Raffles Museum Treasures: Blue lion's mane jellyfish

Blue lion's mane jellyfish (Cyanea lamarcki)
Collected from West Coast, May 1987
Visitor

The Marine Life Information Network
British Marine Life Study Society: British Jellyfish
British Marine Life


(Photo by Danygraig)

Fallen tree branch has been blocking path for 4 days: why nothing done?

STOMPer Chopper spotted this tree branch lying on a path in front of a condominium along West Coast Drive. He feels that it should be removed as people are being forced to walk around it.

Said the STOMPer:

"This broken tree branch has been left there since Monday, untouched. The authorities should send someone to clear it.

"It's dangerous, of course. But I also think it causes a lot of inconvenience.

"When people try to cross the road, they have to go around the branch."

Based on the photo, I don't quite see how pedestrians are that greatly inconvenienced. After all, they can just walk around the fallen branch. Besides, the authorities do depend on members of the public contacting them about these incidents; it's not like there are CCTVs all over Singapore just to keep an eye on the trees.

Patrons of nearby McDonald's leave a mess in West Coast Park

STOMPer Chestnut spotted these litter which were apparently from a nearby McDonald's outlet at West Coast Park. The STOMPer feels that McDonald's should let its staff pick up after their customers in the park to prevent this from happening again.

The STOMPer said:

"These photos were taken at West Coast Park.

"As McDonald's has set up a 24-hour outlet right next to the park, many people who spend their evenings or early mornings there would order take-aways from there to eat in the park.

"From the photos, it is obvious that these McDonald's patrons only care about enjoying their time in the park.

"They do not give a hoot about clearing their mess when they leave.

"In my opinion, the person who enables and encourages such uncivilized behaviour is Uncle Ronald McDonald!

"Hence, the owners of this McDonald's outlet should bear their share of social responsibility in keeping the park clean and green.

"I suggest that McDonald's can arrange for its staff to make routine rounds in the park to pick up after their customers, just like how they do within the restaurant."

Related news: Young males are the biggest park litterbugs (29th April 2010) (Mirror)
Over 8,300 fines slapped on park litterbugs, mostly men (29th April 2010) (Mirror)

I don't see why the staff of McDonald's have to be responsible for cleaning up after others outside of their premises. After all, I personally think that more of the blame lies on those who are too lazy, irresponsible, and stupid to use a bin in the first place.

Tallest bougainvillea plant in S'pore

These tall bougainvillea plants are a sight to behold, says STOMPer dask299, who sent in pictures of the beautiful blooms.

This STOMPer says:

"These beautiful blooms were seen at West Coast Ferry Road.

"View it before it withers up."

I didn't know bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) could grow to such heights.


Bougainvillea glabra growing as a tree, Brazil;
(Photo by mauroguanandi)

Bougainvillea are native to South America, and several species have become very popular as ornamental plants; among the more popular species are Bougainvillea spectabilis and Bougainvillea glabra. These species have also been crossed with other bougainvillea species to create hybrid varieties.


Bougainvillea spectabilis;
(Photo by =Sunjammer=)


Bougainvillea glabra growing as a roadside ornamental, Malaysia;
(Photo by ilhamazahar)

Part of the popularity of bougainvillea stems from its versatility; it can be grown as a bush or small shrub, as a creeping vine, or as we've seen here, it can be allowed to turn into a magnificent tree. Bougainvillea can form hedges, it can be coaxed into climbing walls and trellises, it can even be grown as bonsai.


Bougainvillea glabra growing as bonsai;
(Photo by cliff1066™)

Bougainvillea have adapted extremely well to our climate, and can be considered to be very hardy plants, another factor which has led to their great popularity. They are also among the few plants that will still flower during dry periods, hence adding a splash of brilliant colour to our Garden City.


(Photo by -nathan)

As most of us should have learned in primary school, the flowers of bougainvillea are actually very small and inconspicuous; the colourful 'petals' that we see are actually bracts or modified leaves. These bracts come in many different colours, depending on the variety or species being grown; pink, purple, magenta, red, yellow, orange and white are all colours that can be found in bougainvillea bracts.


Bougainvillea glabra, Singapore;
(Photo by actjin)


Bougainvillea spectabilis, Washington;
(Photo by nordique)

Somebody do something to save our coastline!

STOMPer Sailorman says that our beach at West Coast Park is in danger as the breakwater is badly damaged and coastline is so badly eroded.

In an email to STOMP today (Jul 16), the STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the beach between a canal and the pier at West Coast Park. The pier is a short distance from the McDonald's outlet. Many boats are moored at the mouth of the Sungei Pandan.

"The breakwater is badly damaged and the broken pieces have sharp edges. These are hazardous to swimmers and fishermen.

"The coconut tree is now slanting at a dangerous angle. If the base is further eroded the whole tree will topple over.

"One tree has fallen and only the base with the roots and turf are left.

"The coastline is so badly eroded as both soil and grass have been carried away by the pounding waves.

"The shoreline is now near the edge of the jogging track and if nothing is done, the sea will gradually eat up our land and vegetation.

"I hope NParks will look into this problem."

Related posts: Stones dislodged from damaged breakwaters are a danger to swimmers (15th July 2009)
The glory and the sad end of a giant tree (20th June 2009)
Serious soil erosion at Pasir Ris Park (14th June 2009)
More trees will be destroyed by waves hitting shoreline (5th June 2009)
Waves seriously eroding our northern shoreline at Kranji Reservoir (31st May 2009)

Disgusting littering at West Coast Park shows failure of our education system

Cement here, there, everywhere. Where's the greenery, Town Council?

STOMPer Adam is concerned that town councils are cementing many areas in housing estates, leaving no room for grass and plants.

He said in an email to STOMP today (May 20):

"Town councils should follow the government's Clean & Green policy.

"West Coast Town Council has been cementing large areas of lawns and green spaces.

"Sadly, other town councils are doing the same.

"Cutting down trees and turning green spaces into concrete should not be in the town councils' plans.

"Town councils can beautify HDB estates by proper maintenance of trees and green spaces."

Flowers from tree keeps falling on my car

STOMPer Annoyed says that flowers from these trees planted in the carpark at Block 510 West Coast Drive, keep falling on the vehicles parked there and it is a hassle removing them.

This STOMPer says:

"This carpark is behind Block 510, West Coast Drive.

"Flowers shedding from a tree is covering the whole carpark.

"The carpark is unsightly with the flowers and it covers the entire road. It is a hassle to remove the flowers from the cars.

"I think the West Coast Town Council should not have such trees planted here.

"Hope something can be done."

Of all the stupidity recently seen on STOMP, this has got to be one of the most depressing examples. That the person who submitted this is old enough to drive, and presumably, is capable of reproducing, does not bode well for the nation.

As an aside, is it too much to ask for the editors at STOMP to at least vet the submissions and correct the really obvious spelling and grammatical errors before uploading them?

Why trees get pruned but not shrubs at West Coast?

STOMPer Angry is frustrated about the overgrown shrubs that obstruct this pathway at Festival Park. He noted that the trees in the park get pruned but not the shrubs. The contributor says:

"The park named 'Festival Park' is located along West Coast Drive, opposite Hong Leong Gardens condominium.

"Its pathway is blocked by overgrown shrubs.

"A week ago, a few foreign workers were doing tree pruning at the park.

"But nothing was done to these branches protruding onto the pathway.

"National Parks care about their trees but not the shrubs.

"The branches can be a nuisance for the people using the pathway to walk.

"Hope National Parks can do something about it."

No fishing at West Coast Park: Nobody gives a damn