Vines by the River

Apart from the wild plants and ferns down by the river, there is a substantial number of vines; some even flowering at this time, that add to the biodiversity of our small and fragile micro-ecosystem. I assume these are indigenous to our forests; after all, the area's fairly remote and wild enough to dispel the possibility that they are cultivated and non-native. Some of them yield attractive flowers or fruits that look curiously different and deserve at least, an attempt to promote for them to be identified.

The two on the left have startlingly-unusual forms, and would easily captivate any man-in-the-street. I would imagine too that some of them would be food for some birds and animals.

There is still so much for us to learn about local plants and trees, God bless the few people who tirelessly educate and promote our own endemic flora. I myself have tremendously increased my appreciation of our own plants largely through a blog just like mine, called Our Philippine Trees. It's a rich storehouse of information and has personal stories and photographs from a true advocate. I thoroughly enjoy learning that a lot of the place names in the country are plants that we've never even know are plants and trees int he first place! Does anyone know that Cabuyao is a tree, Bocaue is a type of bamboo, Diliman is a fern, Lucban is a fruit, and even Anilao is not just a diving destination to begin with!

The Riverscape

The river below is lined with what looks like untouched tropical jungle filled with wild plants, massive boulders, mosses, and even a sandy bank, yet everything looks in perfect order and symmetry. It is a natural garden that has evolved through time and only the most appropriate plants suited to the climate and conditions have remained.

My trusted aide, May and our German Shepherd, Vitra.

Native fig trees lord it over the riverscape, hosting birds' nests and tropical vines. On the ground are an array of ferns and jurassic-looking alocasias, and of course, the river's cool, clean water (above) help contribute in making this a lush hideaway. And to think it was not until many months after I purchased the farm that I ever hiked down here!


The river meanders through rockscapes that seasonally creates small, clear pools surrounded by wild greenery (left), with occasional neon-colored dragonflies animatedly captivating us. And of course,  the running water dampens the air and creates a humid atmosphere perfect for ferns to flourish (below), including the edible fiddlehead fern that we pick to make pakô salad.


Someday, we will clear a path going down and perhaps make a small hut near the water. in the meantime, we will just go on having our summer picnics on the sandy bank.

The River

At the far end of the farm, below a ravine is a small river. At present, it is still a steep and rough hike down (and an equally tough climb going up), which somehow keeps the area inaccessible.

Meantime, we have planted a lot of hardwood seedlings on the hike down, local trees like mulawin, narra, daô, cúpang, ditâ, ýlang-ýlang and yakál. We did so not only for aesthetic purposes but also to hold the soil together before we even think of doing anything with it. As it is now, it is already enchanting: strangler figs with strange-looking berries and wild palms (especially fishtails and sugar palms, locally called káong), forest birds and trees I have never even seen cover the slope. What more just after a couple of years? After all, it's good that it is not yet easy to reach as this gives us time to let the area re-generate as organically as possible.

The waters are from Malarayat, no doubt and even though I have been to the river more than a dozen times, it has never looked the same every time I go down there. The atmosphere in the river changes more often than any other area in the farm.


There are lush ferns (above) that naturally grow on the banks and some rocks, including the edible pakô which always flourish after some rain. There are small fish, and on our side, there are even two natural springs. In time, I will build a stairway going down, but meanwhile, enjoy the photos :)

My German Shepherd, Vitra, then still a pup.