Trichosanthes quinquangulata
(large vine)

All I can say is that the fruit of this vine looks as tempting as an apple, yet taste like "hell"!






Quisqualis indica
(woody vine)

This plant needs a sturdy support as it climbs its way up. Once it has established itself, only then will it be able to showcase it's beautiful flowers.




Pseuderanthemum bicolor
(shrub/herb)

The flower reminds me of some endangered and endemic "bleeding-heart" birds we have here in the Philippines.





Solanum torvum
(perennial plant)

A very hardy plant that is horticulturally used as a rootstock for the eggplant as it is resilient to soil borne diseases.

DAP-DAP or another Erythrina sp.?

Three years ago, I took photos of the stunning red to red-orange flowers borne on the trees terminal branches. From the bark, stance, leaves up to its flowers I am positive that it is none other than the Dap-dap tree (Erythrina orientalis). After its flowering season, I would be on the look-out for seed pods that might be visible. But to my dismay, I never was able to see any. I wonder if there are no pollinators in our area.

Yesterday, as I passed by the neighbor's house the trees that were flowering weeks ago were cut of its limbs and main trunk. Thinking about it, I remember that a mature Pagsahingin (Canarium asperum var. asperum) tree was felled a few meters away, about 2-3 yrs. ago. And yes, also from the same neighbor..... Anyway, going back to the Dap-dap trees, branches that were chopped into several pieces were scattered around two individual mature trees.

I get sad whenever mature trees that I regularly see or visit are being felled one by one. The future of our endemic and indigenous trees seem bleak! The only consolation to this particular situation is at least, the said trees are still alive. That's what is important!

Thinking of turning this situation into something positive, I started to gather several branches as it still looks freshly cut. Never mind if the branches had minute thorns that prickled my hands. Fortunately, I had my trusted bolo with me to cut away the excess and protruding branches and so I was able to gather several cuttings of 2-4 inches thick and about 2-3 feet long. I think that I read somewhere that cuttings from the Dap-dap tree can be used to propagate this species. I also noticed that some of the terminal branches to which the flowers use to attach had stout, clumped (lymph node like), greenish growth at the terminal buds. Thinking along the line that could this be a sign of early fruit development? It doesn't look like its going to be a pod, which is what some literature regarding the fruit of a Dap-dap tree would be. I'm thinking that could this supposed Dap-dap tree be another species? If not, then what are those greenish bulbous developments that I found? Could it be some kind of a disease? I guess that there's a slim chance that I will ever know, since only one tree had a few branches retained. The other tree was completely topped cut........After which I immediately proceeded to our property and planted each and every cutting to their designated area. Hoping that at least one cutting would eventually grow into a tree.................... (to be continued)

NO to Mining in Palawan!

Reading From the Heart by Gina Lopez column entitled "A plea for our motherland" from last week's Sunday Lifestyle of The Philippine Star, dated February 27, 2011 is an eye opener for most of us. At least for me, because I haven't been updated on the current news from the newspaper, television or from the internet upon weeks now. (click on link to read the article -- http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=661134&publicationSubCategoryId=86)

The issue here is that mining is the current problem which Palawan is facing today; That the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to mine in the area of Brooke's Point, Mt. Matalingahan, Palawan, which is a key biodiversity site; The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) rezoned about 90% of 2,400 hectares, allowing mining in the said area.

Upon googling other key words, I also learned from the article entitled, Miners Turn to Palawan: The Last Frontier by Kabataan Ngayon (click on link at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=417874575115) states that local officials and politicians who are endorsers of mining companies greatly outnumber those who are against mining activities; That the previous administration granted Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) to a Canadian mining company for a large-scale mining operation in another biodiversity site, the Victoria-Anepahan range; Other areas with mining applications mentioned are Bataraza, Narra and Arbolan; That there are 354 mining applications for the whole of Palawan.

The rape, destruction and exploitation of our natural resources has been happening since time in memorial. Evidences of illegal logging have been posted in youtube in areas all over the Philippines, which I have featured in my blog from previous posts. I am not aware if the present government is taking any actions in resolving such problems, but a "10 million signature campaign to stop mining in Palawan" was launched last February 3, 2011 by the Save Palawan Movement, which is being spearheaded by ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Gina Lopez after the killing of Dr. Gerardo "Dr. Gerry" Ortega (environmentalist, broadcaster, civic leader) last January 2011.

The website, No To Mining In Palawan (http://www.intellithink.com.ph/wordpress/) is where you can register and be counted. This is the least we can contribute to help save Palawan from destruction. We can also download the campaign signature forms under the same link and forward your petitions to ABS-CBN Foundation, Mo. Ignacia cor. E. Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City through JRS free of charge.

Talisai trees at Veterans hospital.

The Talisai trees of Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), situated at the corner of North Avenue and Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City greet visitors and patients alike. They are a welcoming sight as they line the covered shed leading to the main entrance of the building.People gather under the protection and shade of the trees. Children also love to run around and play as shown from the pictures above.I hope and pray that institutions such as this, not only from the government but also from the private sector, continue to prioritize and designate areas for landscaping and greenery.

Not only is the hospital providing the wellness and heath for veterans patients, but the trees also give a therapeutic effect, which is conducive for healing.

Ed, thanks for introducing me to the term "topping". I now understand that topping is the most harmful method of pruning trees. To learn more about this, please click on the link - http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/topping.aspx - This will tell you everything you need to know about "topping".