Evening Glow

Arrangement # 152

 Today I was working at the front garden and noticed something inviting about the double petal red hibiscus. Against the late afternoon rays it seemed to glow. That captivated me to do a quick composition. The golden yellow leaves of the croton ( Codiaeum variegatum) would help set the scenery and the red hibiscus would represent the setting sun. In quick succession I cut a tiny branch of the croton and mixed it with a single bloom of the red hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)In ten minutes I was inside the house re-arranging the display in a vase which I begin to like very much for its incredibly beautiful Sarawak design. When placed at a corner of the room next to an abacus lampshade, the ambiance of an evening sunset was created. Thus the title of today's composition...
Evening Glow.

                                             

Double petal yellow hibiscus

Arrangement#151 ~ Three's a company

I found yesterday that the yellow hibiscus hybrid flowers were still looking fresh and vigorous despite being in the vase for a couple of days already. Therefore today I would use again the yellow hibiscus hybrid from the garden outside. Three flowering stalks and five leaves of the mother- in-law's tongue made it to the show.
Talk about speed. It took me just below 10 minutes to arrange the show inclusive of photography. This is the strength of the kambatik garden. When rushed for time you still could some how gather suitable plants and produce an arrangement~ the kambatik way. Would like to call the above composition.....Three's a company.

Red Hibiscus, White Ginger and Wild Banana

Arrangement # 99

It's the Queen of the tropical flowers. The red hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa- sinensis) is Malaysia's national flower. I saw them a plenty at my garden this afternoon. Besides the red variety I came across too the light orange variety, that is two tiered with one smaller bloom hanging down from the bigger flower like a Japanese lantern. The latter variety has a dark red tinge colouring at its core.

Hibiscus do not release any fragrance. But no worry. I plucked a stalk of the white ginger ( Hedychium coronarium) and more stalks of the white gardenia flowers ( Gardenia jasminoides variegated) to add a lure of scent to the presentation.

Finally I am thinking of making the display look tropical. Therefore I took the variegated wild banana leaves to provide the exoticness to the presentation and placed them in a Sarawak flower vase. This vase has the native Iban design carved on it.  As a signature to the presentation, I let the vase sit on a young coconut frond. That's it, the tropical look is there. Imagine swaying coconut leaves, distant shores ( of course beaches too) and nature in abundance. A perfect tropical getaway.

The Queen of tropical flowers now casts an impressive display of tropical sight seeing, a romance under the tropical skies and Oh! what I call ...ATropical Galore.

Three's a Crowd

Arrangement # 69

This morning I woke up early because I'll be attending an 'akad nikah' ceremony where in the Muslim custom the prospective bridegroom will pronounce his acceptance of marriage to the bride in front of elders and a big crowd ( or small according to one's preferences).  Therefore a quick stroll around the garden will suffice.  To my delight three hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) flowers were ready for the picking. In quick succession ,I placed them in a glass of water with some leaves of the mother-in-law's tonque ( Sansevieria trifasciata ) and then kept the glass in a mini 'tambuk' and into an antique iron. The title...Three's a Crowd.

An interesting  use of the hibiscus image as coloured lighting motif is seen yesterday on a urban road,Kuching City.

This Morning Brightness

Arrangement # 68

What makes my day?  From yesterday's recycled beauty I retained the bracts of heliconia , costus and the variegated leaves of cordyline. This morning's  blooms consists of a stalk of pink canna hybrid, red hibiscus and light orange bougainvillea. Not to be missed is a white bract on a flowering stem of a variegated caladium.

To express this morning's early achievement and painless search I call the above composition...This Morning Brightness.

In Jubilating Mood

Arrangement # 65

Today I spent a very hectic day at down town Kuching City, where a handicraft show and sale was held. On reaching home , I met three striking beauties that greeted me as I approached the front garden.

One, a light pink hibiscus, then a lighter red canna hybrid and finally a handsome crimson red hibiscus.

It would be unthinkable if I would not pick them as my favourites for the day.

I was exceptionally happy this afternoon after I met some strangers who were so willing to share knowledge about batik at the show. All in all, I felt jubilatingly happy. With a little help from a stalk of costus and orange bracts of heliconia, the composition was completed in record time.

Therefore I dedicate today's composition to ....Feeling Exuberant..

A corner at one of the exhibition stalls displaying various containers using rattan as the chief material and given modern colours.

Brief Afternoon Glory

Arrangement# 59

Returning home late in the afternoon today, I wasted no time in picking my target for the day. Couldn't resist the orangish red colours of this regular single petalled hibiscus hybrid. Looks like they have just blossomed in the late afternoon sun. The tonal values of some light orange and lilac colourful bracts (couldn't get to name the species yet) creeping on the fence waited excitedly for my eager hand. For a fast late afternoon collection of cut flowers due for my dining table arrangement, am pleased to call this composition....Brief Afternoon Glory.

Happy to be back in Kuching

Arrangement#57

I am back in Kuching and happy to arrive here safely after a nine hours journey by road yesterday. On this trip my four cats joined me to clock their additional 600 km in their attempt to create the Malaysian record for the most travelled cats in Malaysia.

It was a joyful moment when I found after arriving at our residence that the hibiscus plant and the frangipani tree were flowering. My arrival was well greeted by them. I brought them in and immediately placed them inside the vase. For a lovely journey through the length of Sarawak ( almost) I name this composition as...Happy to be back in Kuching.