Euphorbias in the Gardens of Chateau De La Mer

Besides my orchids and hibiscus collections (http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com),
I have also a collections of Euphorbias. The plant is also known as Siam's(Thailand)Lucky Plant. Five years ago, I purchased 3 plants for 1000 pesos(about $20).Today, Euphorbias are so cheap, you can buy one for less than a $1, since they are easily propagated via cuttings.

They bloom whole year round, likes sun and dry soil and very drought-resistant. They are almost pest-free except for small mites. The mites are almost microscopic and attacked the leaves. My favorite is the light yellow, almost light green variety. I have also varieties that have double flowers in red and pink. The most common color is pink(bottom photo). Here's a video about the care of Euphorbia in Sanskrit.

Plumerias and Ylang-Ylang Trees in the Gardens of Chateau De La Mer

Besides my orchids/hibiscus collection( http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com), euphorbias
and cactus collections(http://planningtovisitthephilippines) and bougainvillas collection (http://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com), I am also a lover of plumerias and Ylang Ylang trees. I have three varieties of plumerias, and two Ylang Ylang trees.

My white plumeria is the standard tree now about 20 ft tall and 10 ft wide. I planted them along the beach by the side of the fence. I have 20 trees currently. It likes the ocean breeze and flowers the whole 6 months from December to June. Its white flowers are very fragrant. My red plumerias are semi-dwarf. The red flowers are clustered but not as fragrant as the white standard tree. My pink plumerias are dwarfs. I have a dozen trees of this pink variety. One of them, I made into a bonsai. The bonsai plant is my favorite.


I have only two Ylang Ylang trees, I planted them in 1996. Now they are about 30 ft tall and loaded with fragrant flowers. The fragrance of the blooms permeates in the air even up to 20 meters away and farther if the wind direction is favorable. It reminds me of the perfume Chanel N0.5. The subject of my master thesis at the University of Illinois in 1962 was on the volatile constituents of Ylang-Ylang oil.

Bougainvillas in the Gardens of Chateau De La Mer

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Besides my orchids and hibiscus collections (http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com) and Euphorbia collections (http://planningtovisitthephilippines.blogspot.com), I also collect bougainvilleas. They are drought-resistant, pest-free and blooms 10 months of the year. They love sunshine and thrives even in a pot near the beach. I fertilize them with 1 part human urine and 1000 parts of water. They will grow into a small tree if not pruned. I have a dozen varieties of various colors. I used them also as hedges to cover the hollow block fencing surrounding the beach resort. My favorite is the red variety (top photo). Here's a video of beautiful Gardens featuring bougainvillas and other flowers as the focal point of the landscaping.

Cacti and Succulents in the Gardens of Chateau De La Mer

Besides my collection of orchids, hibiscus and euphorbias, I also collect cacti and succulents. I have only a dozen varieties, half of them I grew in pots and the rest outside. I planted them in pots, so during the rainy season, I could move them away from the torrential rains of Marinduque. The outside cacti, I planted under the overhang in the west and south side of the house, so it will have plenty of sun and protected from the monsoon rains during the month of July and August. They have red flowers(photo below). I have dozens of aloe veras on the side of the house.



Aloe vera in my Garden



One variety that grows tall, I planted along the fence facing the ocean. This serves as deterrent for mischievous local children to climb the fence because of it thorns. I have one favorite that belongs to the Agave specie. It looks like a big rose. It is a slow grower. I think it is called the century plant.It will not bloom after 50 years or more. I planted it 10 years ago( only about 2 inches). Now it is only about 12 inches high and 10 inches wide. So far, it has only one shoot( I call it the cactus baby), that I transplanted into a pot and watch it grow very slowly. I try not to over water it. For as they say, cactus and succulents thrives well with neglect. Here's a video about cacti!

Zinnias, Cosmos and Wild Flowers in the Gardens of Chateau De La Mer

This wild flower was photographed in Marinduque. Do you its name?




Do You know the name of this Flower?






Photos of Wild Flower on the Seashore was photographed Gabby Del Rosario

Zinnias, impatiens and cosmos self-seed every year in my garden. They grow like wild flowers. However, I replaced them with new seeds every other year. If allowed to grow, they will suffocate other plants around them. Zinnias comes in a rainbow of colors. There is a zinnia known as Envy( light green) that I used to grow in Kansas City. However, I can not find seeds here in California in the garden shop. I will probably have to order it via the Internet(see note below). Anyway, I am happy of the varieties that I have currently. The purple Zinnia looks almost like a dahlia. My cosmos is light orange, although I have seen other colors from garden catalogs. I have both pink and white variety of impatiens. The natives called it "apat-apat" because they have four petals. They are drought resistant and blooms all summer.

Another wild flower (second photo from top) grows like a ground cover and a vine along the seashore outside the fence of the beach house. It has light purple flowers that blooms for about three months( December to February) every year. I encourage it to spread along the shore in order to minimize sand erosion during high tides. The locals have a name for this wild vine, but I can not remember it. During its blooming season, the seashore looks so beautiful. It reminds me of the wild California poppies, blooming in the prairies. Every year, I remind my gardener to trim it, since it will occupy the seashore that we used for sun bathing and picnicking. If you know of the name of this wild flower, please let me know. Enjoy the flowers above.

Note: I went to the garden store today. They have a stand for Burpee Seed Products. I found the Green Zinnia( Envy) seed packet for $1.99, but not the purple double Zinnia.

Hibiscus in the Gardens of Chateau De La Mer

Aside from orchids and bougainvillas, I also collect Hibiscus, known in the Philippines as gumamela plants. I have a dozen varieties in a rainbow of colors both with single or double flowers. My favorite is the canary-yellow variety (second photo). Above are some of the hibiscus in my garden. The most common variety is the single red, but the flowers could grow as big as a small plate. The white and yellow varieties are susceptible to white molds and aphids. I have to literally hand washed each stem with soapy water as well as spray it with anti-aphids pesticide. Most of these plants, I purchased locally, but the white variety I purchased from a nursery in Manila. Enjoy my hibiscus collections. Here's a short video about Hibiscus, I am sure you will enjoy the flowers and the guitar background music !

Marinduque is no longer included in the list of ten poorest province of the Philippines

Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Amoingon, Boac

Chateau Du Mer Main House in Amoingon, Boac

The ten poorest provinces in the Philippines according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) of the Philippines are as follows: ( in alphabetical order but not in ranking)

1. Abra
2. Apayao
3. Lanao del Sur
4. Maguindanao
5. Masbate
6. Misamis Occidental
7. Northern Samar
8. Surigao del Norte
9. Tawi-Tawi
10.Zamboanga Del Norte

There are 79 provinces in the Philippines and grouped into 12 Regions. I have no idea what is the ranking of Marinduque, But I have a feeling it is in the top 25 of poorest provinces, however I am very proud that it is no longer in the top ten.
On the otherhand, the top ten riches provinces in the Philippines( annual income collected)are as follows:
1.Bulacan (P1.807 billion)
2.Negros Occidental ((P1.674 billion)
3.Cebu (P1.657 billion),
4.Cavite (P 1.542 billion),
5.Laguna (P1.487 billion),
6.Pangasinan (P1.482 billion),
7.Batangas (P1.386 billion),
8.Quezon (P 1.36 billion),
9.Rizal (P1.361 billion)
10.Bukidnon (P1.295 billion).

There are no surprises in this list. The above ten provinces have manufacturing as well as agricultural sources of income. Negros Occidental has sugar cane and Bukidnon has pineapple plantations.

About 10 years ago, I remember reading that Marinduque was one of the poorest province in the Philippines. But when the mines were opened, the province income increased and the province was no longer listed in the top ten poorest province. Is this true or just fiction?

If you are a visitor in Marinduque, you will notice that there are beautiful homes, beach resorts and mansions along the national road of the western coast of the island. Some of the mansions are in the interior of the province and on the top of the hills and/or cliffs with beautiful views of the ocean or the mountains. These homes are either owned by the local politicians/businessmen, balikbayan retirees, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)s or foreigners( Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Australians etc..) married to local Filipinas. The following are some of the homes that has unique architecture or design that I found in the web. Of course the above two photos are my own retirement house and beach house respectively.
Congressman Velasco Beach Resort in Torrijos

Paradise Valley Resort of Jan in the interior of Gasan
Elan Go Beach House in Bunganay
Former Governor Carrion Residence in Boac
Flinstone House in Torrijos

Note: There are several beautiful homes with unique designs along the coast from Boac to Gasan, but there are no photographs in the Web. If you have some photos and want it included in this posting please let me know.

Lady Gaga's Two Most Recent Videos-She's a He also

The following two videos are the most recent videos of Lady Gaga.


Born this Way
The first video, above-"Born this Way" reminds me of the rumor that Lady Gaga is a hermaphrodite- that is she has a penis and a vagina, but she considers herself a "she". The article below appears to have confirmed this rumors. Personally, I do not care whether she has a penis or not, I still love listening to her videos.

"A picture circulating around the internet seems to prove that Lady Gaga is a man, or at least a hermaphrodite. Gaga was on stage for a performance when the video exposing her apparent Disco Stick was filmed; the singer was straddling a scooter when she was caught adjusting herself, she then dismounted the scooter and gave the world a glimpse of a lot more than just her Poker Face. Well, more of her poker, less of her face.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga, allegedly confirmed previously that she was indeed a hermaphrodite saying,
“It’s not something that I’m ashamed of, just isn’t something that I go around telling everyone,” she said. “Yes. I have both male and female genitalia, but I consider myself a female. It’s just a little bit of a penis and really doesn’t interfere much with my life. “The reason I haven’t talked about it is that it’s not a big deal to me. Like come on. It’s not like we all go around talking about our vags. I think this is a great opportunity to make other multiple gendered people feel more comfortable with their bodies. I’m sexy, I’m hot. I have both a poon and a peener. Big f*cking deal.”

Judas

References: Continue reading at NowPublic.com: Lady Gaga is a Man: The Chick's Got a Disco Stick