Showers of Blessing

The Golden Shower (Cassia fistula) is another tree that I highly respect and appreciate. It is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves every 8-10 months, especially during flowering. It is absolutely beautiful when that happens (see below) as the whole tree simply brightens up the roads when there are very few leaves to cover the yellow flowers.



This golden shower tree is found along Serangoon Central, opposite the KFC outlet. There are about three of these trees along this road, which I would pass on my way back home. However, this particular tree caught my attention as it would bloom the brightest! It gives me a sense of happiness whenever it blossoms! And it's definitely a great stress reliever after a long day at work =)

What is also amazing about the golden shower is that (according to The Trees of our Garden City)almost all parts of the tree - the leaves, bark, flowers, fruits and seeds - are believed to have curative properties, and are extensively used in folk medicine to treat a myriad of ailments, from pimples, burns, wounds, skin diseases and worms, to cold, fever, flu and malaria, to rheumatism, epilepsy, convulsions, delirium and even cancer! People in general, are like trees where we are all unique from each other. So how then, can we make ourselves useful? =)

The Majestic Bismarck

This is my favourite palm - the Bismarck Palm (Bishmarckia nobilis). I first fell in love with it when I saw it at Serangoon Central (see above). It's got this dreamy, where it's leaves seem to be coated with a layer of powder. I find it a very artistic and dramatic tree, with its large majestic fan palm. I later found out that the Bismarck Palm is native to the island of Madagascar! Wow! That made it even more exotic =P Here's some interesting facts that about the Bismarck palm from Trees of our Garden City - A Guide to the Common Trees of Singapore:

"The Bismarck Palm is dioecious, i.e. the male and female flowers are separated and borne on different plants. It is drought tolerant and not as subject to disease and nurtitional deficiencies. It is adapable to many kinds of soil."

So, after knowing about the characteristics of the Bismarck Palm, it became another source of my strength and inspiration - being tolerant & adaptable =P Of course, there are many other beautiful trees in Singapore, but this one has a special place in my heart =P