Clear Wing Moth, Allamandas and Alpinia Pupurata

The Clear Wing Tiger Moth (Ceryx sphenodes) is a small moth of about two cm wing span.It is a wasp mimic.  Normally I do not take much notice of them as they are  too small to make an impact. I pointed my lenses on this mini beauty when there were no other butterflies or moth around for me to snap away. It was only after I reviewed them in my monitor, that I was able to fully appreciate its beauty.

 
 

This petite was resting on an Allamanda cathartica leaf.



Yellow and Purple Allamandas.

The moth then flew off and perched on the underside of a Alpinia pupurata (ginger torch) leaf.

Alpinia Pupurata

Pruning of the shrubs provide flowers and colours for the kitchen island.

Trekking Through Allamandas To Food Haven

I love Allamandas as they are quite resistant to bug infestation. I suppose the white, milky sap has got something to do with the critters and insects' revulsion to it. I'm thankful for this as it allows my Allamandas to bloom and flourish.

Clusters of bright yellow Allamanda cathartica flowers.

 
 

The budding flowers.


I was appreciating how these blooms added to the gaiety of my garden when ...

 

I saw a snail crawled over the tubular part of this bloom without even bothering to sample it. Perhaps it had an inherent sense of which flower is tasty and can be devoured.

The journey which I dubbed as 'the yellow trail' was torturous as it slowly navigated across the flower to reach the nearest leaf.

The nest stage was a purposeful leaf-to-leaf hike as it stretched its foot muscles ...

... towards its coveted sustenance beyond.



It greedily chomped its way across the leaf of  Pseuderanthemum reticulatum.

 My flower bed of Pseuderanthemum reticulatum is often is often laid bare to the gastronomic assault of gastropods.

Heliconia x nickeriensis - The Parakeet Flower

Heliconia x nickeriensis (Parakeet Flower, Parrot's Beak) is a hybrid between H. psittacorum and H. marginata. It can be planted in partial shade to full sun and is almost disease-free. A very vigorous growing plant, it can reach up to about 6 to 8 feet in height and is a prolific bloomer. It likes humidity and with fertilizer, produces blooms throughout the year.
  

 

The more colourful orange parts are actually the bracts. Bracts are orange-red with a yellow border and yellow rachis. The wide stretch of the bract makes an ideal perch for this tiny sunbird.

 

The striking colours make them stand out dramatically against the green foliage. They can also be planted in containers and make excellent cut flowers.

 

Its tall upright lance-like leaves have long leaf stalks that look more like banana leaves. 

A colourful insect bearing the same colours as the bract-flowers purposefully ascends, towards the flower spikes.

  

The 'stem' is actually made up of rolled leaf bases and the flowers emerge from the centre. When the flowers fade, the stems should be pruned off to to encourage new growth and also to generally tidy up for improved appearance.

 

Heliconias are generally invasive. As seen here, it has invaded a flower bed of Allamanda cathartica.

 

Red-green leaves of Dracaena marginata, tiny red flowers of Russelia equisetiformi and Heliconia nickeriensis  growing happily in tight confines.

This series of pictures were taken very early in the morning when it was still not bright.

A female sunbird landed on one of the bracts to ponder the nectar within.

When it was done, it suddenly took flight. I didn't have time to dial up the shutter speed, resulting in a blurred image.

 
 
 
The maturing flower spike.

 
A fully formed bloom with eight tiers of bracts. 

 
  A solitary ant did an investigation of the flower.

 

A bee posturing at the tip of a true flower.  


   An Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) hope from a flower pot onto the ledge of the flower planter box and ... 





rest under the shade of the foliage.

Plumbago auriculata

Plumbago is a scrambling shrub with clusters of sky-blue flowers while the leaves are light yellowish green.  It blooms all year long. The name Plumbago is derived from Latin plumbum (lead), perhaps from the colour of the flowers.

The sky blue flowers are long tubes spreading into 5 petals.

 
The flower calyx secrete a sticky substance on to its fine hairs that is used for of trapping insects.

 

 The flowers are borne in terminal clusters. 

Plumbago can be pruned into a compact shrub or trained to grow like a vine and sprawl over supports with its long gracefully arching branches.

The gathering of ants over an interesting 'drinking' spot. I wonder what is the cause of this phenomena on this particular flower. Some ants were seen to crawl away with engorged abdomens.

Tasha receiving solar energy next to a pot of Plumbago auriculata. 

A simple arrangement of yellow Allamandas and Plumbago auriculata.