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Beyond Romance

A few of the some 65 rose hybrids gathering on the Flower Field for the upcoming Rose Romance floral display in the Flower Dome. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.

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The Classic Routemaster

Visitors getting excited over a London bus bursting with roses in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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Best Of The Bunch

Ripening Cherry Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) in the Flower Dome. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

The sun was rather harsh at the time of capture. So the exposure was biased darker by 2 stops to retain as much of the highlights as possible. And then in post, the shadows were brightened up a tad to soften the harsh shadows.

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Lucian in the Sun

Dendrobium ‘Lucian Pink’ looking brilliant in the sun in the Cloud Forest. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Bokeh could’ve been smoother here if not for the variable aperture and the slow lens used here.

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Assassin in the Garden

A Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes) prowling on a Summer Snapdragon in search of prey on the Floral Ridge. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.

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Icy Blues

These that look like Viola Sorbet Icy Blue blooming above other foliage in a congested flower bed in the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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Far from Home

A Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) foraging on the outskirt of the Windsor Nature Park. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

A native of Java, this myna was said to have been introduced here through the pet trade some time in the 1920s. It’s pretty widespread here now.

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A Hungry Hoopoe

A Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops epops) feasting on mealworms in the former Jurong Bird Park. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Thought to be an escapee that had been seen in the wild here in the past. This one was photographed in the local bird park with a Micro Four Thirds camera and showed surprisingly good details. This was a 45 percent crop of the original capture.

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Thongchai Gold

These that look like Dendrobium Thongchai Pinwattana Gold welcoming visitors at the entrance of the local zoo. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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Yummy Strawberries

Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca) waiting to join other plants of the Rosaceae family at the upcoming Rose Romance in the Flower Dome. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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When the Desert will Blossom

A young rose emerges in a darker part of the conservatory. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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Edible Giants

Giant Milkweed (Calotropis gigantea) after a morning thunderstorm at the Waterfront Plaza. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

The flowers are apparently edible and are said to be used for the relieving of asthma. But the milky sap is toxic though. So it might be wise to first consult a medical doctor prior to use.

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The Less Fussy Climbers

Climbing roses getting ready at a lay-by for the upcoming Rose Romance floral display in the Flower Dome. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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Afternoon Refuelling Stop

A male Garden Sunbird, formerly Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), looking over its shoulder at the photographer while drinking from a Russelia equisetiformis on Sentosa Island. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.

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Nine-Month Old Blooms

These that look like Dendrobium stratiotes giving their last performance on the grounds of the Gardens by the Bay. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

These appear to be nearing their end which are known to be the longest lasting flowers of any plant with some remaining fresh for as long as nine months. (source: Wikipedia)

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Cape Blues

This that looks like the Cape blue Waterlily (Nymphaea capensis) looking brilliant after an earlier thunderstorm. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

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The Whitehanded

A White-handed Gibbon, also known as Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar), lost in thought in the local zoo. Photo credt: Jonathan Chua.