The Malaysian garden in Kuching

The Kambatik garden in Kuching in 2013

http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-kambatik-garden.html

The Malaysian garden defined = Laman Kambatik (Malay) or the Kambatik Garden.

On this visit to Kuching I have a fair bit of time to compile my blog postings on the Malaysian garden as I have created it in Kuching.  Over many years I have written about the issue of the Malaysian garden with no name.  But it need not necessarily be so.  Over a period of about more than 10 years I have researched and actually built gardens and park based on the Kambatik concept.  I have taken up the challenge to develop a name for the Malaysian garden which is called the 'Kambatik garden' or Laman Kambatik in Malay.  In this posting I have gathered some relevant posts and pictures on the Malaysian garden in Kuching.  My effort to create the Malaysian garden is very much inspired  by nationalism, aesthetics, healthy life-style, green living, love of nature and wildlife,  recreational needs and creativity.  Please go the the links below the pictures to have a closer understanding of the Kambatik garden.    

( Note: This is a re-posting.  For full story and images, please follow this link...>>>>http://mysarawak2.blogspot.my/search/label/Kambatik%20garden )

Morning breakfast of fruits from the garden

Selection of fruits from the garden for breakfast

Ripe Ciku fruit on a branch - Manilkara zapota

( Note:  This is a re-posting.  For full story and images, please follow this link...>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/search/label/Ciku )

Garden progress in 2015

Garden progress - 2015

For all the stories and pictures taken in 2015, to show the garden progress, please follow this link...>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/search/label/Garden%20Progress%202015

Kuching garden in November'15

Pink to light purple bracts of the Congea velutina

I feel very contented with the progress of the Kuching in November.  The curtain of pink to purple bracts of the Congea velutina provides a permanent wash of appealing pastel colours to the garden. Most plants have matured attaining heights that provide shade and home to the birds.  The latest regular visitor to the garden amazingly is the Pink-necked Green pigeon.  I saw a pair of them perching at the Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea) and then to the Eugenia oleina tree to collect the twigs from the latter for making its nest.  The front side garden is forever perfumed by the scented white flowers Great Frangipani (Plumeria obtusa).  The three Foxtail palm(Wodyetia bifurcata) have grown taller than me and begin to display its characteristic 'foxtail' fronds.

( Note: This is a re-posting from another blog ' my Gardening Projects'.  For full story and images, please follow this link...>>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/12/the-kuching-garden-in-november15.html )

Bulbuls are at home here

A pair of Yellow-vented Bulbul having rest on the Eugenia oleina branch

The Yellow-vented Bulbul is a resident of the garden .  A few species of birds have found the garden a comfortable place to build home.  Those happy to build homes here are the Chestnut Munia (Pipit), Spotted-necked Dove (Tekukur), Olive-backed Sunbird and the Yellow-vented Bulbul.  From early morning to sunset we will not fail to hear their various calls.  Wildlife is an essential element and litmus test for the Kambatik garden.

( Note:  This is a posting from my Gardening projects blog.  For full sotory and images, please follow this link ...>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/06/bulbuls-are-at-home-here.html )

Sample of wildlife

(Note:  This is a re-posting.  For more pictures of the wildlife at the Kuching garden, please follow this link ...>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/06/sample-of-wildlife.html )

A White-breasted Woodswallow came perching

White-breasted Woodswallow

The White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) was seen perching on an electric cable just next to the side front garden.  It did not notice me in the beginning as I was hidden amidst the canopy of trees down below.  Being inattentive to my presence I could arrange to get a closer shot of the bird.  I am always excited to see the white contrast of its breast against a grey body.  Another feature of the bird that attracts me is the light blue bill.  This bird normally shows itself in a pair or in a small group.  Today it came alone.

(Note: This is a re-posting from another blog called 'My Gardening Projects'.  For full story and images, please follow this link ...>>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/06/a-white-breasted-woodswallow-came.html )

Enjoying the garden with birds and wildlife

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

It is something priceless when you can reap beauty that does not belong to you.  The garden is well established now and the fun is just about to begin.  Its time to begin to enjoy the garden with birds and other wildlife.   The joy of having the garden visited by these beautiful creatures is unspoken happiness.  The morning air today was filled with the twitter and calls of the Orange-bellied flowerpecker, Spotted-necked dove and Magpie-robin.  Closer to ground there were butterflies and dragonflies.  I noticed one dragonfly was resting on the Cape gooseberry plant (Physalis peruviana) belonging to the Tomato family, that has been growing luxuriously on this 53rd trip to Kuching.  I guess I'll have the gooseberry fruits for lunch later.

(Note:  This is a re-posting.  For full story and images please follow this link  ....>>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/06/enjoyng-garden-with-birds-and-wildlife.html  )

Brown-throated Sunbird at Blood Banana

( Note:  This is  a re-posting.  For full story and images please follow this link ...>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/04/brown-throated-sunbird-at-blood-banana.html

The Malaysian garden defined

View of Kuching Kambatik garden looking north-east
25 March'15

The side garden is attaining the image of the Kambatik garden now.  The cascading network of long violet or purple sprays of theCongea velutina is a crowning glory to the Malaysian garden.  This plant has been trained to climb the tall 'Lumok' tree with its leaves providing broad shapes in the garden landscape canvas.  The flowers are actually small but it is the four petal-like bracts of theCongea velutina that provides the colour.  The garden too is a grove of various palms and columns of trees with attractive colours when in flower.  Striking foliage colours provide permanent colours to the garden in many hues from  pale yellow  to red .  The thick greenery around the house is home to a growing list of many nesting birds and fruiting trees.  It provides an inviting passageway to visiting birds, butterflies and many other representatives of the insect world by day.  This is the garden character that is definitive of the Malaysian garden which I have researched over a decade and defined as the Kambatik garden.  It is a garden sanctuary of wildlife, a micro world of the original forest once gone, a place in the sun where shade creates a micro-climate conducive to many passive and active recreation under the tropical sun and a source of edible fruits and medicinal herbs within an arm's length.  What more could Malaysians ask?
For those interested to know the full list of plants suitable for the Kambatik garden can check the plants lists which I have shared online in the following blogs shown below:-
( Note: The page views indicated below are as at 26 March'15.) 
All the plants (4th Ed.)  -  10,608 page views
All the Plants (3rd Ed.)  -  203,442 page views
All the Plants (2nd Ed.) -   30,913 page views
All the plants (1st Ed.)   -  54,258 page views

( Note: This is a re-posting from my Gardening projects blog.  For full story and images please follow this link ....>>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/03/the-malaysian-garden-defined.html

Wings of interest

For more pictures of winged insects, please follow this link...>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/03/wings-of-interest.html

Common garden birds (Part 2)

The trees at the Kuching garden are now nicely maturing.  Their column of green volume provides shade to the garden and home to many of the garden birds too.  The bamboo clumps are home to the Spotted -necked Dove and the Chestnut Munia.  The Eugenia oleina trees are home to the Olive-backed Sunbird.  Other birds are mainly day trippers. They include the Yellow-vented Bulbul, Brown-throated Sunbird, Oriental Magpie Robin, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Asian glossy Starling. Plaintive Cuckoo, Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Zebra Dove.

(Note : For the full story and more images of the above blogpost please follow this link ..>>>http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.my/2015/03/common-garden-birds-part-2.html )