Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata' - Tasmanian Flax Lily

Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata' (Tasmanian Flax Lily) grows up to 2 foot tall. I plant it for its bold white striped leaves as it makes a nice accent as an edging plant. The local florist has often times used it in their bridal bouquet.

The Tasmanian Flax Lily has strappy green leaves edged with contrasting white stripes. It is thus grown primarily for its bold beautiful foliage.

ts a low-maintenance plant and can survive relatively long periods without watering. 

As it grows best in light shade I planted at the base of a Lipstick Palm Tree (Cyrtostachys renda)



The flowers are small, with alternating baby blue sepals and white striped green petals.  Dark blue berries may form after flowering.

I'm amazed that butterflies can find this tiny flowers interesting while there are many other bold and attractive flowers around.


On the left, a container of Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata' placed next to Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant)


Chlorophytum comosum thriving at the base of a Bougainvillea plant.

An Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis), perched on the rim of a container with the Tasmanian Flax Lily in the background.

Tasha looking bewildered when the Magpie-Robin flew off as she approached. She loves chasing birds and gets extremely vexed when her efforts were in vain.

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.

A Pot-hopping Oriental Magpie-Robin

The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) or Murai Kampung in Malay  is a small bird with distinctive black and white markings. As they perched or hopped around foraging for food, their tail is held upright. They carry a good tune and because of this are sometimes kept as cage birds.

 Perched high up on this thick Bougainvillea branch, this magpie surveyed my garden intently before ...

The bright orange Bougainvillea flowers with variegated leaves.

hopping down on to the ledge of a long planter box. 
 

From here it continued to survey the surroundings and when it thought the coast was clear, proceeded to ...

 take the plunge towards ...

 a pot nearby. 


It sat among the leaves of the Ruellia Elegans with eyes still intent.

It next hopped to a second flower pot containing a Dieffenbachia.


It cranied its neck all round to check out its new surroundings ...

 

before it takes a breather.

 

Then  very quickly, it flew to yet another pot containing  Portulaca grandiflora

and Alocasia macroorrhizos (Elephant Ears/Giant Taro) 

Among this more verdant surroundings it seems to have found its niche and settled down for quite a while, looking very serene.

A close-up of a deep pink Portulaca grandiflora.

A pleasing cascading effect is achieved by planting it inside the rim of a tall container. 

One day I spotted these feathers under a tree where the grass grew sparsely. There was strong evidence of violence. I do not know the fate of this unfortunate magpie. However, efforts at forensic investigation strongly  indicated that culpable homicide had taken place.