Helianthus Annuus aka Sunflowers

Helianthus annuus is the scientific name for the sunflower, a genus comprising around 70 species of annual and perennial flowering plants from the aster family. They are known for their large, daisy-like flower heads, which are often yellow, but also come in other colours and varieties.

The name Helianthus comes from the Greek words ‘helios’ (sun) and ‘anthos’ (flower), perfectly describing their habit of turning their blooms towards the sun.

Sunflowers have a single, large flower head with a central disk of tiny florets surrounded by large, showy ray florets. They are typically grown in full sun and well-drained soil. While many are annuals, some perennial types exist. Sunflowers are grown for ornamental purposes as well as a crop for oil, seeds and animal forage.

Here’s a fun fact for you. A ‘Solanthophile’ is someone who is irresistibly in love with Sunflowers.

Some photos of sunflowers from the ‘Sunflower Surprise’ display at the Flower Dome. I am not able to name them all.

Helianthus ‘Chocolate’. This variety has rich crimson-brown velvety petals with a hint of yellow on the underside and darker brown centre.

Helianthus ‘Strawberry Blonde’. A bi-coloured sunflower with pink petals, yellow tips and a dark hue centre.

Helianthus ‘Cherry rose’. They are known for their bi-colour petals

Helianthus ‘sunfinity’. They are known for their long continuous blooming.

Helianthus ‘smiley’. They are pot type sunflowers.

Despite its appearance, this is also a sunflower. This particular variety has a fluffy, pom-pom-like appearance, unlike the typical single-petal ring of a classic sunflower. 

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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‘Sunflower Surprise’

‘Sunflower Surprise’ is a display of sunflowers in the Flower Dome in the Gardens by the Bay. The event is a collaboration with the High Commission of India in Singapore, commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Introduced to India in the 1960s through agricultural research, sunflowers have since become both an oilseed crop and an ornament plant.

Together with the display of sunflowers were information boards giving information on the city of Jaipur, and the culture and customs observed in the city.

Jaipur is the capital and largest city of India’s Rajasthan state. It is also known as the ‘Pink city’ for its trademark colour. That warm rose hue has since become inseparable from the city’s identity.

Hawa Mahal. Also known as the “Palace of Winds”, Hawa Mahal is one of India’s most recognised and photographed landmarks.

Amer Ford Courtyard. The Amer For Courtyard once served as both the administrative seat and pleasure palace of the Kachwaha dynasty.

The traditional string puppet theatre of Rajasthan.

Elephants. They were once indispensable to royal and military life in Rajasthan. Rajput rulers rode them into battle and through Jaipur’s streets in grand processions.

Peacocks. Native to the subcontinent, the peacock was declared India’s national bird in 1963.

Auto Rickshaws. They are the city’s most affordable form of hired transport. Each vehicle can ferry two or three passengers with ease through narrow lanes and the broad avenues.

The sunflower display is quite impressive. Besides the different variety of sunflowers, marigolds, chrysanthemums, tagetes, snapdragons, hydrangeas, canna…. are also on display to add a bit variety to the display.

‘Sunflower Surprise’ is now on until the 16th of November. Admission fees apply. Adults pay $12 SGD, Seniors and children below 12 years old pay $8 SGD.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Fun Facts About Plants

A peek into the world of plants. Here are some trivia, and fun facts about plants, courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, Science and facts, Crazy creatures, The Knowledge Factory, The study secrets etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

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Fun Facts About Insects

A peek into the world of insects. Interesting fun facts about insects – courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, Science and facts, Crazy creatures, The Knowledge Factory, The study secrets etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

For centuries, people have wondered how spiders could travel hundreds of miles through the air. It turns out they can sense and use the Earth's natural electricity to fly. This behavior is called 'ballooning' and allows them to colonize new areas even without wind. - Facebook post by ‘Ancient Star’

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All Puns Intended

A pun is a joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused. Puns are better understood if you have a reasonable command of the language they are in.

I hope you get a laugh out of the following puns. I know, some of them are rather lame, or as some would say, cheesy. Still, some people might get a good laugh out of it because we are all different. What is not funny to one might be funny to another.

May your days be filled with laughter.

It’s a five minutes walk from my house to the pub. It’s a 35 minutes from the pub to my house. The difference s staggering. - Unknown

All my dogs love playing ‘hide and seek’ with me, except the Dalmatians…because they are always spotted. - Unknown

I am reading a book about lamps, torches, and lanterns. Just some light reading. - Unknown

Remember, man does not live on bread alone: sometimes he needs a little buttering up. - John C. Maxwell

Trouble with modern children, they do not smart in right place. - Charlie Chan

I love going outdoors. It is much safer than going out windows. - Unknown

Rehab is for quitters! - Unknown

Ants never get sick. They have little anty bodies. - Unknown

Turning vegan would be a big missed steak. - Unknown

When my wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo, I had to put my foot down. - Unknown

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World of Animals

Let’s take a peek into the world of animals. Here are some trivia, fun facts about animals, courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, Science and facts, Crazy creatures, The Knowledge Factory, The study secrets etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

Meet the Emperor Tamarin — the jungle’s tiniest monarch with the grandest mustache. Barely the size of a squirrel, this primate moves like a shadow through the treetops of the Amazon. But don’t let the royal whiskers fool you — this emperor doesn’t rule by fear, but by family. Living in close-knit troops, they share everything — food, care, and protection.

Fathers carry the newborns while mothers lead the group, and every member helps raise the young. In their world, survival is a shared crown. Their iconic mustache isn’t just for show — it’s a signal of maturity, a badge of identity that helps them recognize each other among the branches.

They feast on fruits, insects, and nectar, playing their quiet role in keeping the rainforest alive.

The Emperor Tamarin reminds us that true royalty isn’t about power — it’s about presence. Even in the wild, respect is earned not by dominance, but by harmony. – From Facebook post by Cronus

Giraffes are fascinating animals known for their long necks. Because their necks are so tall, they can’t easily bend down to drink water from the ground. Instead, they have to spread their legs apart to lower their heads and reach the water. This unusual way of drinking helps them get the water they need, but it also puts them in a risky position.

When giraffes lower themselves to drink, they become more exposed to predators like lions. This makes them very careful about when and where they drink water. To stay safe, giraffes don’t drink very often. They prefer to limit their time in vulnerable positions to avoid danger.

Even though it might be hard for them to drink, giraffes have adapted to their environment in many other ways. They eat leaves from tall trees and use their height to spot dangers from far away. Giraffes are remarkable creatures, and their ability to survive in the wild is truly impressive, even if it means they have to be cautious about drinking water. - From Facebook post by Colours of Nature

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