Artworks

On the other side of the main walk I observed several specimens of the Indian “neem” tree (Melia Azedarach), which with great vigor, but is rather liable to have its branches broken by high winds, owing to the brittle nature of the wood. Next to it, there is a plant called Tetrapanax papyrifer that is being cultivated.
Chop down the maple tree, to
create all things on earth.
Turn sawdust into fish roe,
wood chips into bees,
and in the heart of the tree foster butterflies,
while tree bark turn into moths,
tree knots into owls,
hooting throughout the night,
leaves turn into swallows,
to soaring hawks and falcons,
with only treetops left,
swaying brilliantly in the wind,
turning to a trailing bird,
embracing butterfly eggs.
Having laden myself with all the specimens of plants and rocks, which I had the means of carrying, I returned on board the Alceste. At day-light the following morning, I again visited the land, and directed my researches to a small island separated from Hong-kong by a channel not more than a hundred yards wide. It afforded me very few plants except the Polypodium trichotomum, but it presented several geological facts of much interest.
We experienced nothing to excite our apprehension till the evening of the 9th of July, when the sky exhibited such novel though brilliant appearances, as led us to fear that they would be followed by formidable changes of weather. The course of the sun, as it sunk beneath the horizon, was marked by a vivid glory expanding into paths of light of the most beautiful hues. They were composed of sheets of glowing pink, which diverging at equal distances from the sun’s disk, darted upwards from the horizon, diminishing in intensity of colour, till they vanished in the azure of the surrounding atmosphere.
I want to show you the scenery and inhabitants of Hong-Kong, but of either I have little to say. Its scenery is composed of barren rocks, deep ravines, and mountain-torrents, but presents few characters of a very picturesque description. Of its inhabitants none were seen but some poor and weather-beaten fishermen, spreading their nets, and drying the produce of their toils on the rocks which supported their miserable mud-huts. number of its population. Patches of rice, small plantations of yams, and a little buck-wheat, which are remnants of the old society.  Annie, 1963
On entering the garden at its lower side there is a wide chunamed walk leading in a winding manner up the side of the hill, in the direction of the house. On each side of this walk are arranged the trees and shrubs indigenous to the country, as well as many of the fruits, all of which grow most luxuriantly. Camellia hongkongensis is one of the most common plants here, and walking up the mountain, there are white camellias blooming all around. The flowering period for the Camellia hongkongensis is in October, November, and December. The seeds I gave to Hook were collected in September 1951.

Artworks

Cat 

Jeremy Fung
Chipped Grain

Jeremy Fung
A forgotten page

Jeremy Fung