Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Fruit for the Butterflies

By on April 5, 2018

How to attract butterflies to your garden? One way to attract butterflies is to feed them with fruit scraps such as mangoes, overripe bananas, apples, plums,  watermelon to mention a few.. They love fruits with the most natural sugar in it. Got 2 kinds of butterflies feeding on mangoes, one of the world’s most popular tropical fruit.

Feeding Station for the butterflies. 2 butterflies; monarch and admiral butterfly  feasting a plate of mango slices.

Just like human, admiral butterflies love mangoes.

Monarch butterfly enjoying the natural sweetness from fruits.

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Dramatic Sunset Over Manila Bay

By on April 3, 2018

A very beautiful sun setting in the evening, the glowing radiance of orange, red, purple, pink, yellow and blue with the splashing sunlit reflections from the water brings interesting foreground and background details. Communicating with the beauty of nature and capturing sunset great moments as it descend below western horizon at the end of the day is truly perfection.

I have captured these photos at SM Mall of Asia bayside, it was the last Saturday of ”Philippine International Pyromusical Competition 2018, the whole area was jam-packed with people of all ages and different nationalities, the flow of noisy conversation from people around was so terrible but it’s all worth to be there. This is the only time for me to capture and enjoy two interesting subjects same day; the sunset beforehand and fireworks at the end.

More sunset photos taken before sundown

It’s summertime therefore it’s photography time so expect more beautiful sunset photos…

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22 Magnificent sunset…           Fisherman’s Best Friend 

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Dahlia Hybrids

By on February 22, 2018

Following our family vacation previously, I had focused my attention on all exciting enhancements during that time and much more to something which is more relaxing and pleasing to the eye. Our itinerary doesn’t only just cover delicious foods and luxury comfort, it also includes must- sees garden flowers too.

Eagerly to show what I’ve acquired in the course of my Baguio tour, the splash of flowers and attractive features, this is something that gives identity to a certain place,’’Botanical garden of Baguio’’ the field of blooming flowers and an outstanding park for the dahlias. The best series of dahlias can be seen around minus the fragrance as a notable exception, you can also see here all the growing species in a cooler environment and my free time to appreciate is limitless.

The scene satisfies my cravings to photograph everything. One of the great things that I love is photography no matter if it’s indoor or outdoor location is considerably an overwhelming hobby. It took an hour to finished,  shows my expression of love for the flowers and it leaves unforgettable memories to remember.

Pleasingly beautiful to the point of my interest, my top choices  are the dahlia flowers. I’ve completed all the varieties from single to the large ones. If you like beautiful flowers, you’ll surely love these dahlias!

Types of Dahlias

Dahlia flower- are sun lovers and  tender perennials forming tuberous roots. They are fast growing plant that comes in every color carried on long stems above erect plants and classified by both size and type from the big-sized dinner-plate varieties down to the midget pompoms. Wild species were the first introduced in the British Isles.  Dahlias are very useful in flower arrangement and garden decoration, they are graceful landscape plants and good for borders and mass planting.

Single-flowered dahlia – Single blooms, having one row of smooth ray florets surrounding a central disk.

Peony-flowered dahlia- having two to three rows of broad and usually flat petals           surrounding a central disk.

Decorative dinner plate dahlia – A huge plate-sized blooms.

Informal decorative dahlia

Formal decorative dahlia – The double flowers have broad petals which are normally flat and sometimes slightly twisted and bluntly pointed or rounded at the tips. This class covers a wide range similar to pompom and cactus.

Twisted dahlia – Florets are twisted and curved.

Collarette dahlia – Brightly colored flowers with one or more rings of flat ray florets, the ring collar of smaller florets about half of the ray florets.

Bi-colored dahlia

Double show and Fancy dahlia – Fully double and almost globular in shape. The central florets slightly smaller than the outer florets. The show types are self-colored while the fancy types are bi-colored and variegated. One of the oldest classes.

Cactus dahlia

Cactus dahlia – are very popular for flower arrangement,  show no disk and fully double flowers have a straight or in curving petals that tends to be narrow and pointed star-like appearance.

Waterlily dahlia

Orchid-flowered dahlia

Note: (Not available at the moment, to be added soon. Pompom dahlia, Orchid dahlia, Anemone-flowered dahlia, Star-flowered dahlia, Miscellaneous…)

The botanical garden has an area specifically designed for dahlias only. In the Philippines, you can find the best hybrid varieties in Baguio and Tagaytay, the two largest flower producers in the country. Most dahlias we grow today are the product of botanist and gardener’s breeding effort.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Best Flowers for the Honeybees

By on February 6, 2018

I have photographed these honeybees while walking around the Botanical garden of Baguio. These honeybees are very active pollinating different flowers of all kinds, it’s the best kind of flowers adapted to these particular kind of insect. Pretty much and lucky enough to take them at the right moment.

Photos of Honeybees pollinating different flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Pollinators: Honeybee and Butterfly

By on February 2, 2018

They have the same thing in common and share the same thing in common, both are pollinators and together, they love to pollinate the same kind of flower. These 2 agents of pollination knows where to position themselves when pollinating a certain flower.

The butterfly hanging upside down position and the honeybee on top. Other photo down shows the butterfly on the left and honeybee at the right and habitually switching places all the time.

I have captured these photos while roaming around ”Botanical garden of Baguio city” Together they caught my attention, this is a rare chance to take. Lucky enough to snap a picture.

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Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Botanical Garden, Baguio city

By on February 1, 2018

Following the winding road, will take you to the scenic Botanical garden. it’s just 15 mins drive from our place. I love flowers! Visiting the Botanical garden is the most exciting and enjoyable part of my vacation. Definitely, I’m beginning to enjoy the pleasures of family vacation. In here, you’ ll see all kinds of blooming flowers, beautiful flowering shrubs and trees. Plenty of surprises, so much beauty in subtle colors of perennial foliage as well.

Botanical garden is a beautifully-landscaped lowland park that features a wide variety of plants and flowers, designed specifically to showcase all the fascinating features in the garden, flowers begin to show so much life and lush growth abundantly covered through and brightly colored. There’s nothing more fun than being out to appreciate my favorites, I don’t get to see the same flowers everyday.

December month about to end, the garden surrounded by a star- shaped Christmas lights display.

This is a large garden, my starting point here. To begin with, I’m beginning to appreciate everything.

Chinese pavilion is a friendship pavilion between the Philippines and Chin (Hangzou city)

Igorot village

Truly magnificent showcase of   colorful and attractive dresses. Igorots have their own specific tribal mode of dressing. Woman are famous for their tube skirt. For picture taking with unlimited shots, you can rent a costume for only 20 pesos.

Ethnic minority Igorot woman wearing a distinctive headdress. She cute!

My hunting expedition for beautiful flowers as my subject of the day. What a relaxing experience to walk around appreciating and photographing all flowers in bloom. Of course! I have my own likes and dislikes too. I just hope you’ll appreciate clear quality pictures.

Most alluring attributes, a very graceful tree. It’s just like Cherry blossoms in the Philippines.

Feeling refreshed to choose my favorites from the wide range of offers perhaps, this is the right one for me, a colorful two-color combination is a brilliant one.

Attractive foliage and hybrid Dahlias along the pathways beautifully- arranged.

I never forget to include Baguio’s signature, the everlasting flowers also known as ”straw flowers”

A bit review and study viewing it with a how-tos question on my mind. I was looking for a proper species to plant so soon to develop my own when I get home but I don’t know yet what suit my needs.

I love this one! Oh yeah! all dull spots brightened with colorful perennials too.

Garden comes alive with all the outstanding display of seasonal colors and all season point of interest.

I think nothing beats this one for adding color to the surroundings.

 

Enhanced by yellow stamen in the center, very nice combinations of light pink and yellow.

 

 

 

 

What you can see here are not the only varieties available during that time. I‘ve selected only a few to post it here. It will not end here, my next posts would be my most amazing flower photography all done in the same place and time. See you next posts.. Thanks for reading my blog!

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Lion’s Head (Kennon road)

By on January 25, 2018

On our way to Baguio, we passed by Kennon road and made a slow down driving because of the surrounding traffic approaching Lion’s head.  We made  quick stop in front and slowly moved a little bit so I can snap the golden statue. Lion’s head is the landmark and symbol of Baguio city, the Pines city or city of the cool sun.

Up close and personal, I took just 2 snapshots. Roar to the make-over! It’s newly-painted, it looks more brighter and clearer now. (Beside the Lions head is a small billboard}  so Thank you Davies!)

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Beautiful Flowers of Baguio

By on January 24, 2018

Just a small area beside the living room is the balcony, how can I resist to capture all these attractive flowers beside me? It seems it’s the right daylight to capture the nearest subject of photography;  the  dahlias, hybrid roses and the splendid blooming lavender flowers. Appreciating these December beauties, it’s just like springtime in Baguio.

Not a clearer dawn but I’m in the right mood to capture them. It’s interesting to include the landscape behind, with the low light camera adjustment, the background gives light and breathtaking effect. How tempting. Let me show you a few… Let’s get started!

Hybrid tea roses on sunrise and pine forest background. Constantly, you can see the good result in seasonal colors.

It looks darker red when the sun shines through it.

Another good choice are the Lavender flowers in individual containers on the balcony.

Early morning sun for the red Daisies.

Other aspects of photography and the best way to reconnect you with nature is to see these landscape photos I’ve captured around. You may also want to view Baguio landscapes and the tall pine trees.

Pine forest landscape

The natural beauty of the pine forest.

 

Other landscape nearby covered by brilliant mass of flowers. I took this photo up there when I was still in the highlands. More to come next post.. Thanks for viewing and reading my blog!

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Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Boating Experience at Burnham Park

By on January 23, 2018

A crowd-pleasing park located in the downtown area. It is a spacious center city park with a man-made lake designed for boating however, the water seems blurry and muddy in color. I’ve noticed a huge improvement this year. I remember there was once, Baguio faced one of its most trying times when a disastrous earthquake left other areas in ruins, that was in the year way back 1990. Clinically, far from before, it has a new look now which is more captivating, inviting and tourist-friendly city.

 

Lovely photos taken at the boating area of Burnham park

 

 

 

 

 

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Restaurant Review

Diner on 16th Overloaded Milkshakes

By on October 13, 2017

People around Kapitolyo knows about these Overloaded milkshakes. I heard about this Diner on 16th from a dear friend, got so curious but didn’t give much interest till I craved for it! I’m so excited to try these Overloaded milkshakes. Diner on 16th is a casual restaurant that serves a typical all American comfort food. Me with my friend went there one hot afternoon, the best choice for us is something more substantial on a hot day so it goes for Overloaded milkshakes be our first order.

Diner on 16th

Strawberry Cotton Candy Cone Milkshake – the most popular among all milkshakes that everyone loves. Elegant presentation with cotton candy on top, enticing enough for the kids and will surely bring a happy smile to little kids face.

A wonderful creation to entertain you, when it flows, it’s perfect. You can just sit down and relax and let Overloaded Milkshake entertain you. It is always be the best choice for the youngsters especially college students. The sweetness is just light.

The second milkshake will tempt you even more, S’nores Milkshake it is rich and creamy with a fluffy sponge cake on top. Glossy and sophisticated! Very inviting presentation as shown and that makes it unique from the rest of other milkshakes around Kapitolyo.

Other Wonderful Milkshake creations to choose from; Strawberry cotton candy cone, Chocolate covered mallows, Chocolate milk and Strawberry flavored pretzels, Strawberry chocolate and caramel syrup+custard syrup. I think, it is not technically difficult but if you can create like this, you’ll achieve attractive effects. The taste is sweet and creamy.

Meatball Pasta

Fitting everything noontime, it’s time to sit down for a brunch. Our 3rd order, Meatball Pasta topped with 3 small meatballs and 2 bread sticks.As shown, garnished with fine celery leaves. The clean presentation is quite good but the taste is just right.

Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken with Ube Waffles

Followed by our last order which is a combination serving, this is good for sharing, Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken with Ube Waffles nicely formed Ube flavored waffle topped with icing sugar that unites for both breakfast and lunch with 3 small pieces of chicken slightly browned and crisp served with maple syrup and a heart-shaped butter good enough to spread-out. The Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken was crispy but not my taste buds can go all with it, just a selected few.Let me try again next time…

Diner on 16th is an American Comfort Food. 

 Address: 16 United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig, Metro Manila

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