St. Rose of Lima Parish Church, Santa Rosa, Laguna
The church with the view of the cultivated rice field, over looking the hills and mountains from afar. All geographical boundaries will shadow the entire landscape, it is a combination of architectural beauty and nature.
A beautiful old church with an architectural masterpiece during the Spanish era, carefully preserved and restored up to the present. If you look from the distance, the exterior and interior design was great. The interior design, it’s truly a work of art. As far as I can remember, it was Holy Week when I took these photos, it was Maundy Thursday.
The first glow of the day, ”Sunrise’‘
Sunrise snapshots I took along Ateneo De Manila University ground, Katipunan. It was quick shot taken before the (5:45 am) College Entrance test last Sunday, Sept. 21,2014
Today’s quote is an inspiration to make my mind and heart at peace….
This is to share some of my daily reflections on my part and inspirational tips that will brighten your day. Soon, you can apply in your daily life. Reading quotes with some solutions to make your mind and heart at peace.
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.
Click on images to view larger
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.
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.
After my 3 days vacation in Tagaytay, one of the best features that I will highlight here is the Sunflower field. It’s not that hard to find this common kind because it is wild form. As you know, sunflowers can withstand the dry conditions of the soil. I’ve noticed that sunflower grow and spread faster especially if the space is not limited.
With the rich soil and temperate climate of Tagaytay, all the subdivision vacant plots was loaded with these flowers and some growing salad vegetables. Exploring the farm under full bright sun makes me feel exhausted, the heat of the sun was so intense that makes my skin bit darker. However, the sky clouds seemingly low and blue in color, thought it would make a beautiful background to produce lovely shots.
Gardening was much improved over the years, the presence of different species of flowering plants and wild forms have flourished. If you follow the routes going to the tropical forest, you’ll discover unique varieties with wide range and colors.
Sunflower produces wide golden-yellow blooms which is abundant throughout summer. From the name itself, of course, sunflower is a summer flower that loves the sun. Attractive as it looks, big lovely splash of golden-yellow petals makes the best decorative background in the farm. For me, every garden must have the wild side, the attendance of wild sunflowers must be present for the garden to look brilliantly natural.
Would love to take home some, I want a sunflower garden of my own. I’ve collected some dried sunflowers so I can get seeds from it. Sunflowers can be raised from seeds. I’ll bring it home and scatter those seeds in the garden.
Here are some of the photos I took during the first day of my vacation there. Lets get started!
(Click on images to view larger)
Nature’s view, it was wild and lovely in full golden yellow.
Wild blooms, rows of yellow wild and free.
You can see here, the clear view, beside the field is a summer house.
Sky viewing with the sunflowers. I feel like cutting these flowers, it would probably looks lovely over my left ear.
Here’s catching higher view, the sunflower plant is taller than me.
I’ve seen sunflowers around so many instances but, closer distance makes the difference.
I have to raise my camera in order to include the sky background.
Wide spread, my individual photo of sunflower.
How I wish to pick up some for my vases but, I didn’t bring any gardening tools, the stem was so hard.
I’ve seen giant sunflowers so many other instances but closer distance makes a big difference, you can touch it and see closer to the pollinating insects nearby.
I’m glad ,all shots came up to be beautiful, the clear blue sky make candid shots to bring out the beauty of the sunflowers.I hope you’ll like it. More garden flowers of Tagaytay next, my journey continues next posts.