July 28, 2023
- Debasish Mridha
Before, I thought I'd be bored in my new place when I saw it surrounded by tall buildings and with lesser shades. However, as I started to explore the neighborhood, I found hidden gems that I never thought existed in this dense city. Aside from a huge urban nature park, some gardens are worth visiting. One of them is this Butterfly Garden.
Huge stone sculptures of butterflies are positioned in the heart of it, which is surrounded by lush shrubs and vibrant blooming flowers. As you walk by, you will surely be drawn in.
Flowers change with the seasons. In summer, spring, autumn, and winter. One thing is certain, it has never been dull or out of color. Different flowers are lovely sights at the park, and one would surely stop to take photos of them. Some of the photos below were taken during the late spring, and I regretted not going there earlier. Yet, I was able to capture some blooming flowers. Some were starting to wither, though.
I know a few flowers, to be honest. But thanks to innovation. It's easier to find out their names through a Google image search.
Could this be a strawflower? Cute yellow creature, it seems it wanted to fully bloom. Tiny petals started to spread. Some are shy and hesitant, still embracing the cool wind of spring.
And look at this one in full bloom. Looks confident and proud of its beauty.
Hydrangea, I saw it again for the nth time. It seems that Hong Kong has a lot of them, especially at the park. This flower was even featured in this year's Flower Show that was held four months ago.
Another flower that is abundant in this region is Minnieroot. There are purple and pink flowers in all districts that bloom and can be seen mostly on the roadside and in villages in the spring season. This flower reminded me of many childhood memories, as we used to play this back in the day.
This Torenia or wishbone flower, is so cute because it has a shape like a tiny bell and is multi-colored. White in the base and purple edges, and some are pink and white colors. The yellow markings on it are quite unusual, though.
Speaking of bell-shaped flowers, this Allamanda blanchetii is similar to yellow bell flowers, but in a pink shade. A tiny yellow part seems to pop in the middle, and I find it cute.
I'm not sure if you have seen this yet, but it is called Chinese trumpet vine which is also like a bell-shaped flower, but a little smaller. It grows bigger in the summer and can be found in many parts of Asia.
The dry and hot weather recently made the flowers in Butterfly Garden wilt or become dry just like this ** Firecracker flower**. Its thin petals start to lose color due to too much heat. It definitely looks more beautiful in its original orange marmalade color in its first bloom.
This butterfly weed is as pretty as the butterfly sculptures in this garden. As its seed popped, a flower would bloom. Pretty and cute like dancing tiny ladies in red gowns.
My favorite is the Sampaguita with its flower soul as pure as its color. It's a scented jasmine flower, and Filipinos here might know why this is my favorite among all the flowers in the Butterfly Garden. This is our national flower in the Philippines, and although some don't like its scent, for me, it's fragrant. I also like the simplicity of its beauty.
In our country, it is common to see street vendors and even street kids selling Sampaguita garlands to vehicle drivers. And nowadays, young couples sometimes use Sampaguita garlands as a pledge of their love. While old folks would buy Sampaguita garlands to offer at the altar with saints' statues at their homes. This can also be used to make natural flower bracelets and necklaces ☺️.
These are my recent photos from the garden. It seems like globe amaranths are in bloom this season. There are different types of amaranths, but this one has a ball shape, and that's probably the reason why it is called globe amaranth.
Meanwhile, on the other side, there is this cart full of plants. This cart seems significant to this park because it is fenced, and people aren't allowed to enter the place. It's probably part of a historical relic found on the old site in this park.
Aside from butterfly sculptures, these bushes shaped like a butterfly is another attraction. The gardener, or whoever did it is commendable.
There are resting places in this park too that provide shade to visitors.
And on bright days, the surrounding area is the best spot to gather with friends among foreign workers. It's typical to see them lying and having picnics on pathway sides and under tree canopies.
So every time I need some fresher air and tranquil ambiance, the Butterfly Garden is one of the places where I find real solitude.
I bet @dswigle want this too for #MarketFriday ☺️.
Thanks for stopping by.
(All photos are mine)
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