Calm after the storm...

Birds, Bees and Butterflies....

These are my frequent visitors since the rainy season stopped. My toddlers love to run and chase the birds. And also runs but away from the bees.
It's one of the consolations of being a hands on in the garden (I didn't hire a gardener).

Gardening is very relaxing, fulfilling and therapeutical. At the moment, it's the one that I enjoy most, more than shopping and socializing.

Earlier, I was sitting beside the bedroom window and enjoying this view. Few moments later a couple of brown butterflies started circling the plants. As if assessing the quality of my work ...LOL! And then they settled down and started what seems like a ritual. I was watching for a few minutes and I noticed that both couples are doing exactly the same routine so I thought it must be a mating ritual. I took my camera and stepped out to capture the moment and this is what I have  witnessed.

For the love of plants

I was inspired by the grand houses and immaculate gardens of Pondok Indah (where the rich people lives,I don't).Today, I finally visited Puncak (2 hrs. drive outside Jakarta) to check out garden plantations. I've been hearing plenty of good things about this place.It's where you can find the biggest safari in Indonesia called Taman Safari. There is the tea plantation and lots of plants shops that sells cheap garden plants. It's also home for the biggest botanical park, the Taman Bunga. I didn't know about the Bonzai garden until my driver recommended it. He may have gotten tired of me exploring every single area in the city of Jakarta just to find a cheaper Bonzai shop.

On our way to Puncak we passed by the tea plantation and this is how it looks like:

According to him it's always misty,foggy and the temperature is colder than in the city.The view is similar to some European mountains.
It's completely different from what you usually in the city of Jakarta. Miguel couldn't help but wonder where his mommy has brought him.
The road is quite steep and wet. Travel time from city to Puncak is about 2 and half hrs. without the traffic jam. But you will enjoy the ride because you'll be entertained by the view. And the sides  of the road are lined up with all sorts of plants shop.

The one that took my breathe away is...
the Bonzai garden. Which consists of thousands of this lovely tiny little trees. Upon entering the plantation, I develop a stiffed neck from looking to my left and right inside the car.My eyes popped out as soon as I got closer to them. I couldn't decide which direction to go. I must've asked a hundred times a bout the prices of each kinds.

There so much happiness I feel when I was walking around and admiring each one of them. I remember a dream I had long time ago, exactly like that. No, not the one where you're in the fields of flowers, arms extended and heading towards the man of your dreams,LOL! But the excitement is similar to that.

When I was about to leave Hong Kong, I placed an ad in the "Expat Trading Post', trying to find a person who likes plants. One that is particularly fond of Bonzai's. I've got several response and finally gave it (actually I sold it for half the price) to a guy who've just moved in. He said his family is coming to join him and as a gift to his wife, he is preparing a small garden in their patio. For me, the idea of him surprising his wife speaks for his/her love of plants. Which made me decide to choose him to adopt my beloved plant.

So there you go,don't ever think that only animals and kids  needed adoption, plants are living things too :)