Victoria amazonica
Nymphaeaceae
Having spent the last year germinating from these Victoria amazonica seeds, Tropical Spice Garden has the pleasure of presenting the near adult species of this glorious lily. Kenny,  the Garden Curator, has earlier been in touch with Water Garden International after many failed attempts to germinate false, unviable seeds from other questionable sources.
Here’s a [...]

Spice Island Maps circa 16th/ 17th Century

The East Indies

Nutmeg, Buah Pala
Clove, Buah Cengkih
The importance of these 2 precious spice commodities could not be emphasized enough in the history of the spice trade. And the history of Penang.
Here’s some noteable facts on the origins of nutmeg & clove:
Nutmeg is found in large quantities on Isle of Run & [...]

Hey folks
We are having a jumble sale selling mostly kitchen and household wares for cheap prices. We are also looking for buys for the slightly larger stuff too!
Here are the details of the event:
Venue: Tropical Spice Garden, Front Entrance
Date: Wed, 24 March 2010
Time: 2 – 5pm
Tell your friends about it! thanks

Dear Guests
Please be informed that starting today, Spice Cafe is closed for renovations. Yep, the wooden decking is being broken up to be re-laid even more beautifully than before. It’s all go go go here at the gardens!
We have some wonderful things in store come June for the Cafe but Ill drop you a hint [...]

You can now find a teeny weeny slice of Tropical Spice Garden at the soon to be opened Sigi’s at Golden Sands Resort, Rasa Sayang. Exectuive Sous Chef, John Brock, approached the gardens late last year 2009 still garbed in Chef’s uniform and hat together with Steven the Director of F&B.
They proposed for the gardens [...]

Ok let’s cut to the chase with common terminology used among gardeners!
Perennial
adjective
1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring
2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years
Examples of perennials at Tropical Spice Garden
1) Orthosiphon aristatus/ Cats whiskers
2) Cananga odorata / Ylang ylang shrub
3) Clerodendrum paniculatum / Pagoda flower
4) Saraca cauliflora / [...]

Anna Biddulph, current Design Technology and Art teacher at Uplands International School, has done a great service to Tropical Spice Garden. Her fabulous eye for creating beautiful creature art from recycled materials has been delivered without disappointment.
Anna was a full time sculptor back in the UK where she was commissioned to do work for a private childrens [...]

PERIWINKLE
Catharanthus roseus
Family: Apocynaceae
The scientific name catharanthus is derived from the Greek word katharos which means ‘pure’. And anthos which means ‘flower’. [Incidentally, my name Katharine also has the same Greek derivations meaning pure! - ed]
2 significant alkoloids or drugs known as vinblastine and vincristine are used in the treatment of Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia respectively. [...]

Dear Friends
I take great pleasure in inviting you to the Penang launch of the book “Penang under the East India Company” by Andrew Barber. Mr Barber will be present and we hope you take this opportunity to come and meet him at 29 China Street. The book will be introduced by Dato’ Anwar Fazal at [...]

It’s always a pleasure to welcome back old friends – personal friends and friends of the spice gardens – all friends! Adelena Chong was one of the first friends of the gardens who celebrated her brithday here with us about 6 years ago and I remember it ended with Cherie dancing on our table tops! It [...]