The ever-changing fig

If you've taken buses from the bus stop in front of the Innovation Centre, you might have noticed this very special tree just next to the bus shelter - our Heritage Tree!

So why is it so special? Is it only because it's a Heritage Tree?

Take a look at the picture below. Can you guess what it shows? I'll give you a hint - they're not the flower petals of the fig tree. Fig trees are given a name called "无花果" which when translated into English means fruits without flowers.



Personally, I thought this is a very special tree because of how different it looks as it goes through the various stages. The pictures below show the tree with its young leaves but if you were to head down and take a look at the tree now, the leaves have turned a much darker green.

UPCOMING NATURE WALK on 7 MARCH

Explore the wonders of your garden campus!

Aside from from walking around NTU from one lesson to another, have you ever stopped and noticed the rich variety of plants we have here?

Join us and trek through NTU for an entertaining and informative session on 7 March 2009 (Saturday), 9am!

We'll see you there!

Join us at our Booth!

Come join us at the Nature Guides' Booth during EAC from 29 to 30 Jan 2009 at Canteen A.

There will be a specimens display, digital photo album and many more other things to do at the booth.

See you there!

For more information, you can visit http://clubs.ntu.edu.sg/earthlink/eac2009/index.html.

Changeable Lizards

This changeable lizard was spotted in Hall 4's carpark, sunbathing on top of the branches of a Hongkong orchid tree.

Changeable lizards can change their colours quite rapidly while not as rapidly as chameleons. From this picture, you can see how the colour of the lizard matches that of the branch on which it stood. If I'm not wrong, we do not have chameleons in Singapore in the wild. Many people still seem to mistaken the changeable lizards commonly seen in Singapore for chameleons though, despite the various differences.

Changeable are usually spotted in brown, grey or olive hues with speckles or bands, but can also be seen in other colours such as bright green. Did you know that their colour changes may actually reflect their moods? Pretty interesting, right? Now I wonder what colour they would be when they're happy... What do you think?

During the breeding season, the male's head and shoulders turns bright orange to crimson and his throat black.

You may read more about them here: http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/verts/changeable_lizard.htm

Changeable lizards are a pretty common sight within our garden campus. You just need a keen eye to spot them especially since they are so well hidden most of the times. So, if you'll like to take a photo of them too, keep a look out for them when they're out during the sunny hours of the day and don't forget to share your pictures with us! Just send it to earthlink-actmgr@ntu.edu.sg. We'll love to see them.

Nature Appreciation Night, 24 Oct 2008

Short message from the guides:

The nature walk had been very enjoyable for all of us and so I hope everyone else had fun too! We are still working hard to find out more about our garden campus but I hope the walk had been both interesting and informative for all of you. There are actually more than 30 types of plants in Yunnan Garden itself and that day's walk covered only a fraction of them. The route that day had been designed such that it catered to the special seasons of the trees - eg flowering/fruiting. The next time you visit the garden again, it'll be another different sight.

So, we hope to see all of you again soon for our next walk! It'll be yet another experience - different trees, different Yunnan Garden.