I am told that weather pattern has changed all over the world. Summers and winters have become unpredictable. This is why instead of summer setting in now, it would rain every evening. Immense lightning will lit up the sky and the earth. The rumbling noise followed by a thunderclap sends my old Labrador in a tizzy. She cowers at my feet, thoroughly shaken by the cacophony.
Next morning is cool. Fallen leaves and flowers cover my little patch of green. The pinkish Rangan shrub is in full bloom. I never knew that it is called ‘jungle geranium ‘or ‘flame of the wood’, or its scientific name, ‘Ixora coccinea.’ But thanks to Wikipedia, I know now.
This shrub and the flowers have always intrigued me. During my occasional and irregular morning walks on the patch of green, a few protruding branches will hit my hair and deposit bits of the flower. On closer examination, I have seen that flowers are small tubular shaped and in dense rounded clusters.
I have wondered often how nice it would look, if I can put a few such clusters into a vase with water. I am sure it would make an attractive home arrangement. Wikipedia also informs me with a naughty wink that these flowers have traditionally been associated with enhanced sexuality and the re-kindling of passion.
Hovering over the Rangan shrub, I see today morning, a cute purple-rumped sunbird or moutusi. It was busy sucking nectar from the flowers. It had a down-curved bill and a small tongue for nectar feeding. I could see clearly the light colour underside of the bird. It had blood shot eyes. The hover was tiring, so it perched itself on a branch deep inside the shrub and switched over to take rest or to pick some insects for a change, but I am not sure on that.
Very soon it began its unique call - ptsiee ptsit, ptsiee ptsswit and sharp twittering - tityou, titou, trrtit, tityou. I was wondering whether the Rangan flower had rekindled the passion of the cute little sun bird or Moutusi but my reverie was broken by my no nonsense old lady Labrador. She would have none of it and woke me up with a warning growl to the bird to stop its twittering, and dragged me home for my morning cup of tea and her morning biscuits.