Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Dracaena marginata - Tales of Bulbuls and Grasshopper

Dracaena marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree, Red Edged Dracaena) is in much demand for landscaping as its red margins provide the vibrant colour. It is easily propagated from cuttings and thus can be used extensively.


This pair of Yellow Vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier) perched prettily on a curved stem of a Dracaena marginata


A few cuttings of different heights grown in a container makes a lovely ornamental specimen for enhancing indoor decors.


Grown under full sunshine, it takes on orangy hues. This long stem dipped down as it was not supported, triggering two side shoots at the top of the greatest curvature.


I saw this pair of Yellow Vented Bulbuls on a ledge enjoying an overview of the garden. When they were done with that they flew off ...


... to perch on this curved Dracaena stem.


When they have enough of this view, one of the pair flew off followed by the other.


and landed on the same ledge.


This variety of Dracaena marginata has more green to it. Just like the red variety, it makes a good indoor plant too.

A grasshopper crawled up a blade of leaf.


When it reached a part that is horizontal, it climbed up to the one above it.

 It then had a soft hammock to rest and dilly-dally away its time. This was very reminiscent of Aesop's tale of 'The Grasshopper and the Ant'.



24 comments:

  1. The dracena is a indoor plant overhere Elsie. The one with the red is unknown overhere but it's wonderful. Gorgeous birds you are sharing.
    Have a wonderful day.

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    1. Essentally it is the same as for both the varieties, the margin is red, only that in the red variety, the shades of red is much heavier.

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  2. As usual, stunning photos ! Loved the ones of the grasshopper - did you use a Macro lens for that Stiletto ?

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    1. Thanks Hoe2grow. I used the macro lens to get more details from the grasshopper - such as pads on the legs, a row of spines on the thighs, reticulation on the wings and patches of black on the body.

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  3. Mam dracenę w domu w doniczce i ładnie mi rośnie. Twoje draceny śliczne ptaki i koniki polne ozdabiają. Pozdrawiam.
    I have a Dracaena in a pot in the house and my growing nicely. Your dracaena beautiful birds and grasshoppers decorate. Yours.

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    1. Now that you mentioned it, the birds and grasshopper do acts as ornaments. What a lovely thought :)

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  4. Lovely photos. The captures of the grasshopper are especially special. Dracaena marginata is used as a landscape plant in Trinidad as well.

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    1. Dracaena marginata is truly a global plant! The world is much flattened now anyways.

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  5. Hi Elsie, I am smiling while looking at your post, light and amusing. The title mostly is very attractive that leads the eyes to the length of the nice photos. We have the same vegetation and bird, those bulbuls (we call pulangga, with stress at last syllable) are always with us too. And i have those 2 dracaenas too, as well as the lanky long stem that will eventually bend. However, your garden is nicer because of more care and water. By the way i thought it is Dracaena tricolor.

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    1. Thanks for the nice feedback and extra plant and bird facts, including the Tagalog version of the Bulbuls.

      I initially labelled it as Dracaena marginata 'tricolour' but deleted the 'tricolour' part just before I published this post. This is because I can't really discern the third colour besides the green and the red. The yellow is only apparent when the leaves fade with the chlorophyll resorped. Btw, you are a sharp cookie.

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  6. Great photos, especially with birds! I have potted Dracaena inside of course. I love this plant but it grows very slowly here in North. Yours is wonderful, with colored stripes on its leaves.

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    1. Dracaena doesn't do very well indoors for extended period, unless it is placed near a window. The red colour will fade soon after. I placed mine in the patio and I don't have to bother too much with them.

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  7. The Dracaena is an attractive and versatile plant, I also have one on my pateo. Love those colourful birds and grasshopper photos.

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    1. Thanks! The Dracaena looks like the people's patio and indoor plant. It is truly versatile as it is found in diverse geographical locations.

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  8. Nice shots of bulbuls...

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    1. Thanks! Its easy to shoot Bulbuls as there are lots of them around. I'd focus on the cooperative and bold ones.

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  9. That's very cute Bulbul couple! Your garden is just haven for all trype of animals! ;)

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    1. Thanks! I like them acting lovey-dovey too. Actually my garden is overgrown - that's the reason why all sorts of fauna frolicked here.

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  10. Beautiful shots of the dracaena, birds aaannd that horrific grasshopper haha... for me, too big to kill! That dracaena I kept it small in a small pot. Lovely (due to the colour) spiky leaves, definitely a nice addition to a garden. Have a great weekend, Stiletto!

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    1. Actually I do not have the heart to eliminate it after using it as my subject for my photo shoots. I left it to enjoy my garden and hope that its next stop would be my neighbours :O

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  11. Hello Stil!
    Your photos are so beautiful and colourful!
    Sorry I wasn't very present on the blogosphere lately and this month will be pretty much the same, since we go walking in the mountain as much as possible when the weather allows it!
    These birds are really cute and pretty and your hopper seem much larger than our usual ones!
    Many thanks for your faithful visits and sweet comments ;-)
    Cheerio and keep well!

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    1. Thanks. As we are all busy people, blogosphere is relegated to some snatched moments at night.

      The hoppers are getting fat from residing in my garden. I wonder why the birds don't go at them as they often feed on insects and berries.

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  12. I love reading about the exotic creatures and plants in your blogs. Dracaena is grown here as house plants. It certainly wouldn't survive our winters. The bulbuls look like birds with character!

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    1. I'm glad you find the critters in my garden exotic, just like how I viewed those fauna and flora in your part of the world. Scarcity seems to breed value.

      The Bulbuls like many other types of birds like to hang around as couples - such an interesting concept of pairing up as partners.

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