Weeping tea tree flower – The Secret Garden of 1 Utama.

A soft breeze was blowing down from the hills. The pendulous branches of the weeping tea tree swayed back and forth. I pointed the camera at one of the flowers and waited for the swaying to subside. I was not even sure if the autofocus could pick up this tiny little bloom that measured a mere 5 mm in diamater only. In between the lull, I quickly took a few shots. This is one of the sharper ones.

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Lily magnolia flower – The Secret Garden of 1 Utama.

When we went back to The Secret Garden the following weekend, the lily magnolia bud had bloomed. Unfortunately, a few petals had already fallen off. Looking at the fresh condition of one of the petals on the ground, I estimated that we were late by one day only or less. Still, I am fascinated by this species of magnolia. Its large firm petals, white on the inside and purplish pink on the outside, makes a bold statement without being showy. This is one of the plants I would love to have in my garden.

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Lily magnolia bud – The Secret Garden of 1 Utama.

This magnolia bud should have bloomed into a beautiful purplish pink flower already by now. I hope that when we go to The Secret Garden of 1 Utama again this weekend, the other buds would have just unfurled their petals for us to train our cameras on. I like how the fine hairs, called sericeous, contrasted with the silky petals, both in texture and colour. This is certainly one of the better photographs that I have taken since I started using the monopod to reduce camera shake.

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Osmoxylum lineare – The Secret Garden of 1 Utama.

The osmoxylum lineare has a unique cluster of flowers. Little buds of white seemingly burst forth from the closely packed black seeds underneath. The juxtapose of colours and texture make for an interesting sight, and photography opportunities. Apparently, osmoxylum thrives in Southeast Asian countries, namely Malaysia and the Philippines. I have not seen one before until Wuan and I went to The Secret Garden of 1 Utama. This photograph was taken with the Canon Powershot A610 attached to a monopod to reduce camera shake. I have very unsteady hands.

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Eugenia sp. at Secret Garden 1 Utama.

Wuan and I went back to Secret Garden at 1 Utama again last Saturday. This rooftop garden at the new wing is an oasis of green and serenity. 500 species of plants from various climates and elevations are cultivated together at different themed sections. Photography opportunities are plenty. We will be visiting this place often with our cameras. This is where I will be polishing my macro photography skills. Loafing at 1 Utama on weekends has suddenly become productive and enjoyable.

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Leptospermum brachyandrum – Weeping Tea Tree at Secret Garden 1 Utama.

This photograph reminded me of the weeping willow tree that once stood proud outside the house that I used to live in. Her branches hung low, almost but never touching the ground. Her shade was a welcome relief during the scorching mid-day sun. She stood majestically beside the fence that was wrapped over by a hedge, typical of many homes of that era – a time when life was simpler. As I grew up, so did she. She was as tall as a two storey house when I was in my mid-twenties. One day, her leaves started to wilt, and drop. A few weeks later, her branches were bare. She died eventually.

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