OF THE TWO BASILS

We had grown two different type of basil before. One with whitish flowers and the other slightly purplish. There is a new type of basil in the garden now, very dense bonsai-like basil. It is not flowering yet.

Bonsai-like basil

The other basil: with purplish flowers

The other basil: not as dense

I asked Kakdah about the differences in smell and taste. She said just a slight difference...., with a hint of lemon grass in one and not the other. Yea, smell and taste are two aesthetic elements of life , so difficult to describe.... and yet we know the differences, the level, the intensity, the aroma.

bangchik and kakdah

Pasir Gudang, Johor

on the ground

We dont have any plant that grows higher than the eye level, not counting kakdah's hanging orchids, and what by the end of the year, the four papaya plants would eventually be. To see flowers is to  look physically down, but flowers remain high in the aesthetic and emotional level. Kakdah will smile, temporarily getting out of whatever is negative and stressful in life, as she walk and lovingly hold the few flowers in the garden.

 flowering plants in clusters, balsam (keembung) and zinnia

Balsam, Malar's giveaways, zinnia from the old Putrajaya garden are flowering. The site is actually reserved for pandan which will soon conquer the area. For now flowerings are grown to fill the empty space.

 basil flowering

 basil getting quite bushy

Basil which is about to be a permanent feature here, is flowering too. The two basil at the back of the house are becoming more bushy after I did a complete pruning of all flower stalks. A few new flowers are coming up and are quite visible.

 a young ubi badak by the fence

 ubi badak, the shoots,

so tender looking.

 ubi itik, another tuber, is a climber too.

I don't know if it will ever produce flower.

 kiwi from seeds, first attempt.

at four leaves, they are growing steady. 

For now, i will let the eventual kiwi fruits grow in my dream.

Hop over to Katarina  to see more.

bangchik and kakdah,

Repositioning Basils

We have grown basil both in pots and on the ground before. Of course plants love such freedom  on ground where roots can spread as far as they wish searching for water, food and getting better anchorage. Pots offer clinical approach in gardening. Water and fertiliser will not be wasted and location can be adjusted to suit environmental and aesthetic needs. Some plants enjoy such pampered environment.  The bigger plants probably finds pots a little bit constricting. Now we are putting 3 basil on the ground, just two steps out of the back door. That should make kakdah very happy....

 basil in a container, 

with white flowers.

 basil in a container

with purplish flowers.

 young basil on the ground.

M e r r y    X m a s s

bangchik and kakdah

Taman Kota Harmoni

Tanah Merah, Kelantan, MALAYSIA

pineapple gripping hard.

pineapple in a pot

top view

flashback: the pineapple 
a month ago. 

pineapple on the ground

top view

pineapple on the ground

side view

basil seen from the above
to join the images of pineapple viewed from the top.
it does give a peculiar view with its columnar flowery stalk

Kakdah's brother Faizal was explaining about the way pineapple grow. It was months ago. He mentioned about leaves grow in a circular fashion. He suggested  cutting the pineapple seedlings into 4 quadrants and each should grow even though they look terribly injured. He also said the similarity to banana plants, about leaves adding in a circular pattern.
For a plant that size, pineapple is quite amazing. The weight of the eventual fruit is a lot heavier than the plant itself. To show extreme care and affection, the plant chooses to crown the fruit on top of itself. As far as the comparatively big fruit is concern, watermelon is pineapple's friend and rival. But watermelon surrenders on strength and the big watermelon has to rest on the ground.
The growth is very slow and our naked eyes will definitely miss the minute change. Photographs taken at monthly interval may at least give a hint, that pineapples do grow, add new leaves and make leaves longer. I am sure our pineapples are now strengthening the central stem in full anticipation of the eventual fruit resting on its crown by the end of the year.



bangchik

Of The Two Basils

white

purple

white

white and purple 
side by side


Of the two,
purple is spectacular
with its purple stems
and flowers.

We have both,
each grows healthily
trying
to beat the other.

But their taste
is about the same
and fit well
into kakdah's menu.

bangchik

Putrajaya, Malaysia 

New Basil in the garden

new basil,

bought at Floria2009, a flower show in Putrajaya.

We have been growing basil for quite sometime now, and lately baby basil can be seen all over the place, through reseeding. It is convenient in a way, to look around and decide which baby basil should be allowed to grow and the rest pulled out.... The earlier basil has light green leaves and white tiny blooms.

We bought another basil plant with heavier green leaves and slight purplish pink flowers, at the recent Floria2009, an exiting flower show Putrajaya has seen in years. We put it in a clay pot...... and it is definitely growing.


Both species, has varying color and look. They send out slightly different smell too but still within the range what basil should smell like...... Kakdah will pick a leaf or two to let her menu be more aromatic....


have fun with gardening
~bangchik and kakdah
Putrajaya, MALAYSIA

Basil showing off against the weeds

As they mature basil flowers turn dark brown. The seed pods are placed at regular interval and resembles pagoda.... As we have replacements ready, i.e. the second generations, I just want to make a casual comparison with weeds before the original Basil passes its prime and die off..

Both flowers are very showy with long and slender stalk ......

the original basil
the mother, or the first generation basil in our garden.

basil

wild weeds
I still cant figure out its name yet....



and of course
the second generation basils and weeds
planted side by side.

Let Basil roam and play.

Basil is just like spinach, the seeds sprout with no second thought. Seedlings are easy to recognise when they are at two-leaves..... We place five of them on the ground, at different locations. They are growing.... and we are waiting for the first pagoda-like bloom!!

It all started with the first basil plant Kakdah bought at taman pertanian. So these are the second generation basil in our care .... Basil will germinate once the seeds absorb some water, so easy and quick. What a plant!... active plant as fast as spinach in sprouting.

flowering soon..

Basil Browning

We only have one basil plant. Kakdah's menu doesn't require basil leaf often. Now Basil's flowers are turning brown. They look lovely with pagoda like shape. We have taken these matured flowers and crush with fingers to let the seeds out. Many had germinated coming to the fourth leaves now.....

flowers browning
Seeds are intact inside. Note the pagoda like shape

seedling
ready to replace the old one