Anyone can't help but notice, even from a distance, the startling red flowers of the Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus). A native of the Philippine rainforest, it naturally occurs as a vine in host trees, epiphytic in nature and highly-dependent in the damp tropical climate. In some gardens (like ours), they are hung from a wire basket to let the vines fall off the edge and flamboyantly display the attractive flowers.
yes it is lovely and that's a nice photo. I've read a few reviews on coffee lately and they said it is 1740 and not 1784 as your references said. I prefer the older one to establish an older culture for our industry.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea! Actually, there is no definitive historical records and most of it are quite ambiguous. We do know that the first seedlings arrived in the 1740s but it was not until much later (some say 1784) that a decree was made in the Villa de Lipa for everyone to start systematically farming it. Either way, I think it's an incredible heritage that I feel is taken for granted today, so I strongly advocate promoting coffee growing. It is a hardy crop, low-maintenance, and there's an even growing demand in the whole world.
ReplyDeleteThese flowers remind of those that grew along my grandparents' driveway in Lingayen. When we were kids, we used to pluck the flowers to suck the nectar out. The leaves look different though so maybe I'm talking about a differnt plant. By the way, I think "1784" is a lovely, creative and appropriate blog name and cheers to you for paying homage to Philippine coffee through your blog!
ReplyDeleteWhen i was a child we have many coffee plants also here in Mabini, but after a while when the price got so low, my father just didn't bother with them anymore. Now, there still some survivors though. I would also like to reply to Grace in Full Measure above, i think what she refers to is Pedilanthus. It seems most kids here do that nectar sucking escapades! I asked some grown-ups now from different provinces and they also went thru that. It seems like it is in the subconscious as kids just do it without knowing it from any source. here is a photo of Pedilantus, flowers of both the variegated and the green are the same.
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