Living with Nature Botanical Garden in 4 Series

Living with Nature Botanical Garden

Dr Abe V Rotor

Part 1 - Floral Diversity in Poetry  

Original Title: Ecological Sanctuary - Laboratory of Nature

Bird of Paradise (Heliconia latipatha Benth) Family Heliconiaceae

They say you are a True Bird of Paradise

left after the Fall,

by one sweep of the mighty sword

that smite the sinful;

truly you bear the color of that sword

as golden as your soul.

Camia (Hedichium coronarium) Family Liliaceae

Wings, wings - they are not all that fly;

they fly in the mind, fragrance

riding in purest colors, as dewdrops

become nectar, and nectar to dewdrops

greeting the morning sun,

shrinking, sinking and gone.

“When we reconnect with nature, we will restore ourselves.”

― Lailah Gifty Akita

Lotus [Nelumbium nelumbo (Linn) Druce] Family Nymphaeaceae

If white is pure,

then what is color?

"It is a replica of the natural world unspoiled by man, 

a patch of the lost Eden." - avr

Mayana (Coleus blumei) Family Labiatae

Dress up quickly and beam with valor;

youth is fleeting for the frail and bold;

play with the sun in kaleidoscope color,

after the equinox the wind grows cold.

Red (Anthurium sp) Family Araceae

Mimicry is the name of the game,

all in survival's name -

defense and offense,

conceit and deceit -

cloaked in beauty or nonsense.

A wild orchid

In the wild beauty is simple and true.

Wild Bromeliad, Family Bromeliaceae

The forest would be dull without you,

you hang on limbs, blossom on tree;

in your crown some little ponds lie,

oasis to fish, frog and dragonfly.

Wild is your character like your domain,

save the pineapple, your only kind,

released from your ancient gene pool,

tamed and loved by mankind.

Gumamela, Centennial series (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn) Family Malvaceae

Like a giant bell spliced,

once adored for its sound,

a call for a nation's stand,

and pride of a crown.

Gumamela, Centennial series (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn) Family Malvaceae

If only blood can wipe out blood,

and only tears can heal;

where is joy in reverence, its glory,

and a heart set free?

 

Gumamela, Centennial series (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn) Family Malvaceae

Frolic while it's May,

before the sun's last ray;

blessed is the blossomed hour,

for this ephemeral flower

Mulberry (Morus alba) Family Malvaceae

In perfect mimicry

of friends and foes,

winged and hoofed -

they pair your genes;

they spread them

over the land

in pure chance -

and biology.

Screw pine (Pandanus sp) Family Pandanaceae

Go forth and multiply,

as your body dies bit by bit,

your genes are passed on

to your offspring,

before the tomb is sealed. 

" ... actually you need to spend time in nature more

than playing video games." - Unknown ~

Part 2 - Plants in the Gardeny 

"The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there." – George Bernard Shaw

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Heritage tree of three generations - native mango (Mangifera indica) is host to viny plants, ferns, and lianas like Rosary Pea and Philodendron

Double-petal flowers of  Sampaguita (Jasminium sambac) in two colors - white and purplish pink. 

Powderpuff lily (Haemanthus multiflorus) blooms in summer emerging from underground bulbs.

 Indigenous White Santan (Ixora finlaysoniana) may grow into a small tree.  Other santan species are trimmed into hedges and figurines.

 

Perhaps the most common garden plant is croton (Codiaum variegatum).  It comes in many varieties and cultivars.  They are conveniently propagated by cuttings, thus preserving their own genetic characteristics.  As a hobby plant enthusiasts have collections such as these two varieties. 

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." – Cicero

 

 Ferns such as the Oak-leaf fern (Drynaria quercifolia) crowd the base of large trees and corners which are cool and shady.  

Corazon de Maria (Caladium bicolor) has this leaf design, 

mottled with pinkish radial divisions.

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

False-Bird-of- Paradise or Lobster's Claw - Heliconia, family Heliconiaceae; Right, Spider Lily - Hymenocallis littoralis, family Liliaceae The stalk leaves and flowers of the spider lily are mildly poisonous but the bulbs are very poisonous. In Japan these flowers are planted routinely around the edges of rice paddies where they are thought to repel insects and rodents. (Internet)

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice -because thorn bushes have roses."  - Abraham Lincoln ~

Part 3 - Rare Plants in the Garden

Dr Abe V Rotor

A visiting coed poses before a cluster of  Variegated 

Oregano Origanum vulgare 'Variegata' from Rome, 

"secret" of the savory Italian pizza and macaroni.

  

Jatropha multifida, called coral plant, coralbush, and physic nut 

is a species of Jatropha native to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Colorful Bougainvillea intermingling with kandaroma or 

spiny aroma (Acacia farnesiana), appears like the 

latter's flower.  Spiny aroma was introduced to the 

Philippines from Mexico during the Spanish era.

                             Stripe Pandan (Pandanus Pygmaeus'Variegatus'),

is a variant of variegated pandan, and a relative of the 

giant coastal pandan, Pandanus tectorius.

This small tree known as Caballero (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), 

is also called poinciana, peacock flower or flamboyant-de-jardin. 

It is a native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas.

Mickey Mouse plant, Ochna serrulata, Family Ochnaceae,
is called Mickey mouse plant or Mickey Mouse bush 

due to the plant's ripe blackfruit, which upside down 

resembles the ears of Mickey Mouse, and bright-red 

sepals resembling his trousers. 

Part 4 - Arboretum and Garden

Arboretum or Miniature Tropical Rainforest

As miniature replica, the Center maintains the three-storey distinct 

structure of a tropical rainforest, namely, underbrushes, canopy layer, 

and emergents, cum epiphytes and lianas, as virtual field laboratory 

in forestry and ecology, and other related fields of study.

 

 

Dead Forest 

Where once stood a lush vegetation of trees, shrubs, liana and orchid - 

these are but remnants, reminiscent of Paradise John Milton's poetry, 

except for one thing - we may never see it regained in our life time. 

Indigenous Food Plants

Top clockwise, karamay (Cicca acida), kamias (Averrhoa balimbi), 

ngalog (Portulaca oleracea), batao (Dolichos lablab), pallang Ilk 

(Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), patani (Phaseolus lunatus).  Wild 

food plants are crucial in providing food and nutrition in times of 

food shortage and hunger.

Herbal Medicine

Luyang dilaw (Curcuma longa) or turmeric is an effective remedy for 

osteoarthritis, hay fever, depression, and high cholesterol. The rhizome 

is a good source of phosphorus and iron. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) 

contains antioxidants, and offers many health benefits.  Lowermost 

photos, Aloe vera for restoring hair, and Jatropha multifida made into 

topical ointment.    

 

Ethnobotany 

Considered as weeds certain edible plants, such as alugbati and 

karimbuaya or soro-soro, offer an alternative to conventional 

vegetables and fruits. This field of study is valuable in preserving 

biodiversity and in solving problems of food shortage and 

malnutrition.

Pest Buildup

Top, cabbage aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae) gain resistance 

against repeated chemical spraying.  Middle, Cotton Stainer 

(Dysdercus cingulatus = D. megalophygus), coconut beetle 

(Oryctes rhinocerus), green beetle, kamote weevil (Cylas 

formicarius)  are gaining the upper hand in our war against pest 

using chemicals.  Their tool: immunity.  Immunity enables them 

to survive the onslaught of pesticides which killed their forebears.  

Such resistance increases and passed on to their offspring onward. 

Speciation

Living things evolve, and in the transition period may show 

incipient signs of change veering away from their own kind. 

The process may lead to the formation of variants, which may 

become distinctly new species.

Garden Pond

Microcosm of a river, lake, or a large scale fishery right on the 

backyard as source of food, recreation, or simply a place for 

creativity and respite. ~