Talisay tree signals the coming of Amihan*

Talisay tree signals the coming of Amihan 

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog 

Talisay (Terminalia catappa), also known as umbrella tree is deciduous, which explains why at certain times of the year, specially in the cool months, its leaves turn yellow to orange to red and purple as they fall to the ground. This is romantically associated with autumn in the temperate countries - which the tropics lack. But thanks to the talisay for its mimic art. The tree becomes leafless and its limbs branches appear bare in the sky, like tree in winter. There a sudden transformation follows: the emergence of new leaves, and soon a whole new crown is formed, which again reminds us of spring. 

Indeed Nature's art is beautiful, and its variety makes the imagination roam and seek adventure. We liken talisay with maple and oak which we do not have in the tropics. We seem to experience the climate of the places where there are four seasons of the year when we only have two - wet and dry, hot and cool. 

San Vicente Botanical Garden, San Vicente Ilocos Sur

You bring the autumn where there is none;

     only monsoon have we, wet and dry;

you lose your crown before the rains come;

     and at harvest time, you weep and cry.

Your ancestors left home eons of years ago 

     as the continents began drifting apart; 

divided apart by the cold and warm sea, 

     surviving them here in this part.   

You carry their genes of four seasons each year,

     deciduous but without winter snow;

emerging with new crown in summer and fall,

     and amihan is your greatest show.~

*Season of cool winds, Siberian High, October to December 

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid Dr Abe Rotor and Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8-9 evening class, Monday to Friday