Comments on: Flower of the night

By: prissymom

prissymom — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:36:14 +0000

Good decision, Marise. And when your jasmine tree starts to flower, everytime you see the flowers you will be reminded of JHJ (as if we need anything to be reminded of him!!!).
And here’s another secret I will share with you guys. Whenever I have to go on a long car trip, I would gather a handful of sampaguita flowers to bring with me. I suffer from motion sickness (slight only), so when I start to feel nauseated inside the car I would crush the sampaguita blossoms between my fingers and inhale the flower’s scent until my nausea abates. The scent of the sampaguita is really soothing to my senses. Just like JHJ, his calm and elegant appearance (and of course his voice) are very soothing to one’s senses.

By: Marise

Marise — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:29:05 +0000

Thanks prissymom. That was very informative, never thought that sampaguita is the Philippine jasmine. I will include this delicate flower in my garden this year alongside with bigleaf and panicled hydrangeas that I have planted last year. I chose the bigleaf and panicled hydrangeas specifically because of their origin in North East Asia (Korea and Japan). I was wonder struck with the Korean wave last year and so learning all about Korea was very fascinating and inspiring.

By: wulijohyunjae

wulijohyunjae — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:08:01 +0000

prissymom, what an interesting comment! We learn something new everyday too! Thanks!

By: prissymom

prissymom — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:01:59 +0000

WuliJHJ, while looking at the picture of the jasmine that you posted, I kept telling myself that it looks like our national flower, the sampaguita, even the leaves are the same. I am very familiar with the sampaguita because it is my favorite flower, and I have several shrubs planted outside my house. So I searched “sampaguita” and found out that its scientific name is “Jasminum sambac”. Our sampaguita is a species of jasmine!!! I learned something new today…
We use the sampaguita to make garlands to welcome foreign visitors, but mostly we use it as an offering to Mama Mary. Its scent is very delicate, like the flower. But don’t be deceived by its delicate appearance and scent, because the sampaguita/jasmine plant is a hardy plant. Once it takes root, it will survive even if you don’t water it every day. In fact, I don’t water my sampaguita plants at all, it just get its water from the rain and from water stored under the soil (when it’s not raining anymore). Aside from that, the branches travel under the soil to form another tree, so before you know it, you have several sampaguita shrubs giving off its delicate flowers and scent.
The Thai fans really made the correct decision to choose the jasmine tree as JHJ’s tree. Delicate and small, but very hardy, just like JHJ. He may look gentle, but he’s got a very strong character. He may be shy and unassuming, but his very shyness is what stole the heart of many of his fans (mine included)…
Another interesting trivia, the name jasmine is from the Persian yasmin which means “gift from God”. Hyun Jae means now = present = gift (see wuliJHJ’s post “What’s in a Name?” March 2, 2009).

By: Whitney

Whitney — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:36:56 +0000

The Jasmine is small but beautiful. Does it smell slightly?
I agree that JHJ is a late bloomer and I believe his best is coming soon.

By: joey

joey — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:15:34 +0000

The feeling of Jasmine is very complicated for me, the aroma of Jasmine let me feel dizzy…it looks very beautiful, but never too close, otherwise you may need help, it will turning you dizzily, easily. Just like the feeling of JHJ.

By: Ruby

Ruby — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:25:47 +0000

Love the jasmine – a very elegant flower – just like JHJ.