like the glow of the Red Ginger,

The attractive leaf of Red Ti,

Orange bracts of Seven Candlesticks,

The pink of Sassy Heliconia,

Together in a posy,

With ripe colours of rambutan,

And the hot spicy chilli.

I name today's composition... Warm Feeling.

The Glow of Plumeria Obtusa flowers

Arrangement # 119

The large white flowers of the plumeria or Great Frangipani ( plumeria obtusa) stood elegantly above its green glossy leaves had me captivated as I walked pass them in my garden today.  A small breeze made them sway in the wind. I looked at them twice, thrice and decided  to make them the subject of today's display.

I held the flowers' stalk firmly inside the small glass vase by wrapping the stalk with the Red Ti ( cordyline terminalis ) leaves as if it was clad in a 'sarong'. The Red Ti leaves stole much limelight from the pure white and silky colours of the plumeria. Therefore to soften its strong fiery presence I added in the stiff orange and lighter red bracts of the parrot flowers ( heliconia psittacorum).

To conclude today's presentation I name the composition...Glow with Me.

Wild Banana leaves, Red Ti ,Heliconia latispatha and Ixoras

Arrangement # 118

I have today met two variegated leaves that inspired me  to do today's presentantion.  First, the wild banana leaves of the musa  violascens and the light red to red and dark bronze leaves of the Red Ti ( cordyline terminalis) In order to match the flaming image of the Red Ti, in goes the dark orange to pastel red of the heliconia latispatha bracts and flowers ( slightly hidden).  I still keep yesterday's fan -shaped leaf of the licuala grandis and made it to wrap half of today's materials.  The licuala or fan palm leaf are green and plaited and toothed along the edge.  Nowadays it is remarkably easy to propagate this species from seeds because being popular as a tropical short palm it is made very available in many  a decent nursery.

To provide a middle focus to the display, I added the jungle geranium ( Ixora coccinea ) with its small scarlet tubular flowers in a ball-like cluster.  Another species I collected today is the Ixora chinensis var. lutea, having light yellow tubular flowers.

Having had the variegated wild banana leaves as a backdrop to the brilliant red and oranges in front, I reckon the best title for today's composition is....Jungle Flame

Purple Bignonia, White Caladium and Red Ti

Waking up early today, my spirits were lifted when I saw these purple flushes of the bignonia magnifica. Its bell-shaped mauve pink flowers were a good morning gesture after the heavy rains at pre-dawn over by my eco-farm.  Here I have planted them close to the aviary and trained them to climb over it for shade and much needed colour.

Then this spectacular leaf of the white caladium ( caladium X candidum ) had me excited over the opportunity of teaming it with the bignonia blooms. This caladium is exceedingly big i.e. about 40 cm long and 30 cm wide.  Its pure white leaf with green veins is a beauty in contrast.

Below are the stages of today's composition.

Arrangement # 117

With the help of the showy and bright light red leaves of the Red Ti ( cordyline terminalis) I have accentuated the ambience around the mauve pink colours of the bignonia to a higher level of brightness.  Then I used the leaf of the licuala palm as table mat for the glass bowl which is hidden by the white caladium leaf. In this particular instance I have sunk the center of the caladium leaf into the glass bowl together with the bignonia  blooms and Red Ti leaves.

Feeling happy and pleased, I name this composition...Today's Brightness.

Red Ginger, Bleeding Hearts and Red Ti

Arrangement # 108

I thought I have successfully utilise the beauty of the red ti ( cordyline terminalis) leaves in the above display.

For one thing,the leaves when wrapped around the flower stems or stalks of the red ginger ( alpinia purpurata) and the bleeding hearts (  clerodendrum thomsonae) makes the presentation neat especially through the transparent glass container or vase.

Secondly, the top end section of the sword-like leaves when bent add an interesting feature and artistry to the show.

Here the bleeding hearts flowers, the just recently plucked ones appearing more whitish than the slightly aged ones in mild red colours, breaks the symmetry of the display in a refreshing sort of way.

The height of the compositon is achieved by the exotic tiered formation of the red ginger's petals which I think provides much zest and appeal to the whole show.

All the Reds, please stand up!.....for that's the title of today's composition.

Red Ginger, Pink Canna and Red Ti for a Start

Fiery Start - in 2 versions

Arrangement # 101

It has been a month and two days since I did my last posting.  The main reason or excuse I guess was that I had spent the Hari Raya holiday this year in Kuching . The Hari Raya started on the 1st of October.

The problem after I get back to Bintulu was to get rolling on with blogging daily cut flowers.

Well, today I am over with the holidays and back to normal self.

Arrangement # 102

Walking around the garden I found that the canna hybrid I brought from Kuching from my last trip had flowered.  I decided to make it the top choice for today's arrangement. To add more turbo , more twin power to the display I added the fiery red ginger. Finally to keep the theme red I inserted the red leaves of the Red Ti ( Cordyline terminalis).

For having finally starting the daily cut flowers again after a month lapse, I call the above composition...Fiery Red Start.

Lovers at Heart

Arrangement # 92

Red is the colour of my true love's heart.  Wonderfully wild and passionate . Red as in the vibrant colours of the cordyline terminalis often times referred as Red Ti in Hawaii and elsewhere called as 'firebrand'.

Our hearts are plunged into the well of passionate desires and longing.  Of loving and craving.

When our hearts are entwined as lovers do, we felt no pain. 

Only hope that such a moment will come and never end.

No regrets. I call today's poetic presentation...Lovers at Heart.

Bamboo Culm Compositions - 1

Early this morning I came across this beautiful yellow bambo clump. The golden yellow colour of the stem strikes me as something unique and of good presentational value.

Having cut one long stem from the clump, I then cut it into shorter lengths for use as a display container like below.

Arrangement # 80

I am pretty impressed by the gorgeous golden yellow colours of the bamboo culm and thought it needed some strong colours to match. The ones closest to where I was working were the bright red foliage of the Coryline terminalis or popularly known as 'Red Ti' in Hawaii, and some light purple blooms of bignonia.

The colours being strong and vibrant had much tension in them as they are placed together.

The upright character of the Red Ti seems to accentuate the dynamic tension between it and the drooping bignonia flowers. This calls for an immediate resolution.

I found the soft and mild green leaves of a fern nearby to be the saviour of theday.

Feeling resolved, I would like to call this composition....Dynamic Resolve.

Flower Boat Series ( 1)

Arrangement # 52

Today I decided to make a floral arrangement based on the idea of the 'flower boat '.  This will be the first in the series. Today's arrangement included two types of red and deep orangish flowers and the white gardenias.  They are placed on a young frond of the bird's nest fern ( Asplenium nidus) and some broad leaves of the Red Ti ( Cordyline terminalis) and the banana leaf.