New Estate, New Garden, Happy Me

 So, it's been a while. Guess that's what happens when life happens. Well, call it a time skip as they call it in the books and comics and take it that the past 6 or 8 years led to progress, growth, and an increase in skills without needing to know the details. Considering the length of time and my age, I'm certain I managed to do all three.

But that's hardly what I want to write right now. I've recently moved to Singapore's newest estate and, if you don't know it's name, I shall not spoil the surprise. Suffice to say it's in the west and is Singapore's first 'Forest Town'. I personally feel it's closer to a garden town. I'm almost living in a garden. It's literally outside my window.

Which is amazing! I get birds and butterflies in the middle of the day and I get to see it all without leaving my room. Though, some things are still best seen in person so, this morning, I finally took a walk around the estate - I am not counting my first night time walk which was rudely interrupted by a stomachache - and got to see the sights. It was shortly after breakfast in the cool of the morning and boy did I find things!

First up was the millipedes. Typical of a new estate, they were everywhere. Hordes and hordes of them all wiggling about. I must confess, I rather look up and at my surroundings than down but I had no choice if I wanted to avoid stepping on the millipedes. They were all over and they move so it's impossible to simply pick a path and walk casually. If you don't cross their path, they cross yours.

And I thought the slugs at my office's rooftop garden were hard to handle. At least those are slow. Well, never mind cause near one of the fitness corner, I found something that sent me over the moon.

Butterflies!

And not any butterfly, Leopard butterflies (Find out more about them here)! They are my old friends from primary school and I released one during my science club butterfly breeding days. It was the privilege of being the youngest and I've been fond of Leopards ever since. There were at least six of them around the trees; four of them flying about in pairs and two mating. I suspect they were around one of the their host plants, the Rukam Masam (Details here). I took a picture of the mating pair and guess what? Upon returning home I found a pupa in the picture too! Can you spot it? I'll give you a hint. It's green and above the mating butterflies. Look slightly to the left.

What a find. And, just in case anyone else lives in this area and wants a look, these are the trees. It's the one with the reddish leaves near the fitness corner.

Remember though, leave the butterflies, pupas, and caterpillars in the wild and do not bother them. It's their garden. We are just visitors. Most of the caterpillars and pupas in my school's butterfly breeding program died. Out of so many, only one became a butterfly. It's a grim statistic I still remember.

Moving on with my walk, I also came across some other plants. First was the Arabian Jasmine which I smelled before I recognized and which are incredibly fragrant. I also came across a bush of Cape Honeysuckle near one of the blocks. Alas, Google's latest capability of identifying plants with Google Lens also meant I forgot to take pictures of them. So please refer to these links instead.

Arabian Jasmine: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/4/3/4343

Cape Honey Suckle: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/4/2498

I did take a picture of one flower though, the one below. It's lovely isn't it? That's why I took a picture before I searched it up. It has a lovely pinkish red hue. I simply had to admire it first.

Isn't it lovely? You think so too, right? Just look at it.

Yes, look at it but don't let its beauty fool you, Ladies and Gentleman, for that is no mere flower. That is an Oleander. Now I hear a gasp from some of you while the rest may be confused by my theatrics (except my sister, who knows I am dramatic about many things). This time, I assure you, my theatrics are well placed because, my dear readers, an Oleander is famous for one thing besides its beauty.

It is deadly.

Ok, but only if you eat it. An Oleander is poisonous if ingested which, in my opinion, is a very good reason to check before putting anything into your mouth. However, like so many poisonous things, it can also have medicinal properties (See WebMD) though chances are you are likely to be poisoned before receiving the medicinal effects. Its sap can also cause a rash so I would recommend not touching this plant (I'm glad I didn't!). Here's the Npark's factsheet on it. It really is the same plant written in WebMD. (NParks Oleander)

Though, if you don't eat it and don't touch its sap, I think this plant is quite safe. It is a lovely ornamental flower and I suspect it may be more common than we think. After all, it is also known as a garden plant.

The sun got hot after this and, although it's only two days in, June is still June which is still hot so back home I went. I guess I'll take another walk again someday when it's cooler. For now though, I'm happy to watch from the comfort of my room.

Till the next time, 

May.