babies have flown the nest...

Two days after I came back from Singapore, I felt something was amissed. The garden was very quiet. I then realise that the parent bulbuls are not there to greet if not ensure that I do not disturb the nest again.

Of course all sorts of thoughts went through my mind. Like did those 'b...'wild cats get them? Did the cleaning lady's son take them away? Or even - my Dad must have come to take them and made medicinal soup with the babies. Normal but no excuse - we always think the worst of people and situations.

Sob! sob! sob! The babies have flown the nest. I have had wished I was there to see them take their first flight. But I miss it.

It should be a moment of joy and pride, but I have to admit that it does take some getting used to; and there is a sense of emptiness too. Compared to the parents' constant flying in and out to catch insects and feed the babies, the silence was deafening. This is the second lesson within a month. Not sure what 'wounded healing' I need to do eventually, this is a very literal understanding of the statement - birds have flown the nest. Guess this is the time to cut the apron strings, and wish them well.

But God is kind too. Next morning I heard and saw the 'family' feeding off a neighbours tree. The tree was flowering and there were noticably a lot of butterflies and bees around. Actually saw one of the babies chasing after a bee, but was not able to catch it. It has not quite learnt the skills to manoeuvre round and inbetween the branches. Antics brought a smile.

So to remind me, here is a photo to remind me of my pseudo babies!



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baby bulbuls

Rachel and Wesley - this is for you!

My pigeon orchid now has a nest of bulbul's. Yellow vented bulbuls are quite common in Malaysia. I knew the mummy bulbul was nesting, but did not dare to check on nest or how many eggs there were, in case the parents abandon the nest.

Now just about two weeks later, I climbed up the ladder and took these photos. I thought the parents have left the nest for a while. However, they were quite near. For the first time, I felt the agressiveness of a nursing mother! She actually swopped at me, from behind my head; so close I could feel the wind, if not the tip of her wings! It was so sudden, I had to steady myself on the ladder. By the time I realised what it is all about, she displayed threatening behaviours, stared me in the eyes for a minute or at least enough for me to snap a few shots!

So now I have a family of bulbuls (till the baby bulbuls leave the nest) and tree-shrews; not to mention the resident toads that sings on rainy days! Goes to show how 'uninhabited' and safe, my garden is and has been, for the pair of bulbuls to feel comfortable enough to nest! I have to say I am quite delighted!
This, however, is no big deal compared to the 10 foot python which came visiting to a friend's house. Speaks well of how the 'wild' life has managed to find a life right in the middle of KL, Bangsar!







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pigeon orchids..

This is my 'messy' orchid. It is messy when it is not flowering, with roots and 'wooden twigs' all over. However, when it flowers, it does look gorgeous! Flowers at extreme hot and dry condition. It is a common indigenous orchid, don't know the latin name! Commonly called pigeon orchid as flower looks like a pigeon in flight!





Pictures taken with my new toy - EXLIM EX-Z33! Recent Birthday present - indeed!
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my mum's garden

Took a friend to meet my mum and for a tour in her garden. Ashamed to say that I did not know most of the plants - there are herbs and organic vegetables. It has provided the occasional dish for the dinner table.


Holy Basil - Our Malay neighbours love to fry with eggs! Or Mum boils it with ginger and onions to sooth a cough or two! I just infuse it with hot water and honey!


Most of us would think this is weed! Well, the Indonesian contractor, for whom my mum boiled soup for, swears by it! Preventive medicine for kidney stones and painful blocked urinary tract!


Yes, this is real. Not sure what species or where mum got the seeds from; but the ladies finger is at 11 inches and still growing!


A-ha! this is the flower of the ladies finger plant!
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my latest bloom

See what a little time and love does....




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my garden 3

My Orchid collection:-
Believe it or not, the first two orchids are bought at a nursery where I go for a change of scenery - near STM. Surprisingly, it was supposedly imported from Taiwan.


my collection of local wild orchids, the yellow and white version has not flowered yet.


These are local 'Pigeon' orchids, generally found growing wild, on huge trees.

a resting pigeon?

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my garden 2

my collection of "busy izzy impatience"





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my garden 1

From my garden, using my new gizmo...
My passion other than my God, work and studies...

my waterlily collection



african rose??


Will include the real if not latin names one day!

Since we are talking about flowers. Do you know I never get to see a proper bloom of my lantern hibiscus that is growing next to the fence. And you would think that hibiscus are proliferate bloomers!

Story is: There is an elderly man who passes my house for his morning walk at 7am. Without fail, he will pluck all the blooms for the day. When confronted he said it is to offer to his Hindu god. So I asked him politely, why pray to a god that encourages, if not demands one to steal. Other than the nasty look which could kill, he has not stopped doing it! Sigh!


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