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. 

A Reflective Praying Mantis on Bougainvillea

Praying mantis looks like walking dried twigs. The eyeballs are enormous compared to the size of its head. The mouth piece is very small and this give the head an overall triangle shape. It is weird looking like some alien from outer space.

The front pair of legs are habitually in a praying hands posture, thus its moniker.

It has an adventurous spirit and nimbly crossed this floral bridge of variegated bougainvillea.

Every now and then it stop to survey the surroundings from a leafy podium.

It selected a vantage point to have a good view of my garden and stayed a long time, possibly to reflect. 

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest" - Confucius 

 

It finally settled on a pale yellow leaf, without any variegations. When I got clicking away,

 

 it turned to face me, and I gotcha this shot with the half-opened bedroom eyes, scrutinising me.

 
Pure white flowers on yellow-green variegated leaves.

This is the stomping ground of this intrepid praying mantis. Light purple and white flowers are borne on the same stem. Light blue Plumbago Auriculata flowers and numerous leaf blades of Neomarica longifolia (Yellow Walking Iris) are seen below it.

An antique silver neck ring (hansuli) worn by women living in the Rajasthan Punjab region.
(circa early 20th century, from my sister's collection)