Lai Tai flower market

I've always wanted to keep tiny orchids, they look so dainty and elegant. Many people say orchids are hard to keep, the Chinese florist gave me two simple tips to care for them:
1. Be a lazy gardener, give it half a cup of water every 10 days.
2. Keep it away from direct sunlight.

Cost of plant: RMB20
Cost of pot: RMB10


Vincent chose a jasmine plant for RMB25. We placed it next to the sofa. The flowers smelled so sweet at night, nicer than a cup of jasmine green tea.





























To get to the flower market, just ask the taxi driver to take you to Women Street (女人街）. The flower market is in the building that has two giant white (coloured) elephant statues.

莱太花卉商城
Address: 9 West Maizidian Road, Chaoyang district
地址: 北京市朝阳区麦子店西路9号

Magnolias (white)

This word is pronounced as [mag-no-lia] and not [mac-nor-nia]... hee... (^ ^)

Most of us should be familiar with this fresh milk with yellow brand logo. Parents with kids will know that this is the milk that comes with Happy Meals. It also happens to be the one of the most expensive fresh milk in the supermarket. Yes, the brand of this milk is named after a flower. Probably because the milk is as white as the magnolia flower...? *wonder* *wonder*?

When half-opened, the flowers are tulip-shaped:


















Notice the brown furry bud shell at the tip of the petal? (it's almost like the pussy willow)


















It's a very elegant flower...


















Magnolia flowers can be in pink as well. The pink ones are really pretty but I haven't got the chance to get a photo of them. Here's the link to someone's blog showing the pink version.

Spring flowers

Spring came pretty late this year. But I'm glad we had the chance to experience this.


Short tree full of pink flowers
I'd like to think they are sakura, but I suspect they aren't.
Mr Naniwa, do you know?






























Slightly taller tree full of small white flowers






























Shrubs full of yellow flowers