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.

                                             

Pink Canna Hybrid, Hibiscus and White Ginger

Arrangement # 71

I have not been able to get any reasonable good show of blooms yesterday( 19/8) .Thus was unable to post an arrangement.  However I seemed to be lucky this morning.  My waiting game for the stalk of pink canna hybrid and white ginger to come out of their buds and flower paid me handsomely today.With the pink flowers of canna and the red hibiscus in one hand and the white ginger on the other, my mind was working in quick mode.

In a vase of water they go and ooops in split second an arrangement was done. With a good day to remember ( 20.08.2008) and an effortless composition, I call this display...Lucky Me

Variegated Cordyline

Arrangement # 67

Sunday (10/8) when I went hunting for plants at the Satok flower market, I came across an interesting cordyline hybrid.  It has pale cream leaves with green streaks and edged in red which was very much different from the more ubiquitious red variety ( Red Ti) used very often in today's landscaping for their strong red and sometimes light pink leaves.
To match the variegated cordyline leaves, I chose the bracts of costus woodsonii and heliconia psittacorum which has survived days after having been placed inside a container filled with water.
Being happy for a moment with the rather 'hot' colourful collection, I thought then of a flower that could define their beauty better in somewhat finer and milder colours. My choice is the pink hibiscus hybrid.
With an abstract painting as the backdrop, I placed the display on my dining table to add lure for this morning breafast.  For being such useful and lasting decorative foliage and bracts, I call the composition...Recyled Beauty.

Hibiscus and High Places

I am still not over from my hibiscus infatuation.  Tell you the truth, the red hibiscus flowers do really steal my attention. Keeps me wondering what is that special quality that makes  it so lovely? Hibiscus flowers do not last long when cut, a full day is just about it. Though it is a common practice here that if you cut it early in the morning, you need to keep it in the refrigerator without water  so that they can be used in the evening.  Probably the reason why I fall in love with the red hibiscus flower is that it is available anytime of the day for the picking since they are free flowering.  Secondly, in Malaysia it is the national flower and therefore has achieved a queenly status. This 'queen' of flowers in Malaysia is called "Bunga Raya"( Bunga means flower and Raya connotes the idea that it is found every where in  Malaysia, in gardens ( private, public and palaces) in towns, villages and cities. In pots, beds and in flower arrangement..... like below

Arrangement # 41

I would like to name the above composition ... My Everyday Love.

 Arrangement # 42

Now, while the hibiscus has its queenly status, the Pagoda Flower ( Clerodendrum paniculatum) has flowers on tiers and therefore reminds me of high places. I shall call the above display...In High Places.