An active Monarch butterfly lands on a red flower with the background of the morning sun rays and the brilliant blue sky. More than 3 butterflies visited our garden this morning, I don’t expect to see them around during rainy season. Thanks for coming babe, ee you again tomorrow…
It came to the right place when I’m about to leave in minutes suddenly, a gorgeous butterfly appeared in front of me. It was a good timing because I was holding my iphone that time when I was still in the garage, I immediately point it out to photograph. Just a brief moment and the butterfly flew away. Thanks God! the focus was quiet good. I’ve captured it using iphone and my first butterfly click using iphone.
How would you feel if you woke up one morning and found all the busy insects pollinating your garden flowers? Here’s another batch of pollinators, it seems all honeybees loves to pollinate all kinds of flowers around. What makes them attractive?
Honeybees pollinating flowers
The most wonderful time to be in the garden may be just when the sun is up, the first shine of the day is still cool. Around, lots of flowering plants looks and smells most brilliant under the early morning mist.
As the wind blows scattering to perfume the air and attract morning pollinators, it was here, the most likely places where honeybees and butterflies can be found. Here are the morning pollinators of the day! Just taken hours ago.
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Honeybees, as today’s pollinator.
Angel’s Trumpet or Trumpet flowers
Swaying gracefully as the wind blows, Angel’s trumpet or Trumpet flowers has a bell shaped flower hanging downward. Flowering profusely during summer, the best blooms will appear under full sun and the kind of flowering plant that works well in any types of soil.
Unlike other flowers, Angel’s trumpet is scentless but attractive. Other flowers which is similar to Angel’s trumpet which has a bell shaped form flowers; Carolina, Silver Bell, Morning Glory, Four O’Clock, Abelia, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Yellow Bell and many more..
The Philippine Bonsai Society celebrated its 41st year anniversary with the primary aim to promote bonsai growing and appreciation in the Philippines. This year’s major event, ”National Bonsai Exhibition and Competition 2014” showcasing the best and the most popular bonsai collections in the Philippines from May 23-June 1 was held at People’s Park 1& 2 Tiendesitas with participants from Metro Manila and provinces such as Palawan, Pampanga, Ilocos to name a few.
With the presence of foreign visitors came all the way through from USA, Indonesia and Taiwan. Among the guests of honor and judges, BCI president Dr. Thomas Elias, from USA, Budi Sulistyo from Indonesia and 2 from Taiwan, Yen Tzu-Ching and Tan Chin-Fen. All 4 judges will provide top awards and merits of excellence for the winners. A lot of activities during the exhibition period like;free Bonsai lectures and workshops by bonsai artists.
I was there during the 2nd day and the 5th day. Hundreds of precious collections and winning entries displayed during the exhibition. Some displays are huge and others are miniature, I guess that’s hard to move and transport. It was my first time I had ever seen multiple kinds of bonsai in a beautiful art form, widely set bonsai displays favoured a great welcome.
The precious collections are beautiful and styled in a very unique way although, you can see the common type presented but in a different setting. Perhaps,the great bonsai artists today are now more impressive and current. The different perspective of bonsai artist transforming each into a styled bonsai art, the unique art expression and wild imagination to create such one is impressive. Perhaps, sharing their passion creating a bonsai art form, the huge contribution and quality work always shine. We are fully blessed to have talented bonsai artists of today.
I’ve learned that the most beautiful and rare bonsai are found in the mountains. I’m really interested to have a part collection but, I don’t have the time to hunt in the mountains. I was also told, that bonsai in the mountains are for keeps and it’s our precious treasure but, threatened. The rare ones are being cleared from the mountains where they grow. Others, they don’t care as long as it fits their own interest bringing some in the city for repotting. The good thing about it, bonsai today are being multiplied and produced by collectors to reduce further hunting in the mountains.
I took some photos during the exhibition. I was very happy to keep some precious photos of winning displays and stored it here just for you!
Let me take you around to check all the exhibits. It’s just like a time machine that could take me back in time. Bonsai landscape and unique appearance, those I’ve seen in the movies,’’Harry Potter,’’ Fairy tale setting and ‘’Lord of the Ring. Others in the jungle setting from the movie ‘’Lion King’’ you’ll see everything here.
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First of all, read the reminder!
You can see here the best bonsai styles that can change your mood; single trunk, Twin trunk and tri- trunk, Multi-trunk, Literati, Cascade, Raft, Root-over-rock, Exposed root, Shari trunk and Landscape.
Wiring lecture and demo. The sample bonsai that was used during the lecture, it was already trimmed. Various lectures and demo presented by the bonsai experts.For me, I think the wiring is the most difficult part.You need a metal wire to modify the shape of the bonsai and to prevent the branches from being damaged.
Cutting it, will stimulate growth of a new leaf. If you let me describe everything, It feels like it’s a long term relationship between the owner and the bonsai because of continues beautification. However, the forming seems to be a torture to the plant itself because you are controlling the old growth to give way to a new growth and to add more the bending form, that is to deform the original direction just to make it gorgeous. Am I right? If not, I think, I need to attend more demos and lectures but, I have mentioned the good aim above.
Free Bonsai lectures and workshops by bonsai artists. Sharing passion for creating an art form. The experts will demonstrate about leaf trimming, cutting methods and wiring.
The best and the most popular display are expensive. Other bonsai presented are large enough. It takes 20 to 30 years and above to reach the peak of perfection. Bonsai nurtured by artificial method, they survive according to the wishes of the bonsai artist unlike those in the mountains that they can easily adapt to the environment without any disturbance.
What a beautiful form!
Very artistic.
Impressive! It looks like a double frog down there.
One of a kind. I love that old trunk.
It looks like a tree in the ”Paradise Island.”
It looks like a tree in the jungles of Korea.
It looks like a walking tree.
It resembles the tree in the movie ”Harry Potter.”
Gorgeous! It looks like hunted, the ghost scene and the spirits just around.
Very beautiful.
It looks like a creepy setting.It looks like the one I’ve seen in the movie ”Harry Potter”.
It’s a fairy tale paradise.
Nicely curved bonsai.
When the branches grow downward is a cascade style.
The Wow display, fresh and luscious approach, seems to be the crowd’s favorite. It was the most photographed one. I heard grandma saying”this one is a real fruit tree, snap me beside the fruit tree. We call the fruit”Lumbuy” in the north but they call it ”Igot” in the south.I would like to pick some fruits but, how can I? there was a notice not to touch any of the display and there will be penalty for each branch and tree damaged. While there, I will just wait for the fruit to fall naturally.
Bonsai clinging to a rock.
Attractive landscape. (up and down Photos) It looks like a nesting place of the dragons.
The winning Bonsai.” BCI Excellence Award” (the owner Roberto Bobby Gopiao)
Simply the finest surrounded by a beautiful landscape.
The bonsai roots was exposed.
The single trunk.
Thank you guys for sharing your beautiful collections! I’m not done yet. See you next posts.
Orchids are beautiful but they are not fragrant flowers, which unlike other flowers like roses and gardenias have a delightful fragrance. Problems around when it comes to growing of orchids, I don’t know why our orchids lose leaves in darker spots, I really thought they can easily adopt to cooler environment.So much more to know that it lacks sunshine but, over powering sunshine is not good also. I can still remember the good kind of orchids we had before; Cattleyas and Miltonias, it’s probably the most spectacular with the striking colors of bright yellow and dark pink combination.However, the most loved around is the Jungle spots and Rangers”AOK”, I love the raffles on petal edges,it has full shape and beauty. I think, it’s ideal for bridal centerpiece.
The most glamorous when it comes to petal shapes, the” Odontoglossums,” Other species we had before are ”Lyoth Rotonda,” it was so beautiful like the Lyoth Fantastique but these kind tend to be very expensive. If ever to collect again, I make sure to install a greenhouse to filter the sun and insects. Must probably be the most suitable ones.
How wonderful to see and welcome my morning visitors in the garden.It gives me the right energy in the morning. Love that charming movement and the beautiful sound of songbirds around.
Commonly seen birds in the garden are the Woodpeckers,Tree sparrows, Humming bird and the Gray wagtail. Tree sparrows has Grey brown upper parts with white cheeks underparts. Other familiar species are present although some are beneath the roof too.I don’t know their names, it appears to be like House Martin. For now, I can’t remember any clues of identity to some that was seen before.
My garden visitor
Soon, I will care to place a good tree as nesting site and shelter for the birds as well as a big container for bird’s bath. The old chico tree has dried up, still looking for a good replacement. Some sparrows prefer to feed on the ground, the scrap of foods intended for the dogs are welcomed by most birds around. Lots of birds will adore my surrounding because it is a feeding ground for them, the presence of wild red berries that produces a sweet juicy fruit usually attracts the birds to come indoors. The fruit berries not only for the birds, they are safe for children to eat.
Dendrobium Hybrids
Some flowering plants are reliable during hot days that makes my daily activities in the garden l going on ; the watering 2x a day, weeds removing, cutting, re-potting, shading, and cultivating. Although, the soil is still rough and rugged, hot days seems to give more problems to our plants.The more dry it gets,the more attention needed.It’s already middle of May and the transitional period is fast approaching. The end of May would already be rainy season. I can just imagine 3 months of ground wet and I just hope there would be no tropical depressions, I just hate another ”Ondoys and Yolandas” to come.
Some orchids are available during hot days.
Just 2 weeks of waiting and soon, green grasses will quickly spread again to invade all spaces in the backyard. Soon, there would be another set of flowering plants to fit the season.
Big tree beside the greenhouse is partly shading the orchids. Definitely,it makes the surrounding cooler. Usually having a greenhouse, orchids will receive less light but at the same time, the most sun exposure. It really depends on how the greenhouse is constructed facing the direction needed to protect the orchids. (Click on images to view larger)
Dendrobium Hybrids, common type of orchids available during hot days. Light levels clearly shows certain amount of sunlight. That can make a different kind of exposure at different time of the day. Other varieties of orchids are sensitive to the direct rays of the sun that’s why, a good foundation is needed to protect the orchids.
Yesterday, I visited the Garden Orchids along White Plains. I observed the greenhouse, insulation was added like; polythene and plastic sheeting. Other orchid gardens in my friends backyard, they prefer the glass sheeting which is more expensive but it looks neat and durable. To some, they want polythene tunnels.