In the year 2013, an Ecopreneur I became

A nature park in Bintulu 

In the year 2013, an ecopreneur I became.  Is there a time in your life that you can have the greatest fun doing what you love?  I have, and that happened in 2013 when I decided to call my eco-farm in Bintulu - the Kambatik Park.  It is the culmination of my strengths in landscaping, writing, photography, wildlife, aesthethics, planning, entrepreneurship, healthy life style, and passion in plants and life-long learning.  Here I build an eco-model for the cultivation of oil palm.  The sub-heading of the Kambatik Park's blog reads:" A private nature park developed by MOOD based on the principles of ecological diversity, oil palm integrated agro-forestry practices and Kambatik landscape design philosopohy and aesthethics".  You don't have to visit the park to experience it.  Making use of internet  technology I blogged on the development and happenings at the park for the whole world to see.  It has been more than two years since  and the story and discoveries keep on coming.  My ultimate vision is to see the model adopted along the 1000 km length of Sarawak trunk road such that it become a chain of 'kambatik park', the longest nature parkland  developed by rural entrepreneurs in Sarawak.

Sarawak - you are just so beautiful.

Happy Malaysia Day, Sarawak.

( This is the 13th and final posting for my writing contribution on what it is meant to be a Malaysian as a way for me to celebrate Malaysia Day this year, 2015)

As time goes by - The Making of a Garden Oasis

                             

Sunset view from the main door (2010)

A view on any day . Note the Drunken Sailor's ability to climb over and creep along the front porch's ceiling.

When we decided to move to Kuching about three years ago I was intent on making the house garden an example of my concept of the Malaysian Garden called " Laman Kambatik". In this post I would like to share how I achieved it at the front porch garden space. In later posts I shall talk about other sections of the house garden .

Over time one or two plants that did not do well were replaced with alternatives but to a large extent the original choice of plants proved suitable. To help me explain the job I have prepared a sketch below that could act as guide in recapitulating the making of the front garden. The front garden will hopefully mature in about a year's time from now when other garden features ( hard landscaping) will be added. At this point of time the focus is on soft landscaping i.e. the cultivation of plants and turves. On this note I would add that the latest feature is the Yellow Bamboo ( shown inset) that took the place of the Murraya paniculata after I noticed it was unable to fend itself from diseases that attack its roots.

In the beginning - date of photo 25 Nov' 2007

The above shows how the site looked like in late 2007. The plant worth noticing is the Carpentaria Palm ( Carpentaria alexanderae) which was just less than a meter high when planted. The broad-leaved Calathea lutea is an important plant in the design for the shape of its leaves. The soil is hard and not fertile and I only managed to top-up the whole area with good topsoil later when I decided to turf the space. All these plants were brought from my garden in Bintulu. I did this to save me time to scout for plants in Kuching besides I can load plenty of plants at the back of my pick-up every time I drive to Kuching.

Progress dated : 7 June 2008.

The above is view of the site in slightly less than a year. The tiny lawn has been turved. The Ixora coccinea is flowering beautifully with orangish blooms. The Blood Banana in the far background is seen higher than the Carpentaria Palm. The Sea Cycas ( Cycas rumphii) and Calathea are doing well evidenced by the dark green colour of their leaves.

Progress dated : 14 June 2008.

The Sea Cycas was also brought from Bintulu. Around the base of the Cycas tree are variegated rhoe plants. The lawn is planted with " Pearl Grass". A line of 'Mother-in-law's tongue' ( Sanseivera trifaciata) is seen planted along the concrete edge.

Progress dated : 4 December 2008.

In a year's time the Carpentaria Palm has risen 5 feet tall. To the left of the picture is Murraya paniculata which produces tiny white flowers that are strongly scented.

Unfortunately the Murraya plant did not perform well and last month I replaced it with the Yellow Bamboo.

In the design of the front garden the role of scented plants is emphasised. Another species included is the " Sepenuh" -Proiphys amboinensis

Inset to the left : Close-up of the tiny and scented white flowers of the " Kemuning" in Malay. It's scientific name is Murraya paniculata.

Progress dated : 25 Jan 2009.

Progress dated : 6 August 2009

Progress dated : 4 Feb' 2010.

After about slightly more than 2 years the garden is shaping up according to plan. For more bright colours the Yellow Croton (Codiaeum variegated) is added. At the lower storey ( not seen) many numbers of Iresine plants ( Iresine herbstii) are planted for its deep red colours. The feather-leaved palm behind the Sea Cycas is the Yellow Cane Palm ( Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) which is a small-sized palm.

Progress dated : 4 June 2010

                                                   Whooopi !! the Carpentaria palms have grown 15 feet in three years.


Three years in contemporary age of the Internet is virtually unfelt. It has whisked by like the fallen frangipani petals at the front garden. Kept by a busy schedule of travel from Bintulu to Kuching and back on an almost monthly basis I have not wasted the window of opportunity to create a much needed urban oasis a step out of the house. I will of course add a little bit of smaller plants to hug on the lawn floor in future but this will have to be thought judiciously especially on the maintenance aspect because we're not everyday in Kuching. Unlike trees, smaller plants require more intensive care. After all we're always rewarded by the basics first and pretties are added bonuses.

(Re-post from my blog "My Sarawak (3rd Ed.) - http://mysarawak2.blogspot.com/search/label/Garden%20Design )

Checking out the wildlife

 Back garden showing new feather-like leaves of the Sea Cycas (Cycas rumphii) at center of picture

Location :  Back garden

Came back to Kuching on the 29th of March ( the second time this month) for a short stay before embarking on a journey to KL.  Checking out the garden I noticed that the grounds are wet and this has been especially so for the last month.  It seemed that despite the drought in Peninsular states resulting in water shortage, Sarawak especially Kuching has had no similar nasty experience the first three months of the year. A short walkabout found the common wildlife are still there - birds, grasshoppers and dragonflies.  The Brown-throated Sunbird was seen piercing at the base of the Bignonia magnifica flower to have direct access to its nectar. The Chestnut Munia are easily spotted throughout the day as they busy making their homes in the garden especially at the bamboo clump.  Finally the typical Kuching bird - the Pied Triller was at the Tabebuia rosea tree perching briefly as if to greet me on my return.

Brown-throated Sunbird and the purple flower of the  Bignonia magnifica

Pied Triller at the Poui tree ( Tabebuia rosea)

(Re-post from my blog " my Gardening projects" - http://mygardeningprojects.blogspot.com/2016/03/checking-out-wildlife.html )

Flowering today at the park

In my attempt to create a nature park I have resorted to planting more and more native plant species.  Here's three that caught my attention today.
The Senduduk  or Straits rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum) ( See pic at inset) grows wild and natural at the park and is visited by many birds and insects.  They are a hardy pioneering species and are very attractive to wildlife.  The Asian rosebay (Tabernaemontana divaricata) is another hardy shrub that has slightly fragrant white flowers.  And then there's the once common but now more difficult to see local orchid called Bromheadia finlaysoniana.  This is a terrestrial orchid that grow into a small bush with white fragrant flowers held singly or in pairs on tall stalks.

 Tabernaemontana divaricata (Asean rosebay)

Syn : Ervatamia divaricata, E. coronaria)

Bromheadia finlaysoniana

( Re-post from my blog " The Kambatik Park, Bintulu" - https://kambatikpark.blogspot.com/2013/06/flowering-today-at-park.html )

Broad leaves in the landscape

Against the cool and soft green wash of the evergreen tropical forest, broad leaves are a refreshing variation to its profile.  Broad leaves of many plant species are planted to make the park more interesting to look at because big or broad leaves provide much drama, character, accent and scale to the overall landscape.  At the inset is a view of the park looking north-west at Zone D showing the interplay of broad and big leaves of the Traveler's tree and another jungle species.  Below are some more examples of broad leaves that I managed to photograph this morning.

Broad leaves of the Breadfruit (Artocapus altilis) or Sukun in Malay at left and Banana leaves at right

Calathea crotalifera  - Rattle snake plant

Terap in Malay or Lumok in Bintulu Melanau (Artocarpus odoratissimus

Shrubby dillenia or Simpoh air in Malay (Dillenia suffructicosa

( Re-post from my blog " The Kambatik Park, Bintulu" - https://kambatikpark.blogspot.com/2013/06/broad-leaves-in-landscape.html )

Leave the grasses alone

Zone B, view looking west

Swathes of grass cover are important in many respects.  At the park, its is an integral part of the design philosophy.  Firstly, the low mass of thick green cover are an important hideout and safe passage for the Samba deers that visit the park during the night.  The grasses produce seeds that are an important source of food to birds e.g. the pipits.  The dried grass blades and stems are used by birds to build their nests.  The swampy areas where grasses thrive and remain uncut are nesting grounds for such lovely birds like the White-breasted water hen.  In terms of cultural practice management, the presence of grass reserves tremendously save time and resources in keeping them untouched rather than the costly practice of grasscutting them weekly or monthly or even killing them with weedicide.  The grass blades and stems provide perches for small insects like dragonflies and butterflies.  Finally in landscaping aesthetics, the bold wash of light greenery provides soft buffer or  transition to the ground floor.  This helps soften the eye view and enhance compositional perspectives as the eye moves from a richly textured column of leaves above to the even and finely cut lawn at the ground level, thus making the watching experience pleasurable.

Zone B, view looking south

Zone B, view looking south

(Re-post from my blog "The Kambatik Park, Bintulu" - https://kambatikpark.blogspot.com/2013/12/leave-grasses-alone.html

Uprooting a beauty

t the  base of the clump into a root ball

Close up of Sandak or chisel

How do you uproot a beautiful palm and find home for it elsewhere, successfully?  At the park it done by simple manual method of trenching and  making the base of the palm like a ball.  By this method the root system is intact and the clump can be transplanted to its new home.  The main tool is the 'sandak' or chisel used for cutting the base of oil palm branches.  When the root ball is free it is a little effort to wedge it out of the trench.  The Sealing Wax Palm has been previously known as Cyrtostachys lakka but now it is called  Cyrtostachys renda.  It is native to Borneo, thus Sarawak, thus Bintulu.  The one that I removed today will be made as instant planting material for the Provinsi Lakka.  Today I saved RM 500, being the price of the palm this size at the current market value.

At this height , the palm will fetch RM 500 at any local nursery in Bintulu.

( Re-post from my blog "The Kambatik Park, Bintulu" - https://kambatikpark.blogspot.com/2014/06/uprooting-beauty.html )

Planting the 'Golden Torch' in beds

Heliconia 'Golden Torch' planted in beds

Location : Heliconia Valley, Zone D

  Try planting the Heliconia 'Golden Torch' in beds.  The pleasure is when they start to produce their colourful bracts.  Once established they will provide unlimited supply for daily cut flowers.  They add striking yellow colour to the landscape everyday.  It is necessary to remove or cut the aerial shoots that have flowered to encourage new shoots.  This gardening practice will result in healthy looking and clean beds.  The 'Golden Torch' have vigorous rhizomes and is easily propagated by division.  They love semi-shade or partial sun conditions.  Many birds are attracted to its inflorescences especially the sunbirds and spiderhunters.  To see how I use the Heliconia 'Golden Torch' in floral art Kambatik style , follow this link ...>>>http://dailycutflowers.blogspot.com/2009/06/hail-to-heliconias.html

Heliconias when grown in beds provide flowering shoots daily througout the year.

Location : Heliconia Valley, Zone D

( Re-post from my blog "The Kambatik Park, Bintulu" - https://kambatikpark.blogspot.com/2014/07/planting-golden-torch-in-beds.html )

Begonia as cover plant

Location: Kambatik Park, Bintulu.

I have found that this species of begonia to be an excellent ground cover. It has a showy silvery metallic light purple leaves and reddish underside. It is evergreen and I have planted it next to my chalet. It requires damp conditions and filtered or moderate light. This begonia is of the rhizomatous species and as such I can easily propagate them by division.

Some begonia species are native to Sarawak, Borneo or Malaysia and are prevalent in other parts of tropical regions of the world e.g. South America.