Simple Garden Thoughts

Happy Med-Surg Nurses Week

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 06:12:00 +0000

You+Me - Break the Cycle

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:26:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 02:20:00 +0000

I terribly miss my ferns, the garden and most of all our dog, Chewbacc...

Random Clouds

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 07:36:00 +0000

I am a dreamer.

I love to understand how nature works in a complex world where everything seems to be magical.

Cumulus clouds "fair weather clouds"

The beauty of nature cannot be measured by physical admiration alone...

Mackarel sky

but by the recognition of worth in the realm of one's existence.

Cumulonimbus clouds

View from my window

Attack of the Rhino Beetle

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 02:50:00 +0000

The two bottle palm trees were the only plants we had when we moved in to our present home. For years, I have carefully trimmed off, pruned the brown, dried fronds to clear away old diseased leaves and for aesthetic purposes. They endured all the storms that passed and with the right amount of water and care, they survived peacefully at the center of my humble garden where visitors can't help but notice its unique, ringed and swollen trunk. Perhaps it was the odd looking shape of the trunk that made the trees stood out in every tropical garden that is why it became the favorite plant to grow in landscapes.

bottle palm tree

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis

As an amateur gardener, I hardly knew that gradual discoloration in the crownshaft was an early sign of damage to the area. I had no idea that the insignificant markings just above the lovely trunk was the start of something...alarming. One day, I was devastated to see my favorite palm trees slowly dying, withering, the beautiful canopy of fronds were disintegrating. What have I done wrong? I must have over pruned and injured the poor thing! The culprit? The rhino beetle! I was told once a tree is attacked by it, there is no way you can save the tree. Irreversible damage was already done.

Rhino beetles prefer diseased, rotten wood, branches and leaves of trees for food. Some species attack healthy trees. Well, at least for now I am sure there are no snakes hiding in my garden because they are believed to be enemies of rhino beetles. In as much as I wanted to eradicate the insect before it causes harm to the remaining palm trees, my son thought it was cruel thing to crush it into pieces. Instead, he insisted to keep the beetle safe under his care and add it to his collection of pets. I guess the idea wasn't that bad at all...

The Crosier and the Stent

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 14:36:00 +0000

When the DJ stent was pulled out from the bladder of the patient, I got curious why it was called "DJ". So, DJ stands for double "J," or JJ stent. It is coiled, curled like a letter "J" on both ends to prevent it from moving out of the the ureter. The stent is made of silicone, a time tested material that provides patient comfort and reduces the risk of chemical build up inside the body.

DJ stent that was removed

Stenting is a method used to facilitate passage of the urine if there is blockage in one or both ureters, the tubes that connect the renal pelvis to the bladder.

More than a year ago, I blogged something about my staghorn fern and a staghorn calculus or kidney stone.

Platycerium or staghorn fern

Now, I am blogging about DJ stent because it reminds of the coiled part of a crosier.

Asplenium nidus

Blooming Shades of Blue

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 07:22:00 +0000

It is often said that color blue signifies the calmness of the sky and the coolness of the ocean, a soothing color in promoting mental and physical relaxation.

Plumbago auriculata

The color is commonly used in corporate logos because it signifies loyalty, trust and responsibility.

In my work place, we use "code blue" to patients who needs immediate medical intervention or to patients who needs to be resuscitated. When their blood circulation is compromised, oxygen level in their body decreases, they turn cyanotic thus the term code "blue." When a person gets bruised, they turn black and blue caused by hematoma, a blood clot brought about by the trauma. Also, people who are color blind or has color deficiency has difficulty distinguishing between red and green. A color blue deficiency is very rare as this would be total color blindness.

Torenia fournieri

Purple wishbone flower or bluewings

Blue is also associated to being sad, sentimental and nostalgic, a longing for familiar things in the past.

City of Smiles

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 09:12:00 +0000

Bacolod, the City of smiles...

Look at what my hubby gave me after his trip to Bacolod. Lilies can be found everywhere but the thought of giving me something for my garden when he comes home from the trip was pretty much appreciated.

I love the scent of these bulbs. Once again I get to feel the soil in my hands.

Days turned into weeks, weeks became months and the months welcomed sprouts of the plant.

And it started to bloom...

and blossomed into a beautiful white lily.

Now I have something to smile on like these happy faces.

Hello Garden!

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:51:00 +0000

Northeast monsoon has been around casting a dry, cool atmospheric conditions in the area. Living in a tropical country, I can tell the ferns and some plants alike are enjoying the cool, gentle air in the morning.

Cyathea

The tree fern is producing more crosiers than I expected. Look at those exquisite hairy young stipes.

Five crosiers

Fertile leaves of staghorns never fail me. I am always delighted to see how fast they grow in my humble, limited garden.

Fertile leaves of staghorn fern

Coming home from a tough but wonderful day, the basal leaves greet me like welcoming hands telling me I am home, safe and sound with my family and the weariness gradually disappears...

Basal leaves

I wonder why these crazy black ants never cease to leave this beautiful still unidentified bloom alone. This was given to me by an aunt.

Sweet unidentified bloom

My one and only jade plant is happily giving me colorful red flowerets.

Crassula ovata

Even this thorny shrub is producing dainty pale lilac with yellow efflorescence at the center.

Malpighia coccigera

Fun in Hundred Islands

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:23:00 +0000

The last time I visited Hundred Islands was like ten years ago. Since it is just located in the province where I live, I seldom or barely visit the place at all. Nothing has changed much since my last sojourn except that I came to realize how beautiful the place was. It was a haven for persons who wish to experience the calmness of the ocean scenery, where the only sound you can hear are the wind blowing and the water splashing along the shores of the Hundred Islands, one of the enticing spots in the Philippines.

For one to appreciate the island hopping, a motor boat is readily available with a tour guide that will take you from one island to another.

View from the top of Governor's Island.

Hubby and me.

Blue, calm water surrounding the islands.

Crocodile Island because of its shape.

Island shaped like a turle thus it is called the Turtle Island

Boat rides

Fascinating school of fishes in the pristine waters.

Bat cave. See those black ones hanging onto the tree? Those are bats!

"Lulubog-lilitaw Island" or the "Now-You-See-It-Now-You-Don't Island," is said to be the 124th island when low tide. When high tide, it disappears making the islands 123 in all.

Oh, how inviting the white sand was!

Phymatosorous scolopendria hugging a tree.

First time to encounter bangar fruit, used in dyeing blankets. I don't think it is edible.

Sea cave with stalactites

A quiet place for a stop over for some refreshment during the island tour.

Bewitched by the sunset.

Special thanks to Manong Jimmy as he is fondly called by many, our guide and navigator.

Fireworks Plant

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:28:00 +0000

I hope I was not too late to post my New Year blog.

Happy New Year!

Dracena tricolor

Christmas tree vertical garden

Meet Our Garden Pets

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:50:00 +0000

I was asked by my kids one day why I always blog about things that I find interesting such as the garden and prodded me to post something about things they love as well. Since they are animal lovers, let me share what pets we have at home.

There are various colors and kinds of lovebirds but these peach-faced lovebirds are the easiest to care for. Their warm, happy color combination reminds me of a bromeliad bloom Vriesea or flaming sword. Kids feed them with sunflower seeds. A garden would not be complete without the sound of chirping birds.

Agapornis roseicollis

Peach-faced lovebirds

As their first pet, they had guinea pigs or cavy. Belonging to the rodent family, they are gentle and social animals. They love to be touched and coddled. They produce a wheeking sound everytime kids go near them. Perhaps it is their response when they get excited.

Cavia porcellus

Guinea pigs

Hamsters love to dig and stay in burrows so we provide them with wood shavings in their cage. They have pouch-like cheeks that can hold considerable amount of food. They store food in their cheeks and carry them where they want them to eat.

Cricetinae

Baby hamsters

Red-ear slider turtles have a distinctive red mark beside the ears. Their diet consist of insects and worms.

Trachemys scripta elegans

Meet Chewbacc, the newest member of the family, given to us by an aunt. I am not so much of a fan of Star Wars but I did watch the movie and remember vividly the names of the characters. Star Wars will always be a part of my growing-up years. A shih-tzu and poodle mixture, he was named after Chewbacca, the seven foot sidekick of Hans Solo in the movie. This lovable and cuddly little puppy carries the same loyalty of Chewbacca to Hans Solo. How the kids adored him!

Chewbacc

Mixed shih-tzu and poodle

Suddenly

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:55:00 +0000

It has been like more than a month since I stopped blogging due to changes in schedules, extra work load, some out of town seminars and a favorite sister getting married. How I wish those trips were for leisure. Even if I was not blogging, I never left the garden. How I miss the blogs of my fellow gardeners.

A Japanese-style garden with a soothing koi pond of a hotel.

A huge vase in the hotel lobby.

My work assignment in the operating room made me choose to set aside blogging for the time being due to the erratic schedule.

Suddenly, my day became the night and my night turned into day....

and the metamorphosis has begun.

Swallowtail caterpillar

What used to be backbreaking affair in my garden became long hours of leg-aching sessions in the operating room. There was a time when little spiders were common sight in the garden. Now, spider veins are the last thing one would want to see in the legs which may possibly occur from prolonged standing and from restricted movements. Thanks to Conrad Jobst who invented the compression hosiery. With that, varicosis can be prevented and long periods of standing becomes comfortable and easy.

I was told this plant is called variegated papua but when I googled it, I can't seem to find its name.

Suddenly, the glare of the sun was transformed into the glow of the surgical lights in the theater. I did not mind getting dirty at all in the garden. Now, scrubbing to keep the hands and arms as clean as possible is a protocol and keeping asceptic field in the OR area is all that matters. Garden gloves turned out to be surgical gloves. The greens surrounding the garden came to be the green drapes and gowns. Pruning shear and secateurs, shovels, hand hoe, garden hose were made into the surgical scissors and bone shear, retractors, tubes and catheters.

My Pleomele reflexa with volunteer coleus

Basically, time plays a vital role in the OR. In the garden time passes by unhurriedly, calmly.

Chocolate ti plant

Life in the OR contrary to the time in my garden... I can have both worlds, I can't complain. As Albert Einstein said, life is like riding a bicycle; to keep your balance you must keep moving.

Crazy Over Crosiers

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Crosiers are unfurled fronds of a fern. It is always such a joy to find some everytime I take a walk in my garden.

Unfurling of a crosier...

Like a Koru, it represents new life, growth, strength and inner peace.

Unfurling of a tree fern.

Crosier of a mother fern.

Isn't it such a beauty?

Compensatory Mechanism

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:43:00 +0000

I was on the brink of exhaustion. Half of my cerebrum told me to relax for a while, garden, watch a movie or listen to Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi or Beethoven in fugue and baroque for that matter while the other half of the hemisphere logically pointed out that there were still some work that had to be done not to mention helping the kids out with their schoolwork. As a working mom, I can no longer afford to guide them in math so I opted to enroll them in Kumon Programme (some kind of tutorial) instead. Driving them to Kumon is like hitting two birds with one stone; I can go to the grocery or shop until they finish the session, that is if my schedule allows me to. Talking about maintaining my psychological and physiological equilibrium!

Now I'm back in my garden. I miss the plants!! Some of them changed a lot. This was how the Asplenium looked like when it was newly acquired a year ago.

Asplenium

Look at how the fronds changed in time...

After a year....

Could it be the that the fronds reverted back to its true form? Or was it the environmental condition that caused the change?

... and this.

The plants have been getting too much water this rainy season. I noticed how the fibrous roots of this Asplenium nidus grew rapidly from the heavy downpour.

Asplenium nidus fibrous roots

A closer look at the roots

As a compensatory mechanism to control the amount of water, there is a tremendous growth along the roots so as to absorb the excess water brought about by long periods of rain. Imagine how this plant can survive considerably in dry and moist conditions.

Spores!

Peculiar Platys

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:27:00 +0000

Something wonderful happened...My Platys produced a pup!

Platycerium coronarium

From the normal 80 beats per minute of the cardiac muscle, I had it at 100 bpm as a result of my excitement. This was the first time I saw a young fertile frond growing. I thought it would take some time for it to grow but surprisingly it did not disappointment me at all. Look how fast it grows.

1st day of the young foliage frond

3rd Day

What is so unique about this stunning fern is its capacity to collect and trap dry leaves from the host tree to its nest where they get their nutrients for their growth. Thus, they benefit from their host without damaging the tree. As the basal fronds age, they curl inwards into the center of the nest to contribute to the organic matter inside and to conserve moisture needed by its roots. For some reason this makes them self-sufficient fern.

6th Day

9th Day

12th Day

Another thing I like about it is the unique and odd appearance of its fronds. The basal frond that grows upward which forms the nest from their tree host makes me think they look like outstretched hands ready to catch anything thrown at them. The long fertile fronds draping from the nest taking the shape of the antler makes it more interesting, adding a dramatic effect on the host tree.

More than 1 week

My excitation did not end there when I had another Platys with a pup. I had them hanging at the right side of our home where they get only partial early morning sun because full glare of the sun is detrimental to them.

I feed them with dried banana peel at least once a month to supplement their nutriment.

The Sound of Nature

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 06:41:00 +0000

The rain had stopped, it was calm and quiet outside. As a lover of music, I can hear how nature was carrying out melodies in the garden...It was all like music to me. The slow rhythmic sounds heard in nature is a good example of relieving stress. Babies inside the womb are influenced by the heart beat of their mother. That is why people respond to the soothing, rhythmic, repetitive sound around them. In my work, music is an alternative measure in reducing pain and in relaxation technique. When I garden at home, I sing.

Ranidae

The sound of the house crickets was like the rhythm of maracas. Tree crickets gave off faint resonance of tambourines. They blended well with the symphonic low bass sound of the bullfrogs croaking harmoniously. We have lots of them in the garden at this time of the year. I welcome them for they help me get rid of snails, rats, mosquitoes and other unwanted visitors in the garden.

Bufonidae

Soft tympani drum was beating at 4/4 as the water from a tree was dripping onto the cover of an empty can. The leaves were swaying with the wind as they danced to the tune of "The Songs of Nature."

One last look in the garden and I was pretty sure my plants were safe as they listened to the sound of nature before sleep had finally set in.

Can you hear the sound of the moon?

Some Plants...Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Some plants just love to be touched by the rays emanated by the sun. For them, the sun is like a gentle kiss from nature’s lips and warm arms that embrace their tiny and delicate petals. Without it, efflorescences lose their vibrant colors, the leaves turn pale, and the stems sag, their buds droop, refusing to open. Plants become glum sans the radiant glow of the sun. Glad I was able to grow some of the sun-loving plants in my humble garden.

White Angel

Yellow Bush

Ploemele Reflexa, Song of India

Schefllera Arbolicora variegated

Some plants do not thrive well in full sun but do well in partly shaded garden. They shy away from the harsh heat because it can burn their delicate foliage and fragile petals. Exposure to too much sun or to very intense light may compromise the vigor of the plant leaving them dry, dehydrated. Some of the plants often bought in Baguio can’t withstand the scorching heat but some were able to adapt the temperature, gradually.

Coleus

Spathiphyllum Wallisii

Some plants choose to grow under canopy of trees. Where the humidity is high and the weather is warm, a tropical climate is an ideal place for them. A sudden change in temperature might put them at risk and prognosis may not be good… The chance for recovery is slim and almost next to impossible.

Staghorn Fern

Wart Fern

Asplenium unfurled frond

All the plants in my garden possess one thing in common: they all grow in the hands of a cheerful and willing gardener. When I was a little girl I was told many times by old folks that talking to plants will help them (plants) grow ten times faster and healthier. I tried to figure out how could that be then I thought that perhaps it has something to do with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that takes place between plants and animals. "Talking" to plants show how plants and humans mutually benefit from each other. Plants give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. On the other hand, humans breath in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide as well. Do I make sense? Any way, I believe in the old Chinese proverb: “The best fertilizer in the garden may be the gardener's shadow.” One's presence in the garden is the best fertilizer other than the chemical and artificial ones growing plants can have.

I may be a little late but still I'm joining Carol at maydreamsgarden for GBBD this June 2012. Thank you, Miss Carol for hosting such a wonderful meme.

This Month of June

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:29:00 +0000

If there is one significant month to choose from, I consider it to be month of June. It's been a year since I decided to try on blogging, so I suppose this is my first anniversary in the web blog aside from the fact that hubby and I also celebrated our fourteenth wedding anniversary this month.

Happy anniversary!

Our anniversary started off with a thanksgiving mass at the first hour in the morning followed by a simple dinner in one of our favorite diner fifteen kilometers away from home. The place is cozy where I can have a view of the vast mountains and the lush trees around while enjoying the sumptuous meals they served. Perhaps it was the garden with different kinds of ferns was the reason why we ended up in this deli in celebrating this special moment. Besides, as a coffee drinker, it's the only dining shop I know in town that serves a rare kind of coffee. Find out why...

Kalua Pork with Salmon, Osso Bucco and Chef's Salad in Vinigrette

Cozy ambience

Phymotosorous with Asplenium ferns

Phymatosorous Scolopendria

The best part of the simple yet meaningful celebration was when we get to experience the best tasting coffee we've ever had, the Coffee Alamid. What's so special about the coffee? I guess aside from obtaining them from civet cat's fermented droppings, the coffee blended well with my gustatory cravings for a different kind of coffee. Not the black coffee that I used to have.This beverage tasted like chocolate and....hazelnut?... Sweet, smooth that even my taste receptor cells sent signals to my brain saying they can't be from civet cat's droppings!

Fixated

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:44:00 +0000

Every person has to go through some developmental stages as he takes his journey to adulthood. One must experience and undergo the process accordingly or else he may not be able to move on to the next stage of development and becomes fixated. Fixated may also mean focusing one's attention to something...obsessively.

What used to be a boring and long trip is now one of my method of relaxing from a day's work. Suddenly, I find driving fun whenever I see lush trees, ferns and shrubs along the roadside.

If I am fixated with tree ferns at this point in time, I don't mind being such because just by looking at them, they bring delight to my senses and they please my mind. Fixated but not that obsessed, I can only imagine and daydream about them. Scared of taking the risk of growing them in my garden, I think the place might not be suitable enough for them to survive.

Magnificent Cyathea

Dense growth of ferns swarming over shrubs and trees

Shade ferns are replaced by weedy sun ferns

Appreciating tree ferns growing wild in the mountains, rainforests and even along roadside trees are good indications of preventing erosion and promotes stability of the soil and fern roots are not invasive. Decline of shade ferns is a result of exploitation of tropical rainforests for timber. It breaks my heart to know that some of them are close to becoming scarce due to deforestation and unauthorized logging.

Erosion of mountains

Forests give an ideal habitat for ferns. Some ferns do well in low light and in high humidity while others thrive under the sun. I saw these type of tree ferns growing in the mountains under dappled shades. The soil was moist, almost clay but porous.

Row of Cyatheas in the mountain

Look at the magnificent tree fern. Who would have thought that beneath the majestic beauty are thorny stalks. Up close, presence of spines were all over the hairy stipes. At first I found them quite scary. Nobody wants to get pricked by these tiny hard thorns...The spiny stipes seemed to protect the delicate, soft fronds from predators and even from intruders.

Spiny stipes

Even the stem of a young frond has thorns around it

Spines with golden thick hair in the stipes of mature fronds

Some ferns grow like weeds but can add interest and drama to a garden when blended with several ornamental plants.

Saturday with Stags and Slabs

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:44:00 +0000

Last Saturday, I noticed the stags are growing. They needed wider slabs to give them more room to grow. I decided to remount them to bigger slabs.

Tree fern slabs

I opted to use copper wire than iron wire. These are easier to bend and color blends well with the slabs.

...then I put 2 pieces of slabs together ...

and secured the stags to the wider slabs.

Before...

After

I know it's kind of late to greet but to all the mothers out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Fern Finds

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:16:00 +0000

I had been waiting for this moment to purchase my next fern. An ongoing bridge construction prevented me and my husband from taking the usual way to the garden store so we took the longer route instead. I did not mind at all if our travel time took another thirty minutes because I was thrilled when I saw the eco-rich tree ferns in the mountainous road up north. I can imagine how beautiful a garden could be with this tree fern standing tall at the center surrounded by ornamental garden plants. In the mountains and forests, they are wild. In the garden, they beautify the place, they seem so refined, sophisticated and queenly with its curled young fronds growing at the center top. Like palm trees, they give an interesting warm and tropical look.

Cyathea known as tree fern

Tree fern with curled young fronds at the center top

My husband and I took some time to stop over and had coffee while enjoying the cool breeze of summer with the scent of pine trees around. With a temperature of 36 degrees Centigrade back home to 20 degrees Centigrade in Baguio, we surely savored every sip of brewed coffee from the coffee beans of the mountains of Kalinga.

My favorite Cafe Americano while hubby preferred Capuccino

During the first visit, I was not able to acquire this kind of staghorn fern as I was told it was only one of the "collections." It was not for sale until they were able to produce their own. For months I waited. And now, I finally had one which I can call it my own. Overjoyed, I went home carrying the young stag like a baby with another plant given to me for free by the kind lady.

Platycerium Bifurcatum

the "giveaway" plant

Some stags that I have...

Young Platycerium Grande

Platycerium Andinum

P. Walchii

P. Wandae

...and this fern also called the upside down fern.

Arachniodes Standshii

Saving For Rainy Days

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:40:00 +0000

As Mr. Sun continues to cast its sweltering, glowing rays to the earth's surface, a parade of ants of different kinds are common sight in the garden. I thought the kids might be leaving crumbs of food since they often eat in the yard that was why ants kept coming back, I made it a point to keep the grounds clean. Always. But these tiny workers and soldiers alike just love to march along the ground. Puzzled, I asked our helper why such minute creatures never get tired of walking, traversing the ground the whole day, everyday. I always get the same answer: since it is summer time, those ants are just "saving for rainy days," as the saying goes.

fire ant workers

marching little red ants

So, are these ants good or bad in the garden? First, bad because of what I hated most about them. These tenacious little creatures called fire ants have vicious sting that is painful and can be dangerous enough to cause some allergic reactions or something close to that effect. Unknowingly, they would be creeping, crawling fast to my feet and up towards the extremities and bite then the next thing I knew I was stamping them away like crazy. Oh, how those burning, piercing stings itch afterwards!

fire ant up close

Ants can loosen the soil in young plants, causing them to die. I've noticed that ants are always present when aphids thrive in plants. Spraying a mixture of water and detergent helps in getting rid of them both. Attacking my son's newborn hamsters was the worst thing they ever did. Like the carnivorous piranhas, fire ants devoured all nine baby hamsters in just a day. Horrible!

baby hamsters

So much for the gory part. On the positive side, these little social insects can improve air circulation in the soil, improving water drainage with their burrows. In short stories, ants are always perceived to be hardworking, helpful and industrious creatures. Aside from being such, they seem to be brave soldiers, ready to defend their queen and their kingdom come hell or high waters. Anything that causes disturbance in their turf means war.

Simple Treats

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:13:00 +0000

School has ended and that means taking a break from helping the kids out in completing their school assignments, accomplishing projects in every subjects and reviewing for their final exams as well. While the kids can call it a day from their daily school activities and the start of their playful summer vacation, I guess I deserve a simple treat for myself: more time in the garden and blogging (which includes updating my profile), visiting some of my favorite plant shops and go buy some few plants.

My eyes feasted at the sight of Platyceriums and Aspleniums upon visiting my favorite plant store. Compared to Asplenium, Platycerium such as P. Coronarium is by far quite costly. When I started appreciating ferns, I can only afford to purchase the not-so-expensive ones, thinking they might not be able to survive in my own care. With some happy and a few heartbreaking moments and with lots of trial and error experimentation, little by little I came to accept the fact that gardening is not only learning how to plant. It includes determining the peculiarities of the weather conditions, knowing some facts about the soil and discovering the uniqueness of one's own home that will someday be called the new habitat of plants. I came to learn the art of suppressing sentimental attachments if an infested plant has no hope of survival. A terminally ill plant will only threaten the well-being of other plants so I might as well get rid of it. Although gardening may seem an extravagant claim, the excitement and experiencing the wonders of every new growth is always magical and just as rewarding to me.

Plant store with different kinds of ferns and garden blooms

In my attempt to grow a Heliconia Rostrata, I find it challenging as I am faced with some garden pests. Since it thrives in almost wet and moist soil most of the time, slugs and snails are common problem. This false bird of paradise to me is like the inflorescence of the Vriesea bromeliad, one of the first bromeliads I have. Although totally different from each other, I find the red and yellow-tipped blooms of both plants colorful and eye-catching in the garden.

Heliconia Rostrata or Lobster's claw

Vriesea bromeliad or flaming sword

Along with the H. Rostrata, I also purchased a few plants with berry-like drupes and tiny blooms that come in white and cherry red.

Medenilla with cherry red berry drupes

Medenilla with white berry drupes

After transplanting these newcomers into their new abode, an unexpected intruder came along....waiting to be kissed to be with his princess...

Toad, Anura Bufonidae

A Fern That's Not a Fern

noreply@blogger.com (mariernrocks) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:16:00 +0000

Look what an aunt of mine gave me. It's commonly called a foxtail fern but it doesn't belong to the fern family. As the word "fern" comes from old English fearn, it means feather. With dense foliage giving it a fluffy appearance, it resembles a fox's tail. Others call it a bottle brush fern.

A young Asparagus Densiflorous Myersii or foxtail plant

Believing it might be invasive and can grow rapidly on the ground, I preferred to leave it in the old pot. I don't know but there is always something about old, previously used pots. For me, I find it attractive as their appearance improve with age. The crusty white deposits left in the pot were some salts and trace elements from the water and medium used previously. Sometimes, plants could benefit from them by converting these elements into soluble forms that will make it again available to the plants needs.

The shape of this pot allows unrestricted growth of the plant. I can't wait to see these branches with green fluffy foliage draping over the edges of the pot in my small garden.