OUR PHILIPPINE TREES

Fruit Star of the 2013 Pahiyas

2013-05-19T10:27:00.003+08:00

Very much like rambutan but look closer

Generously used in Pahiyas decorations

Quick Post: This fruit was everywhere in this year's Pahiyas. There was abundance of it and caught everyone's attention because of the bright red color. At first you would think it is rambutan but upon closer scrutiny you will realize that where the rambutan's hair should be, in place of it are more rigid spines. Plus the taste is not exactly as sweet but more on the sour side. First time tasters get the shock of their life!

The Lucban residents have a local name for it which sorry I forgot (as they say, senior moment). The fruit is probably kapulasan or a native relative of rambutan (probably Nephelium ramboutan-ake).

Pahiyas First Time or Nth Time Makes No Difference

2013-05-18T08:50:00.002+08:00

The crowd filled streets of Lucban

Very colorful row

All sombrero house

I am becoming a Pahiyas regular. It was in 2008 when I first attended the Lucban feast. The second time was in 2010. Third was last year making me present every other year. But I am again back in Pahiyas mode this year, accompanying some friends who are first timers. We attempted to make it a day trip riding a Lucena bound bus from EDSA at 7 am. It took more than 5 hours for us to reach Lucena. We ate lunch in Catalino restaurant between Lucena and Tayabas, before taking the bus-like jeep going to Lucban. It was already 230 when we entered the very busy streets of the festive town.

Mini kiping flowers

My favorite made out of squash flour

Coco husks

As usual, decorations were all out, cladding the house facades with kiping, pandan, banig, bamboo, fruits, leaves, husks and even recycled items. The streets are literally overflowing with color and awed crowds, not missing the chance to take memento pictures and souvenirs. My companions and I joined in, scrutinizing all the detail and ingenius crafts employed. Cameras were flashing and snapping everywhere. The elaborate ones had constant mobs in front of them, but we squeezed our way through them, to make our experience complete and authentic. It included us sampling some of the offered delicacies, like kakanins and the famous longganisa.

Bounty of red fruits

Bungang ipot fruits

Into a chain

One of the things we tried tasting was this Pahiyas's ubiquitous fruit. I suspect it is kapulasan or the native rambutan-like fruit, but the Lucban residents called it by another name which at the moment escapes my memory (something like lugang?). The fruit adds a very bright crimson color to the displays. My friend nibbled on the tender but succulent flesh and could not help squirm because of its very sour taste. I wonder if the locals harvested the fruits for eating or just for pure aesthetics. We saw more than 20 house using fruit bunches as their primary decoration material, probably because the wild trees are in fruiting season.

A beer sponsored house

But aside from the red fruit, the expected usuals are again back in full force, like anahao, buri, bungang ipot, hagimit, kaong, balete, karagumoi, takipan. Indeed this side of the Banahaw slopes are blessed with natural bounty. Two hours later, we left Lucban with bayong bags filled with pasalubong. The bus ride home was spent reviewing the jpeg images stored in our cameras and of course the memories of first time seeing Pahiyas. As for me, I added another year of experiencing the unique Quezon festival. I look forward to being back again in the next one, may it be next year or the succeeding ones after that.

Last Minute at the Sunday Market

2013-05-09T00:36:00.004+08:00

Last hour of Centris stalls

Rarefruit members

I was contemplating if I will go to the Centris Sunday Market last weekend. For one I texted Ponchit Enrile at 9:30 am (needed to give him complimentary copies of Metro Home Magazine) if he was there, but he appears to be not looking at his phone. I also messaged plant friend Ernie Alvaran if he wanted to go but also no reply. At past 11 am, I decided to brave the Sunday noon heat and take my chances. Thanks to the empty Sunday Q.C. streets, I reached Centris in a jiffy.

Rarefruit society merchandise

At Centris, it was not hard to find Ponchit. He was there at his usual place in the Rarefruit stall, exchanging stories with other bubbly members of the society. I handed to him the magazines and while the people inside flipped through the pages, Ernie appeared in front of the Rarefruit stall. Minutes after, even Centris regular Ressie Navarro popped up. At the last hour of the Sunday Market, the usual plant suspects were all present, trying to catch a last glimpse of the flora merchandise before stalls close.

Large Hoya cumingiana

Plants sold at one stall

One unusual specimen I saw was a large Hoya cumingiana, grown in a 14 inch terra cotta pot, with sprays almost 2 meters in length. The branching (rather than the usual vining growth) Hoya usually are seen attached to limestone cliffs. It is still quite common in the wild, and has long been cultivated in gardens. So far I have only encountered small plants especially the garden grown ones, the biggest with sprays reaching about only a meter long.

Add caption

The large specimen was sold on the last hour before the stalls were dismantled. I barely got the chance to take pictures before the new owner whisked it away. Between doing my chores and seeing the Hoya, my last minute Centris visit became well worth the trip. But capping the weekend market day with a vegetable pasta lunch was an added bonus!

A Whole Lot of Hoyas

2013-05-02T00:08:00.001+08:00

Mac wit his Hoya merchandise

Large potted Hoyas

It is Philippine Labor Day - a local holiday therefore ideal to meet up with a few friends since the Metro Manila streets are not congested with cars and people. It is probably the reason why on this day a few plant hobbyists led by Ed Agdeppa tried to revive interest for plants from the genus Hoya by convening in far away Fairview to share infos and swap Hoya cuttings. They chose La Mesa Eco Park as venue for the exchange.

Perusing through Mac's stuff

Small propagations

Hoya kerrii

Attendance comprised a small group, but it included people coming from as far as Bicol. Mac Pagsolingan who came from San Fabian in Pangasinan brought along a small truck of his Hoya propagations to sell, Chatuchak style. The enthusiasts started to grab their species of interest, but mostly foreign ones like Hoya kerrii, deykei, verticillata, and much more.

Mac shows us how he makes his cuttings

Ed with my H.halconensis

My loot

I myself, who for years have forgotten my first love (Hoya), could not resist getting a few pots. Hopefully they could reestablish themselves again in my garden. Even Ed Agdeppa, who I gifted with Hoya halconensis in 2009 (and has grown and propagated it very successfully in his garden), has regifted me with a specimen to return back under the shelter of my deck's trellis.

Hoya australis

The meeting was capped with a short talk from Mac, who gave tips on how he propagated his hoyas with high percentage of success. He uses floral foam for the small cuttings, which he also dips in rooting hormone. Bigger specimens are grown in coco coir and husks.

The participants all went home with smiles, especially the ones who won very nice pots of different Hoya plants courtesy of Mac and some other attendees. There was a whole lot of Hoya joy to share!

Happy faces with sweet smiles!

Prolific Lanete

2013-04-28T23:30:00.003+08:00

On the sandy beaches of Pundaquit

Full with blooms

The pinwheel lanete flowers

Quick Post: My once regarded as elusive bloomer, the lanete or Wrightia pubescens var. laniti, does not seem to be very elusive at all. For years I have been watching a sole tree near the UP College of Architecture flower, but to no avail. But ever since I saw a flowering lanete in the coastal areas of Bangui in Ilocos, I keep on seeing lanete trees in bloom. In April alone I saw several trees flower in two location. One was in Pundaquit, Zambales where like in Bangui they grow near sandy beaches. The other is in Antipolo, hidden in the brushes of the remaining vegetation in a creek valley. Just shows that the tree not only bears nice cream flowers, but also resilient to extreme growing conditions.

Safari in Lagundi Country

2013-04-21T21:40:00.001+08:00

The main kubo has the view of flowering banaba trees and dita against Mt. Natib

Small leveled part of the property

Flower detail of lagundi

I got an invite again to join Mam Ime Sarmiento on one of her adventures, this time to her friend Abe's farm. It was on rolling terrain in the outskirts of Bagac in Bataan. The topography was interesting but a challenge to go into. In fact we had to leave Mam Ime's vehicle at roadside and alight a weapons carrier to get to and around the farm.

Our ride

Sir Abe is in the pharmacy business. His farm is a previously logged area near the main road. Since taking over the land he has planted some medicinal plants and it is now overgrown with lagundi or Vitex negundo. Apart from lagundi, the property also has other native plants with medicinal properties like banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa), sambong (Blumea balsamifera) and some more.

Wild sambong

The nutritious and medicinal coconut hovers over carpets of lagundi

Apatot or noni fruit also grows wild in the area

Unknown tree

But besides the farm's original pharma intention, Sir Abe has started planting a few dipterocarps and other native trees, particularly in the sheltered creeks, which still hides some areas still teeming with vegetatve cover. The new seedlings now grow side by side with the creek valley's original natives like bayag-usa, marang, antipolo, putat, paguringon, dita, balinawnaw, mambog, etc.

Banaba's pink flowers stand out among a sea of green

Traversing the creek valley

A tall wild dita tree

Sir Abe is protecting the cutting down of the native trees. He is particularly proud of 3 very large specimens of an unknown tree we could not identify. He also planted a kalumpang (Sterculia foetida) tree at a prominent part of the farm near the workers' quarters. It has flowered this year with the famous malodorous blooms. But even with the prompting fromworkers to cut down the bad smelling kalumpang, he stands firm not to do so. Hope the workers would grow accustomed to its smell.

Rafflesia Hunt!

2013-04-13T12:16:00.003+08:00

Primeval Makiling

Against the backdrop of lush greens

Metchie on a fallen tree

It was something too good to pass on. I heard form Ron Achacoso that Rafflesia flowered in Mt. Makiling last week. The flower lasts a few days so we took our chances and made the trip up the popular mountain. They said it is easy to see provided the plant was still in bloom.

Rafflesia is in the botany limelight as the genus of the biggest single flower. The Makiling Rafflesia might not be the biggest, but to see a species in bloom is quite a rare experience. The makiling Rafflesia might be R. manilensis. Together with a few more friends, Noel, Ernie and Metchie, we set on our own journey to find one still in bloom.

The Makiling Rafflesia

Ernie who found the fresh bloom

Metchie trying to smell the stinker

We followed the forest ranger's instructions going up the trail but warned us to have a keen eye. We walked a couple of hours before we reached an area where we could already see a proliferation of the Tetrastigma vine, Rafflesia's plant host. A few minutes more, Noel and Ron spotted the first bloom, but already black and discarded. There were a few buds, pending to open in a few days. But we still have to find one in full bloom and in dazzling red color.

Old flower

Ron and Noel checking out the specimen

It was Ernie who spotted the still bright red Rafflesia flower, hidden in between the vine sprays and the leaf litter. It was on a steep slope, partly obscured from plain view by debris and the Tetrastigma branches. We can't resist taking souvenir photos to commemorate the occasion. I took numerous shots of the elusive plant celebrity, as many as I could.

The Makiling Rafflesia is about the size of a small plate. Metchie wanted to know if it had the reputed putrid stink and drew her nose close to the open bloom. She regretted it. She said the scent could compare to raw shrimp paste or bagoong, fresh from the market. I just took he word for it.

After a few more minutes of observing the Rafflesia and the surrounding flora, we went down the mountain trail with large smiles and the precious memory of personally encountering the largest stink flower of Makiling. We hope that we get to find it again when we climb the mountain in many years to come.

The Wild Creeper

2013-04-08T23:21:00.005+08:00

Pundakit shore

Trees with crawling creepers

Memecylon covered up with Quisqualis

Lots of flowers

For a long time I have been asking around if Rangoon creeper or Quisqualis indica is native to the Philippines. For years I have been getting different answers. But recently I got to ask my botanist friend Ulysses Ferreras if the plant is indeed natve. He said yes. I believe him.

Flower detail

The first time I saw Quisqualis indica or niyog-niyogan (as called by Pinoys), it was sold as an ornamental. So when I encountered it again growing wild in a creek in Cavite, I thought it was introduced. Then I saw it again near a waterfall in Ilocos.

Close up of vine spray

Today I got to see it again growing wild on trees in the coastal areas of Pundakit in Zambales. It anchored itself on several Barringtonia and Memecylon trees. Almost half of the trees in that part of the beach had Quisqualis growing on them. I wonder if the area becomes fragrant with the overlapping smell of Barringtona and the Quisqualis.

Super Supa

2013-04-06T20:08:00.001+08:00

Full flowering supa

The tree is partly covered by other trees

Flower spike detail

Passed by Los Banos because Ime said she was told that a Sindora supa or simply supa tree is in flower. I have seen the supa tree behind Bahay ng Alumni flower 3 times. I have taken pictures of it 3 times. So hearing that another supa did not excite me.

But when we got to the area where the tree is, we were enthralled. The tree is in full bloom. I never saw the Diliman tree as heavily burdened with blooms like this. I left my camera in Mam Ime's car so I had to go back to grab it because it awesome. I had to take pictures.

Full crown glory

The Tree Road Trip

2013-04-06T19:21:00.001+08:00

White Lauan trees in Lucban

Batitinan in Los Banos

Ron and Ime finding the right photo angle

Just another Friday. I woke up when the sun was not yet up and went on a road trip around Laguna and Quezon with friends Ronald Achacoso and Ime Sarmiento.

At 7 am we were braving the early morning traffic in Calamba. A brief stop for breakfast and we were off looking around and taking pictures of trees and plants at roadside. We were at luck as we found some of the most interesting trees and shrubs in flower. The trip took us around Mt. Banahaw passing through Nagcarlan and Sariaya eventually to Tiaong and back again in Calamba. Talk about full circle!

Antipolo in Nagcarlan

The Park-and-Church-Visit Route of 2013

2013-03-28T21:45:00.001+08:00

UST Church

Loreto in Sampaloc

Narrow Intramuros streets

I love taking pictures of churches. So even if most my friends find it tacky to always have a camera in tow, I have mine at hand when we went on our annual Visita Iglesia. We usually find a varied route from what we followed the previous year. This year our choices were dictated by ease of parking. It seems that more people chose to stay put in the city like us so we encountered traffic and parking difficulty even if it was Holy week.

The closed Manila Cathedral

The car-filled Manila streets

San Agustin being renovated

We found ourselves visiting the usuals starting with UST church and Loreto. In San Sebastian, parking was impossible so we proceeded to the narrow but surprisingly easier-stop streets of Intramuros. After a couple of years, again I got to enter San Agustin church and marvel at its intricate interiors. But we missed Manila Cathedral as it was still closed for renovations.

Lourdes Church

Church beside Walter Mart

Our last three stops were our neighorhood churches. Surprisingly Walter Mart at E. Rodriguez Avenue was open. It made parking in the church beside it a bit harder. I love visiting the small church because of its simple but elegant interiors (but I always forget the name of the church). This year I found its garden renovated using a lot of native plants. Flowering native sanggumay were used to adorn the Virgin Mary grotto near the entrance.

Sto. Domingo

Our yearly staple is visiting Sto. Domingo church and ending with Lourdes which I regularly visited when I was a child (I am a Lourdesian). Both are also becoming harder to visit with influx of cars and vehicles. Sigh! But nevertheless, I will post pictures of these churches.

It was Sunshine for a Day!

2013-03-28T10:40:00.004+08:00

An empty UP on a Monday

Golden narra blooms

Flower detail

Blooms cover the whole crown

Last Monday I went to do a lecture for an Earth Day group in UP. Since it was a Monday, the roads were almost empty of students, apart from being Holy Week and classes are almost over. But the campus was livened up with the golden yellow flowers of numerous blooming narra trees.

I am not sure what triggers Pterocarpus indicus or narra to flower. But when trees bloom, they do in unison. Thus in areas where there are several trees growing, the sunshine color is more than just noticeable, it is festive. And indeed insects and birds were feasting on the never ending yellow sprays of flowers. In the College of Architecture, sparrows and an oriole took temporary residence in a large narra tree, giving us an array of bird calls in the morning It lasted a couple of days.

Over the College of Architecture

Green again after a day

That Monday I stayed in UP to partake of the sunny feel brought about by the narra blooms. And like clockwork, the next day, the petals were not anymore seen on the trees, but have already carpeted the ground beneath them. It is a shame that beauty could be so fleeting. I guess, that would have made that Monday much more special, and of course myself feeling blessed to have witnessed it again this year. Hopefully the narra trees would again be triggered to flower in the following seasons.

The UP Salingbobog 2013

2013-03-21T00:50:00.002+08:00

Crateva tree at the center of the lagoon

Crateva's pink yellow crown

The tree crown covered with profuse flowers

I was text messaged by Prof Ed Gomez yesterday. He was elated to see that the balay-lamok or salingbobog (Crateva religiosa) in the U.P. Diliman lagoon is in full bloom. He advised us to go see it before the flowers are gone.

The afternoon I went to see the Crateva. As I approached it I was trying to see if even by a distance you could easily discern the pink yellow crown. The lagoon specimen was small since it is growing very close to a kalios (Streblus asper). But the white color was prominent, more than what I remember the previous years that I saw it in full flowering glory.

Very cherry-blossom-like!

The Crateva looks healthy even though it has not significantly grown in size. But it is very beautiful. I hope it would continue to grace the lagoon with its flowers for years to come. UP should do something to preserve its natural attractions, and I bet the crateva could prove to be an important resource. Just imagine the lagoon flowering every year with pink cherry-blossom-like trees, if only there are some more of salingbobog growing in the vicinity.

The UPCLAS Orchid Show Booth

2013-03-17T14:19:00.000+08:00

Bimbo Vergara's entry

Simple entry from UP students

Botchie Canicula's 2nd prize booth

Quick Post: Just taking a break. But finally got to post a picture of the UP landscape students' entry to the orchid show. They did not get to win the prize but I believe they had the best time doing the installation. Proud of them they pulled this off on their own. Can't wait to see how they will do next year!

Posted pictures of some other entries.

My New Flowering Favorite

2013-03-11T22:09:00.000+08:00

The yellow flowers are the same diameter as a tennis ball

I needed to transfer my Sibuyan katmon or Dillenia sibuyanensis into a bigger pot. It was growing too tall for the 12 inch diameter clay pot it was in so I got it replanted in a 16 inch plastic pot. But it meant I had to also transfer it from the cramp shady part under our trellis into a more sunny spot in my garden. That was a month ago.

New bud

Today I found my katmon with open flower and 4 new buds. I was expecting the plant will regress since I placed it in a new area. But still the plant came out with blooms, seem to be liking a more sun-exposed growth. This really astounded me. The Sibuyan katmon is fast becoming my new favorite. Not only is it a flowering native but also an easy plant to grow. Hope it will be easy to propagate.

P.S. Last time the katmon flowered, it developed into a fruit and I harvested a handful of seeds. The seeds germinated to 3 seedlings. Looks promising!

Models and Miniatures

2013-03-10T20:48:00.004+08:00

Yum, yum cake shop!

Cozy bookstore

The students from the UP College of Architecture have just finished their annual Haraya exhibit. The year's best students' plates and projects were displayed from first year level to the graduating class's culminating effort, the architectural thesis. This year's crop includes numerous service-oriented buildings of different shapes and sizes as seen in the main display with complicated presentation boards and scale models. But scene stealers are the Arch 3 class interior design models of Prof.'s de Leon and Yazon. They are very intricate and so nice to look at!

Designer underwear?

Fashion designer's nook

I could already taste the dessert!

With real looking bread!

Teeny bopper shop...

Fun! Fun! Fun!

Battle of the Small Schefflera Species

2013-03-03T14:04:00.001+08:00

Every now and then I get to see new Schefflera species and varieties and I always get surprised that some of the nice ones are Philippine native. One of the most beautiful I have seen is Schefflera albido-bracteata or the starshine and yes, it too is Philippine native and propagated (but still rare). It has nice long slender puckered leaflets. Most propagated Scheffleras I have seen fairly large compound leaves but sometimes small leafed species pop in the landscaping scene.

I saw this Schefflera last year at the Los Banos Garden show. It looks similar to what was identified in Madulid's book as Cephaloschefflera blancoi. It has graceful leaf grwoth and fine flower sprays.

Five years ago, the smallest Schefflera I know is something to what is labeled in Dr. Madulid's Ornamental Plant Pictorial-cyclopedia as Cephaloschefflera blancoi. But in the recent years a few more fine leaves ones emerged in the market. They are claimed to be Philippine native but not yet commonly grown. They are as follows:

This Schefflera is growing nicely in the landscapes of Ayala Tower One in Makati. My friend Mike Asinas said that the supplier was claiming it is a native species. But it still has to be confirmed. It looks like a small version of the non native Schefflera arboricola.

I thought this was the smallest Philippine species as it was named as Schefflera microphylla or small-leafed Schefflera. It grows in the rocky mountains of Zambales at high humidity areas.

The smallest species I have seen so far is this one, sold by a stall in Centris a few years back. A plant expert said it grows in high elevation and humidity in the mountains of Northern Luzon. Not sure if it can thrive in hot and dry Manila.

Baywatch and Baycatch

2013-02-10T04:01:00.002+08:00

The disputed existing coast of Manila looks the same as it was when I was a child, but it may change drastically when reclamation pushes through

Shelter behind one of the bollard lights

Had the chance to visit the CCP baywalk once more. It was quite a while back when I last saw the waters of Manila bay in this side of town. When I was a kid we used to frequent the CCP grounds especially the breakwater behind the Folk Arts Theater to buy seafood from peddlers or eat at the fastfood (remember the Orange Julius burgers?). Now it seems CCP baywalk is again a destination for foodies with new restaurants and dining establishments popular with the in-crowd.

Waiting a while for a bite

On a sunny day, a familiar scene are anglers trying their luck to hook fish from the murky waters of the bay. But what may be different is that before, the fishermen catch fish species that I could not recognize when I was a child. Now the anglers catch the familiar, freshwater tilapia which has already acclimatized with the salinity and pollution. Yikes!

There are a number of people at watch for a bay catch

The more organized part of baywalk is off limits for the anglers

Some of these anglers said they are doing it as a sport. But others do catch tilapia to eat for dinner. I asked how the fish catch taste when cooked. They say there is a funny after taste, but that does not stop them from dropping a fishline and trying their luck to hook some Manila bay tilapia. Probably better to have something than nothing on the table, besides that the fish caught is free, free, free!

My Horti Favorite

2013-02-05T00:21:00.001+08:00

The star burst flowers

For the past years, the variegated specimens of the native Clerodendrum quadriloculare or bagawak-morado has been fixtures in both the exhibit and selling booths in the annual PHS Garden Show. This year large specimens are bigger than ever, and of course in full blooming glory. Even though it has been around for quite some time, this horticultural plant continues to impress. I still am looking forward to grow one in my garden. I am successful in making my bagawak to grow and even flower, but once they bloom, they regress and die. I do not now why. Only after I solve this mystery would I have the guts to procure my specimen of the variegated Clerodendrum.

The impressive variegated bagawak-morado

This Year's Horti Show with a Heart

2013-02-05T00:11:00.001+08:00

I need another one of me. Between making the lectures, exams and checking for 5 different subjects, I made 3 articles for the magazine. Not sure if all 3 will make it to the issue. Only saw 2 with layouts, so probably the third one was done in vain. Too bad as I enjoyed doing the missing article much. Will probably post it here if it does not get published.

Flowers arranged in a large heart pattern

But writing all three articles and doing the lectures made me almost hate writing. Too much that I had only one short log for January. But it seems my blogging zest is slowly coming back. Hopefully I could catch up with my checking so I could clock in more time to blog. And to ease in the habit, will post a few pictures of the on going horti show.

A symphony of rosette plants

Yup, it is garden show season again, ushered in by the very first for this year, the annual Philippine Horticultural Society garden show. The show's duration might not be as long as the previous years, but it does not mean the organizers did not go allout in preparation and activities. Exhibit booths as always brought out some of the collectors' best specimens. The designs followed a theme making use of a lot of hearts in layout and design. Below are some of the entries in the both design competition.

Botchie Canicula's rustic booth features outstanding aroid collection including his water banana aroid.

Another aroid display with heart motif


Agave display for the Cactus and Succulent Society

The Sad Bird Story

2013-01-14T19:57:00.002+08:00

Was a bit busy and I just barely got time to blog. Hopefully will get more time in two weeks time after the magazine deadlines are over.

Caged Munias

Last Christmas I saw my sister's cook's son playing around with these birds. He was literally hurling the makeshift cage into the air. I was forced to fish out a hundred peso bill out my pocket in exchange for the birds to spare them the agony. Took the cage home, planning to set them free the next day.

The following morning I found one of the birds already died. Our cook said he saw both birds okay when he woke up but the other started pecking on the other's head. Most of the birds sold are male as they are more attractive. Sellers convince buyers to get a pair and in the end the birds try to dominate each other thus resulting in stress and eventual death. There is nothing really appealing in keeping the wild birds. Opened the bird cage and watched the munia fly out into our garden, while wishing i opened the cage earlier.

The Season's Icon

2012-12-24T23:17:00.001+08:00


Poinsettia!

Euphorbia pulcherrima is said to be now reclassified as Poinsettia pulcherrima. Unlike most Euphorbia species (from Africa), this species is found wild in Central America, but is now grown widely around the world. But also unlike a majority of Euphorbia, the Poinsettia grows better in cooler areas like Baguio and Tagaytay. It brings out reddish specialized leaves around the minute yellow flowers around December, which is why it has become the universal symbol of the yuletide season. Poinsettia pulcherrima is now in season. Sadly this is not native but a good intro for me to greet everyone a very merry Christmas! May we be more aware of our native flora in 2013!!!

An Orchid Calendar for FREE!

2012-12-19T20:12:00.000+08:00

Urban Orchids calendar

Art Post Asia printed a dozen of my sketches into a calendar for 2013. They did not print much, only a few to serve as corporate giveaway. Not even sure if it was sold to the public. So you could say it is a limited edition, hehehe.

But I got a few copies and I am giving away one as prize for a small contest for Philippine followers of my blog. Just give me a unique christmas greeting as comment to this post. I will choose the most creative. On Christmas I will announce who won and I will LBC the calendar to anywhere you are (in the Philippines). Goodluck and happy orchid-Christmas!

The Late Year Bloomers

2012-12-18T03:19:00.002+08:00

Quick Post: I thought most plants flower in spring time. Then why is Baguio all in bloom at November. The following are pictures of the different ornamental plants in full blooming regalia, so close to the Christmas season!

Pyrostegia venusta

Rose variety

Tithonia

Gomphrena

Celosia

Probably Medinilla pendula, and the only native in the bunch

PMA Pines

2012-12-15T21:28:00.004+08:00

Iconic PMA parade grounds

PMA'ers jogging in synchrony

The articfcial tree house

It is my fifth time in Baguio, but first time in the Philippine Military Academy grounds. My companions said it has much changed since their last visit but I do not have any comparison to make. We stopped by the Korean War Memorial (which my friends were wondering how come we have a memorial for the war - not sure what the participation of the Philippines in the war that happened in far away Korea). Of course it would not be complete without seeing the famous parade grounds, which I only saw from an old Pinoy movie. My friend Pinky also pointed out to an artifical pine tree with a concrete tree house mounted on it, which drew crowds going up its steep steps.

Age-old wide pine tree

Conical trimmed pine

Trimmed juxtaposed with the natural

But what really got my attention were the real Benguet pines or Pinus kesiya growing around the academy. They come in different ages and sizes. In an avenue in front of one of the main buildings, they had a few of the pine trees shaped in an iconic gymnosperm cone. Pine trees grow straight and upright, but unlike some gymnosperms like Araucaria and Agathis, the canopy shape is much random. So it is unusual to see them shaped like Christmas trees.

A few meters across the street, an older pine tree specimen is growing much more natural with ith branches untrimmed and spreading several meters across. It is also unusual to see this one growing wider than taller. The PMA seem to be growing its pine trees with peculiarity.