NEW at our Garden Shop!

Starting this Sunday August 20th, we have new friends at our Botanika Garden Shop veranda!

Introducing one of the hottest Group Fitness activities suitable for all fitness levels at Penang Botanical Garden. Conducted by EzYoung • Friends in Fitness, you can

• Improve Fitness
• Lose Weight
• Gain Muscle
• Suitable for all fitness level

Together, you will see results faster and accomplish more ambitious fitness goals. 

EZYoung will also be conducting health workout sessions weekly for everyone!

Don't forget to drop by this Sunday to check out our new friends' great workout activities. If you'd like to sign up early, you can contact Mr. Alex Tan at 012-4787622.

Plant Exchange/Banana Talk 15 July 2017

Our July members' activity was another resounding success with more members and quite a few walk-in non-members turning up for the plant exchange and Part Two of Dr. Liew's talk about bananas and their hidden secrets.

It was a lively session with people asking all kinds of questions about bananas, especially when they discovered the hidden history of banana cultivation in Malaysia. This session focused mainly on the sweet dessert and cooking bananas.

The participants were fascinated to discover just how close to being completely wiped out the local plantations were over the years and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when our good doctor ended the tale with the wonderful efforts to save the commercial banana crops over the years.

We had a number of banana trees for those who wanted to try their hand at growing their own supply of the fruit, apart from the banana trees already planted at Outreach. Most of our bananas are quite young so we didn't have any fruiting trees to show, but it was still a great time showing newcomers around our herbs and flowers at the back.

Many also asked about their plants' health and our various Outreach programmes for kids and adults. If you're not yet a member but interested to join us for our members' activities, don't forget to get in touch with us by email so that we can add you to our mailing list!

  

Basic Macrame Class

Learn how to make a simple hanging pot macrame holder (see picture) with just one or two balls of parcel string! It's so easy even kids can learn how to do it.

We are now teaching three basic macrame techniques at our Saturday afternoon art & craft classes at our Outreach office opposite the Moon Gate on the way in to the Botanic Gardens.

When you come, we'll provide you with string and we'll teach you to make your own basic pot hanger. It's really quite easy and you'll be able to make your first one in less than an hour!

Once you learn the basic knots, you'll be able to use different types of nylon string or rope and join the knots in different combinations to make your own unique pot hangers!

Fees :

Members            RM10.00

Non-members    RM20.00

Class times :

1.30pm to 2.30pm

3.00pm to 4.00pm

More advanced macrame techniques will be coming soon so keep checking back here or at our Facebook group !

Hand printed Pot Holders!

Our ladies have been really working very hard! They've come up with another beautiful series of products for our Garden Shop again!

Come and have a look at our pot holders. Each one is hand printed with local plants and flowers from our Outreach office garden at the Botanic Gardens. They make perfect seasonal holiday gifts or birthday presents for your friends and family who love to cook and entertain. Once you see our potholders, you'll probably want to buy or order a whole set of them!

Our lovely pot holders are just RM18.00 per pair and you can get them from our shop any time between 9.00am to 6.00pm every day.

Banana Talk Plant Clinic 17 June

Our monthly members' activity for June was a plant clinic and the first part of a two-part talk by our President, Dr. Liew, about bananas. 

As always, there were lots of questions about saving plants from parasites, diseases and various other hazards to good plant health. A few members even brought along their plants or cuttings to show our good doctor what exactly was wrong with their plants. It was a lively and interesting time for all participants as our President proposed various natural ways to cure their plants' ill health.

The clinic was followed by a talk about the origins of our edible bananas. This was an eye-opener for many people since few know that our favourite fruit comes from a large family which includes many non-edible varieties.

The next part of the banana saga is coming soon so keep checking back here or at our Facebook group for updates!

Our Facebook group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/fopbgs/

New Aprons at the Garden Shop

Our ladies have been busy the last couple of weeks and they have come up with some lovely aprons for the Garden Shop! Every apron is individually hand printed with the plants from our Outreach office garden and the Malay names (if any), English names and scientific names handwritten on them. 

Retailing at only RM25.00 per piece, each apron will make a lovely gift for your friends and family members who love cooking! Come and have a look at our lovely aprons before they're all sold out!

Our Garden Shop is located right beside the Botanic Gardens' main entrance. It's on your right as you enter the Gardens. We're open from 9am to 6pm every day!

Magical Misai Kucing

Misai Kucing ( or Cat's Whiskers) is a herb found mainly throughout South East Asia and tropical Australia which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Misai Kuching is also known as Kumis kucing in Malaysia. The plants leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and are green in colour while the stem is reddish. Almost all parts of the plant can be used but usually only the leaves are used in traditional herbal treatmentsfor -

1. Kidney stones 

Misai Kucing is very useful for flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while also relieving spasms of the the muscle walls of the internal organs, making it quite useful for gallbladder problems.

2. Urinary tract infections. 

Misai Kucing has both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which can be used to treat urinary tract infections.

3. Rheumatism and gout. 

Rheumatism and gout are due to increased meat/protein consumption and a sedentary life that cause a build-up of acid and metabolic wastes in the joints and muscles. The reduced circulation around the joints results in painful swelling and in time, joint destruction. Consuming Misai Kucing helps to remove the metabolic waster from our body.

4. Circulatory disorders. 

Misai Kucing is the remedy for blood vessels and circulatory problems.

5. Diabetes. 

Misai Kucing is able to help to stabilize a diabetic person’s blood sugar levels.

6. High blood pressure. 

Misai Kucing inhibits blood platelets from coagulating. It is also good reducing cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

7. Inflamation. 

Misai Kucing has anti inflammatory and anti-alergic properties that help to reduce swelling as well as anti-inflammatory agents that are not steroids. It is also believed to help the immune system and reproductive system.

 8. Anti-ageing

Misai Kucing is also rich in antioxidant that protect cells from the effects of free radicals.

How To Take Misai Kucing

You can buy commercially produced misai kucing tea in sachets but it's really very easy to make your own if you have a pot of misai kucing nearby.

Just remember that beautiful as the flowers might be, it's the leaves which are generally used for medicinal purposes instead. Just pluck fresh misai kucing leaves (about 4 or 5 leaves will do), wash and tear them into smaller pieces. Put these into a mug and pour hot, boiling water into the mug with the leaves. Cover the mug and let the tea steep for about 10 minutes before drinking it. 

The tea is very mild with little colour. If you have a urinary tract infection, your problem should disappear in about 2 hours. If it persists, just drink another cup of this tea.