Arabian Jasmine Blooms

The Rains yesterday evening brought joy to my potted garden and the Arabian Jasmine bloomed filling the air with its scent.Arabian Jasmine also known as Jasmine Sambac,Maid of Orleans is a evergreen woody shrub that can be easily grown in pots or containers.The leaves are Oval they are light green when young but turn to a shade of dark green as it matures.The flowers are star shaped and  white in color and often bloom in singles or in threes.The flowers are very fragrant with a sweet  scent.The plant has bushy growth it can be grown with  the support of a trellis or you can trim the stems to keep the plant short and in shape.A trim down before the summers start encourages new growth and more blooms on the plant also use cow manure to fertilize the plant.Arabian Jasmine is used in religious ceremonies,garland making and also in teas and perfumes.One of the joys of owing a jasmine plant is that not only do you get enjoy the flowers but also its wonderful scent.

 

                     

                                                      Close Up Photo of Arabian Jasmine Cluster

Beautiful Green Foliage of Arabian Jasmine  with flowers and buds

Arabian Jasmine Flowers in cluster of threes 

Arabian Jasmine flower

                                             

Single Arabian Jasmine Flower

Close Up of Jasmine Buds

Arabian Jasmine growing in pot.

Fresh Arabian Jasmine Flowers

Making a Garland of Arabian Jasmine Flowers.

Happy Gardening !!

Pink Mandevilla

  

Mandevilla is a woody vine that belongs to the oleander family,Pink Mandevilla vine bears spectacular trumpet shaped flowers witha golden yellow tinge inside and has glossy green leaves that give your garden a tropical feel, well guess what my plant never seemed to grow a bit from the time i bought it from the nursery on the contrary the leaves turned yellow and dropped off one by one,I done all the right things except for one I kept the plant in a cool shady spot that does not get any sunlight upon realizing my mistake i decided to do the right thing and I moved the Mandevilla to a sunny spot on the terrace a few days later the Mandevilla seemed to like the change and decided to grow new leaves and buds I was Delighted and The Mandevilla now  loves its new found place in the potted garden.

                                          Close Up Of Fully Bloomed Baby Pink Mandevilla

                                                         Baby Pink Mandevilla with New Buds

                                                           
                                           Baby Pink Mandevilla Vine Spurts New Growth

                             
                                                       Close up of New growth

                                  Close Up Of  Baby Pink Mandevilla Buds Growing Bigger

                        

                                  Baby Pink Mandevilla Buds Ready to Blossom

                        

                                        Picture Of  Baby Pink Mandevilla Bud Opening

                                                                   Baby Pink Mandevilla

                                                                            Pink Beauty

                                         Baby Pink Mandevilla Basking In the Morning Sun Light


                                     

                                                                      Baby Pink Mandevilla

                                                                      Happy Gardening !!

Red Hibiscus / Hibiscus Rosa Seninsis

Red Hibiscus also commonly known as Shoe flower,Rose of China,Chinese Hibiscus etc. is the National flower of Malaysia where it is known as Bunga Raya. Hibiscus is an Ornamental tropical plant that is evergreen and adds color to any garden.It can be easily grown in pots or containers,and placed in a warm sunny spot in the garden.Simple care and you will be rewarded with many lovely Brilliant  Red  blooms.

Close up The Red Hibiscus Flower.

Choose well draining soil that is slightly acidic in nature and that is also well draining.Watering the plant is very important during the summers twice a day is good when the days are really hot hibiscus plants need to be watered well especially when the plant is in its  flowering stage .Organic fertilizers like homemade compost can be added to provide nutrition to the plant.

  

Red Hibiscus is a very hardy plant and does not get easily effected by any garden pest.Once the flowering seems to slow down you can trim the plant to keep it in shape.

The flowers are edible and can be used in salads,steeped into boiling water to made a soothing tea by adding lemon and honey,It can also be used for hair care and can be added to Henna or coconut oil.The flowers are also used for worship in India.

Simple Care and your hibiscus plant will reward you by turning it into a tropical paradise.

Happy Gardening to All!!  

Crape Jasmine/Carnation Of India

Crape Jasmine belongs to the Oleander family.It is an evergreen shrub that bears white flowers in clusters the flowers have a scent similar to that of gardenias.The stems and flowers exude a milky latex when broken.The leaves are deep green and shiny.The flowers appear throughout the year though the blooming is more profuse during summer months.The crape jasmine plant can get infected by host of pests like black aphids and scales.So regularly checking the plant under the foliage for any signs of pest activity is very important.The plant does well in pots or containers and loves to be placed in full sunlight.Watering is very important under watering the plant can lead to poor growth and yellow leaves with few or no flowers at all. Apart from this its a plant that grows quickly and is low on maintenance.

Crape Jasmine Plant Blooming Profusely

Close Up Picture of Flowers

Crape Jasmine / Carnation of India 

Close Up Photo of Bud Formation 

                                            Mature Cluster Of Buds Ready To Bloom

                                                        New Spurt Of Growth In the Plant.

Growing Cuban Oregano In My Potted Garden.

Cuban Oregano 

Cuban Oregano also known by other names like Indian Borage,Indian Mint,Mexican Mint,Mexican Oregano,Spanish Thyme,Big Leaf Thyme  etc

                                      Close up the leaves of the Cuban Oregano plant.

Cuban Oregano is a succulent herb with a scent similar to Oregano,though Cuban Oregano is not real Oregano it belongs to the Mint Family.The leaves are thick, fleshy,succulent and fuzzy with a pretty sawtooth pattern .

                                           

Cuban Oregano grows well in a spot that receives ample of  sun light and it needs well draining soil no fertilization required for this plant just water it regularly and it thrives its a fuss free hardy plant and grows quickly.Cuban Oregano can be propagated by stem cuttings that can be sown directly into potting mix or place in water till the stems root and then transplant into a pot or container.

A Stem Cutting Placed Directly In some soil that has rooted

Used In Traditional Folk Medicine and Ayurveda the herb has properties that can help in relieving nasal congestion,cold,cough,sore throats.and a range of other ailments like flatulence,infections etc.The leaves can be boiled in water and can be had mixed with lemon juice and rock candy.

  Cuban Oregano Leaves can be used to flavor poultry and meats.In India the leaves are dipped into a batter made with gram flour and are deep fried to perfection.It can also be added to stuffing's, soups,tomato sauce made for pasta or pizza and also in stews.

   If not to used as a herb the plant can be grown simply as a garden plant just for its attractive looking    foliage and tiny purple flowers that attract a lot of bees.The Plant is also known as Coleus        Aromaticus because the leaves look similar to those of the Coleus plant.

Can You Identify This Species Of Jasmine Please !!

I have this Jasmine plant growing In my garden for the past 4 years and I don't know its Botanical name ( What a shame)...I know...A brief description of the plant is that its a creeper that flowers on the onset of Summers till the Rains end.Summer time the plant spurts new growth of several stems and have these tiny buds at the end,the buds appear in clusters and bloom in the evenings after sunset .The scent is very aromatic just all jasmine species.The flowers are white in color with long petals ranging in numbers from  7 to 12  ,the flowers drop of mid noon.In India the flowers are strung together to make garlands that can be used as offerings or as a hair accessory worn by women.

               I am awaiting your responses in helping me identify this plant Thank you All.