journey through paradise

journey through paradise Journey with me through Paradise. I am a simple gardener and a humble collector. In fact, the odder the plant, the more keen I am.

I started this page for like-minded crazy garden enthusiasts and plant collectors to share information, post photos, exchange snippets and tips about all things botanical. I grow all sorts of things but my key focus is on a group of gingers called Costus. I have collected more than 70 different species and hybrids to-date, but the collection will no doubt continue to grow as I search the botanical

hemisphere for other new species and hybrids. I am also a huge bromeliad collector with an ever growing population of Neoregelias, Alcantareas, Aechmeas, Billbergias, Tillandsia and bi-generics. However my favourite ones are the xeric and terrestrial genuses like Dyckias, Hechtias, Bromelias and Cryptanthus. I have also recently caught on to the cactus and succulent, caudiciform and desert/arid trees and plants bug. I also tend to collect rare and/or endangered plants (seeds only or with the proper certificates) or those which you classify as an oddity such as plants which do not look anything like their genus. Finally, I always have a special place for native plants and firmly believe in their conservation. In my spare time, I love to wander around the island on field trips with the sole purpose of 'hunting', documenting and taking photos of rare native, new or forgotten species of plants. I also visit the various nurseries as past experience has made me realise you can find great finds occasionally. I also spend considerable time on the internet trawling through online nurseries and ebay to scour for interesting and rare plants to add to my collection. Lately, I have been on a hunt for seeds of many trees found in our parks and streets due to the mass blooming brought about by the onset of dry weather. I have seeds available for some of these and am happy to trade with people around the globe. I am also trying my hand at hybridising costus, and bromeliads with the hope of coming up with my own hybrids and bi-generics. I like to think that gardening keeps me sane and takes my mind off my otherwise mundane day-job! With this Page , I hope to share my experiences, learn and gain tips from fellow green-fingered enthusiasts. Give me a shout and write to me. I love to hear from fellow gardeners and collectors.

Being away from home, even if it’s just for a week, makes me appreciate the garden just that bit more whenever i return.
26/02/2024

Being away from home, even if it’s just for a week, makes me appreciate the garden just that bit more whenever i return.

The Anthurium calense, a large, beautiful and well-grown specimen which I acquired from .co a few weeks ago. The newest ...
15/02/2024

The Anthurium calense, a large, beautiful and well-grown specimen which I acquired from .co a few weeks ago. The newest leaf is even larger than the one I am posing with. I don’t know about you but I might actually prefer this more than the luxurians.

12/02/2024
Chanced upon these majestic fig trees growing along a stream during my morning hike yesterday. Checked out the Gaharu tr...
12/02/2024

Chanced upon these majestic fig trees growing along a stream during my morning hike yesterday. Checked out the Gaharu trail which is about a half an hour walk from where I live.

a mature Licuala mattanensis Becc. ‘Mapu’ at the Botanic Gardens.
10/02/2024

a mature Licuala mattanensis Becc. ‘Mapu’ at the Botanic Gardens.

Begonia barsalouxiae
10/02/2024

Begonia barsalouxiae

10/02/2024
Found this Aechmea sp blooming quietly in the corner. I don’t remember which Aechmea species this is. But that’s the thi...
06/02/2024

Found this Aechmea sp blooming quietly in the corner. I don’t remember which Aechmea species this is. But that’s the thing about some boring Bromeliads they might not look like much, but their inflorescences can sometimes surprise.

Always a joy and a pleasure to visit Irene’s ( ) garden. In fact, I crashed it because I knew the other Irene (.around )...
04/02/2024

Always a joy and a pleasure to visit Irene’s ( ) garden. In fact, I crashed it because I knew the other Irene (.around ) was there and I had something to pass to the both of them. Still my most favourite home garden to visit in Singapore.

This Drynaria quercifolia produces fertile fronds that are more than a metre long.
02/02/2024

This Drynaria quercifolia produces fertile fronds that are more than a metre long.

The Barringtonia papuana is one of my favourite trees. I first saw this at the Gardena by the Bay when they first opened...
02/02/2024

The Barringtonia papuana is one of my favourite trees. I first saw this at the Gardena by the Bay when they first opened to the public in 2012. At the time, it was known by its other name, Barringtonia josephstaalensis. As its name suggests, this tree is native to Papua New Guinea and is often found in coastal and swampy areas. It is also know as the fish killer tree as its bar contains a toxic substance known as saponins which is used as fish poison. Another unique feature of this tree is that it has showy pink and white flowers which appear on its trunk. When pollinated, these will turn into blue black ovoid fruits containing a single seed which floats on water. I was lucky enough to receive 2 seeds in 2016 from a friend who visited Indonesia and this particular plant here is one of them. It took nearly half a year for the seeds to germinate.

Medinilla coccinea ‘Gregori Hambali’, a cultivar of Medinilla coccinea Baker f.
02/02/2024

Medinilla coccinea ‘Gregori Hambali’, a cultivar of Medinilla coccinea Baker f.

Encephalartos arenarius
31/01/2024

Encephalartos arenarius

Leea macrophylla. Bought seeds of this from when I realised this is a Leea
31/01/2024

Leea macrophylla. Bought seeds of this from when I realised this is a Leea

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