flowering durian, rambutan and mangosteen trees

foreground, rambutan tree; background, durian tree

flowers of the durian tree

flowers from the rambutan tree

mangosteen flower

"did you notice two big durian trees next to st 13? they were flowering profusely." this comment by chun see of goodmorningyesterday reminded of the flowers on the durian trees at mandai. it also sets me wondering. how come durians like the 'cat mountain king' and 'd24' varieties are already available when the durian trees in the wild in singapore have just started flowering. (today, while on the way to admiralty road west, chun see decided to detour to show our overseas friends the flowering durian trees.)

it also meant that the rambutan, mangosteen and mango trees will be flowering because these fruits appear in abundance at the same time as the durians. at bukit batok nature park, i thought light rain was falling until i saw on the ground, many small flowers from the rambutan tree.

from afar, sometimes it is easy to mistake the flowers of the mango tree for those of the rambutan's. mango trees can also be found in the wild, in places like lim chu kang, bukit timah nature reserve and a number of the nparks.

on many of the bigger and older mangosteen trees along the roadside of neo tiew crescent, you can find flowers on the trees. it will take at least three months after the flowers have turned into fruit before they can be harvested. so far, i have not had the chance to see any ripe fruit on the mangosteen trees planted by the roadsides. they disappear from the trees before they turn purple.

this morning, when i was at telok blangah hill park, i saw a number of mature mangosteen trees. these trees should also be flowering and the young fruit would soon be seen on the trees. another place where i have seen mangosteen trees growing is the christian cemetery at lim chu kang.

the month of may is a good time to visit sungei rengit in south-eastern johor because by then the mango trees in the mango farms will be laden with the fruit.