Pretty in Pink

Planting a shrub or two is not a difficult act. The shrubs that we grow add beauty to the garden and reward the gardener with their gorgeous leaves and flowers. One shrub that I have been growing for years now is this pink Aglaonema. It is one of the most beautiful foliage plant one can easily add to the garden!

The plant however is easily infested by mealybugs at the roots as well as the leaves. Whatever I did (apply pesticide etc.) the bug keeps coming back. Still the plant had never fail to flourish well. At certain point, what I usually do is that I will cut back the plant leaving just the stumps. New shoots will either grow out from the soil below or from the stumps. The pic above shows new leaves after a few months of cutting back and they are larger in size than those before cutting! 

My Siam Tulip, I have always enjoyed its blossoming inflorescences. I think they look a little like lotus - very pretty! They add pops of bright pink to the garden. The bloom you see in the pic below unfortunately was short-lived as the heavy rain that has been pouring and pouring smashed it ;-( 

The Azalea flower that graced my porch didn't get to open fully, just half opened till it spent. I am not sure why but I think it is due to the cloudy sky. Anyone has this experience before?

Unlike other pink plants, my Rain Lilies are always in the pink of health :-) When not in bloom, the shiny green leaves are amazing! Last week, the two flowers that blossomed bent down so low coz when they were opening the rain came. But don't they look cute together like this?

And I am so happy to have spotted a flower from my Aster. The plant has not been flowering for some time now. The sight of its flower stalk made me glad :-D

My little Swan River Daisy shrub gave me a surprise! The little bloom is lovely, don't you think so? It had brightened up a rather gloomy morning that day when it appeared. Thank goodness this particular plant didn't wilt like the rest.

Earlier, I added another carnivorous plant into the pot where I am growing my Sundew. While I am still waiting for the plant to blush, I am happy that it actually can withstand and tolerate heavy rain and sun well (like the Sundew!). 

Besides the Venus Fly Trap, I have also transplanted a pitcher plant into the same pot. I hope they are not too crowded though and looking forward to see many blushing pitchers... more pink in store soon!

Last but not least, I hope your plants are all in the pink and giving you much joy and surprises!