A little bonding, some fun at a private pool

June 12 is the Philippines' Independence Day. It was a holiday so everyone grabbed the opportunity to unwind. I've seen a lot of post from my friends who took advantage of the long weekend because luckily it was a Friday.
We belong to those who chose to relax and chill out last weekend. My husband's office decided to push thru their team bonding at a private pool somewhere at the foot of Mt. Makiling in Pansol, Calamba, Laguna.

I can't help but make my husband slow down so I could take a photo of the road, because I just love this tree with orange flowers, though I don't know what it is called. It's like our local version of Sakura. This was already inside the subdivision, where the private pool were.

 This was the view outside the house where we were parked. I immediately took a photo.

In there, they've got two swimming pools, one for the children and the other for the children at heart. The one at the center is a jacuzzi.

This was the view from the second floor, it has a large terrace with eight rooms. It was rented for a 24-hour period at a reasonable price. I've lost count of how many we were but we're quite a lot. We shared our room with one of his co-worker's family. It was not such a grand place or a grand vacation, but like all staycations I think it all healed our tired souls. We got to bond, especially my husband and his colleagues. They have a kitchen downstairs that was big enough to cook different meals. Someone even brought "lechon" (roasted pork) so I was so full during the stay. The house was also equipped with a billiard table and a videoke, so some played and the others sang.

 Sorry, no lippies for me here, just want to take a photo of my Gap shirt, it's Angeles!;

 I assure these couple's Crocs flipflops will travel places  and everytime they'll have a selfie. Not a pretty feet, I know. lol.

Selfie! Selfie!

 Just as we arrived there. I was with a group of engineers serving a public office.

 Yummy!

Wacky!

Btw, the huge house we stayed at was divided into two. The other side was the residence of the owner and the other part was the one we've rented. Almost all houses in the subdivision were like this. Well, not such a bad idea for an additional source of income, could be a big investment at first, but a lifetime passive income in return.

All staycations are fun! God bless everyone!

Singapore Botanic Gardens: My favorite place in Singapore

Because it will be Thursday tomorrow, I've thought of sharing my Singapore trip with my husband last 2011. My favorite among the places we visited there was The Singapore Botanic Gardens. I know that my fellow avid gardeners slash plant lovers can understand why this has been my favorite. Before we even went on a trip, I have already looked for places to visit so our four-day travel won't go to waste. I'm sure glad I've found this on the net so we were able to go there even though it was not included in our tour package. During our free time on our third day, my husband and I rode the bus which headed to this beautiful garden.

Lots of trees, it was so serene. This was like having a morning date with mother nature.We didn't know it was this big otherwise we should've worn our running shoes and had a morning jog like most of the people we've seen.

Inside The Singapore Botanic Garden is the National Orchid Garden. All I can say with this place is a big wow. I so love it. Lots of orchids, different kinds and colors wherever you turned your head.

They have a large airconditioned misty greenhouse since the weather at Singapore is very humid.

We will definitely go back Singapore.  

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My Pomelo Tree

I wanna share with you how I just saw a little plant before in my garden which I knew was not weed. It was probably one of the fruit seeds my father-in-law just throw on our garden after eating. I was right when I thought its from the citrus family. Cause it looks like one. I was just not sure then what it was. I googled and learned its leaf was that of a Pomelo tree or what we call "suha" here in our local dialect. I transplanted it then took care of it so well fertilizing it only organically and mulching it with dry leaves. Over the years it has grown into big tree. And just last year on its fifth year. I gave me fruits already, not one but four beautiful fruits. It was the sweet round kind. And again, we have just harvested and eaten two big fruits again. I was very happy because I frequently search on google how long does a fruit tree bear its fruit when it is planted from seed and most of the ones I've read says it could be 10 years or more. I would say this could probably be the effect of my organic gardening. Fruit trees will give you fruits earlier than usual.

This was the first fruit I have harvested on the very first tree I have ever planted. Such a nice feeling.

The leaves of my Atis trees came to view but I wanna show you how big my tree has been.

There are four other fruits on the tree now. For passionate gardeners like I am, it is so much fun just looking up and seeing the literal fruits of your own labor. The wonders of nature.

 I placed fallen leaves from our yard including some plants I pulled off on the base of the tree. Under those mulches (overdosed I must admit) I put some composted chicken manure for its nitrogen source. I do this all year round. I honestly don't know the proper care for this tree but it continually gives us fruits since last year so I guess I'm doing things right. Anyway, this mulches eventually turns into a rich gardener's black gold (compost) after a few months or a year.

Happy gardening!

New Materials for my Garden Enhancement

The new materials I am referring to for my garden enhancement are these seeds from ornamental plants - Zinnias of different colors, Petunia, Aster and an Ornamental Pepper.

I also got some new baby Lantanas and a Sunflower plant but sadly the flower is wilted but I will wait for its seeds to mature and plant several new ones. I wanna attract butterflies in my garden so I include these two plants on my enhancement list.

 I am so excited to see the results in a few months time as I am now starting to sow and transplant. I also planted onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and chili peppers, they're in that recycled egg plastic container. I'm planning to mix these veggies to the flowering plants and if I'd have more butterflies I will surely have a good harvest. The only plant I am looking for and am planning to buy or ask from a neighbor are the Vietnam Rose varieties. We call this here "Alembong" similar to how we call a flirt in Filipino because it is very flowery. It will give you nonatop flowers all year round. This will sure add bright different colors to my garden. I have also gone back to composting. I will have a separate post for that if those kitchen scraps, yard waste and paper I put on an old biscuit container is already well composted. I can't wait for some good results. By the way, my gardening is purely organic. I use no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Everything you will see in there will be the works, wonder and beauty of nature.

The Useful Aloe Vera

I bought our Aloe Vera plant five years ago at a Sunday market. It was just a pot with one or two offsets. I have remove the offsets to other pots then and the rest is history. It has now grown in numbers.

Aloe is so easy to grow. It just have to be watered daily during summer and it must have a good drainage. Aloe is sunlight loving too. Just that, not much necessary caring needed.

This plant has many uses. It can be used to moisturize the scalp which they say can make the thinning hair regrow or thicker. My husband will kill me for mentioning this but this plant is most useful to him. His scalp loves Aloe Vera so much and he himself often says it's effective. And since it has become so abundant in my garden I also found ways to use it. I now moisturize my elbows, knees and heels with Aloe every other day. During weekends I apply it also on my face before taking a bath.

Sorry for having too much weeds. I'm still on the process of beautifying my garden.

The fact that Aloe Vera absorbs formaldehyde and benzene plus the carbon dioxide into the air and in reverse releases oxygen. I can safely say... some plants are worth growing in our gardens.