February 11, 2010

Chinese New Year 4 - Which are real and which are plastic?

My trip or trips to the CNY stalls in Kingsway must have one certain destination : the floral stalls. For the last few years this lady stall owner has been promoting her Taiwan flowers. Her orchids are very special so I visit her a few times before CNY as the Malays say "wash the eyes" or cuci mata - which actually means "feasting the eyes". I would really like to spend quality time with these plants.


These are pricey orchids from Taiwan.


Kamquats are losing their appeal now. In the past some kamquats sold for RM150...

These are Mutan - most popular CNY flowers. Mutans are found in China only.



Here's another species of mu tan. Small and pretty.

Here's a growing pussy willow with lots of leaves. The pussy willows have flowered although many of the buds are still tightly wrapped up.


The vendor call this Slipper Orchid. Very rare and very expensive at RM250 per small pot.



The stall owner's son has become quite learned in plants!

Peach Blossoms.


Lucky Bamboo - prices have gone down to RM2.50 each. They used to be RM10.00 each a few years ago....

No I am happy taking photographs of them. Did not buy anything today. Chinese New Year Eve is on Saturday - two days away....




8 comments:

Daniel Yiek said...

Flower power!

Ensurai said...

Dear Daniel
I guess you are already in Sarikei!!

Yeah this year the flower power is not as great as before!!

Usually we are spoilt by all the beautiful sights.

Wishing you and your family a happy and prosperous new year!!

Ah Ngao said...

yes,a lot of people already fed up with kamquat.last year,a lot of left-over at those plants shops.if not wrong,slipper orchids are protected.

Ensurai said...

People used to be crazy about Kampquats and every house has several plants. I had one which lasted more than a year and then one dog destroyed the pretty plant. Broke my heart...

How then did the slipper orchid got to be sold here? May be people don't know..it is so expensive... I willbuy a plant that gives nice perfume.....

Thanks for your tips.

Rose said...

Stunning picture of the flowers, will definitely make my day. Keep posting.

Ensurai said...

Rose...thanks. Happy Valentine's Day....

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I am too stingy to pay for flowers. When I was living in NTU, the Staff Club owner buys many pots of CNY flowers including the Kunquats. At the end of CNY, he wants to get rid of them. He says he got no time to care of them, and he doesn't want the plants to die at his premises.

So he offers them to me the secrtary of the gardening club. So me and my girl friends drive down in my car and take it back to our residences, or rather at the entrances. The kumquat I learnt, the Taiwanese growers put so much hormones that they fruit only during the first year, the next year, you may get 2 or 3 fruits. We didn't mind, as we like the greem

As for the feathery flower, after they die, or before they die, I use the pot and soil to plant other plants.

I miss my garden in NTU.
http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2008/11/indian-kale.html

I found this in the Singapore jungle. My friend from Australia reckons in Oz they call it ladies slipper. Looks similar to your Taiawanese slipper.

Ensurai said...

Dear Ann
Now I know why my first CNY kamquat did not bear fruits the following year. The tree lived for about three years and I could not coax it to bear fruit. Hahahahahah.

I looked at your posting too...indeed never heard of Indian Kale. My ask my friend's mother who grows many plants including Neem .

I think I should blob about her garden. (?)

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