At the start of February 2020, I started taking pictures of wild flowers growing in my neighbourhood at Holland Grove Park. I did this because I noticed that there were lots of strange looking, very tiny flowers, blooming along the grass verge on the sides of the roads around the neighbourhood.

The first day I went out with my camera, I photographed 10 different species in half an hour, and posted my first wild flower in FB on 4th February. I had to walk around the estate for several days the next few weeks, to discover more ‘new’ species. The wild flowers do not all flower at the same time, and their leaves are camouflaged by the grass growing in their midst. So you need to walk every other day over the same roads to spot different blooms.  By the end of 6 weeks, I completed a 40 page Photobook featuring 28 species of wild flowers. 

The purpose of this book is firstly, to find out for myself the wonderful variety of wild flowers that co-exist in the grass edges of the roads in the estate, mostly within walking distance around my house. Secondly, I hope to share this interesting information with others who may also be interested, and who may be inspired to look for such wild flowers in their own estate and neighbourhood.

The Front and Back pages of the book are shown above. I searched the Internet to obtain the names and uses of these plants and added this information into the book, not only their scientific and common names,  but also a short account of their usefulness. Many of the plants and their parts, have medicinal uses, but I am not suggesting that you try these out. If you have a medical problem, please seek proper medical advice.

This is a page in the book showing Eclipta prostrata, the False Daisy. An annual herb that grows up to 60 cm tall with erect or horizontal stems and the Tridax procumbens, commonly known as Coat Buttons or Tridax daisy, a species of flowering plant in the daisy family. 

This is the 18th wild flower on my list, found growing opposite a condominium in the neighbourhood. Synedrella is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family. It contains only one known species, Synedrella nodiflora. 

Another page in the book showing the Hemigraphis reptans   (Red Flame, Red lily, Waffle Plant) a very common herb often found in shady areas on lawns and Ruellia repens (Creeping Ruellia, Ruellia; daun patok tuau, akar keremak [Malay]) a very common creeping weed of lawns. 

A closer look at Youngia japonica, commonly called Oriental false hawksbeard, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family. Number 8 in my series, growing near a Chinese temple.

On the left side of my gate, found growing in the grass verge along the roadside is the 5th wild flower in my series. Desmodium triflorum. Found throughout Singapore.

This creeping vine was spotted at my front fencing near the gate and is the 20th wild flower in the series. Passiflora suberosa is a species of passionflower that is native to the Americas.

A closer look at the flower head of the 12th wild flower growing around my neighbourhood is the Mimosa pudica. This plant is commonly known as “Touch-me-not”!

Cleome rutidosperma, family Capparidaceae. Commonly known as fringed spider flower or purple cleome, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cleome of the family Cleomaceae,  native to tropical Africa. 

The Book, “Wayside Flowers Of Singapore”,  by Kaw Jon Boon and Louise Neo, (Straits Times Press 2018 edition) lists 160 species of roadside plants that can be encountered in tropical Singapore. It is not my intention, however, to repeat what material there is in their wonderful and very informative book. In my book, the intention is to showcase the tiny yet descriptive wild flowers around my neighbourhood which are hardly noticed by the majority of people, because of their very small size.

If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of this 40 page book, in soft cover with high definition prints on premium silk paper, 8″ x 11″ portrait orientation;  I am selling them at $25.00 per copy.You need to contact me at my email : john_lim@icloud.com  Additional payment is required for delivery by SingPost. The total cost of the book, and delivery to local destinations with tracking, is $30.00 payable in advance. For overseas orders, contact me for the postal rates.

Thank you for your interest and support.