tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77690100229328716972024-03-13T13:15:06.601-07:00Thelmas' Tropical GardenThelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-39807835649119372292018-08-24T09:06:00.001-07:002018-10-05T22:12:53.428-07:00My Oase, My Tropical Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you have a place where you can say you are home? A place that you have not seen for a year but yet, you know exactly, you are home?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my dining room.</td></tr>
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I am home in my tropical garden again. I am happy to be here around my beautiful plants and flowers but sad to say, our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog <a href="https://pethelpful.com/dog/How-To-Bring-Your-Dog-To-The-Philippines" target="_blank">Angus </a>who lived in the Philippines since 2011) passed away a few hours after my hubby and I arrived to our second home Philippines, from our long journey from Germany.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The graveyard of our beloved Angus. He will be missed forever.</td></tr>
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Angus just waited for us to come back to our Philippines home. He used to greet us with wagging tail and hugged us when we came back home from Germany. He was so sick and was confined to our city Vet clinic the day my hubby and I started our travel. When we arrived at the airport of our destination, we immediately collected him from the clinic and brought him home. Angus wagged his tail when he recognised my voice. I saw that he was happy seeing me but tears came both from our eyes. Angus and I knew, we had a few hours to say goodbye to each other. It was supposed to be a happy day but it was not. He reached the age of 11 years old. We buried Angus in my beautiful garden just in front of our veranda, surrounded by many flowering plants where he used to pee before.<span id="goog_698227547"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mussaenda Dona Sirikit flowers from my garden.</td></tr>
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My tropical garden is getting wild. It looks like a mini forest now. I know, I can't trim the plants in a day. I need time and a helper who can climb. Our mango tree should be trimmed too but there are still fruits hanging in it. I have to wait that all fruits are gone, harvested in any way. Mind you, I am happy when it is windy because the ripe mango fruits just fall down on the ground. The pomelo tree and carambola/star fruits are bearing plenty of fruits as well. The fruits should be all harvested before the fruit trees will be trimmed. There is one fruit tree that bears fruits for the first time. The rambutan fruit tree of my late father. The fruits are still green and I am hoping that I could taste the fruits before going back home to Germany.<br />
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<b>Here are some new photos of my beautiful flowers</b> 🌺<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bougainvillea plants.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm tree, pomelo, banana and guava trees.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bougainvillea, banana and other plants.</td></tr>
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<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RlqVJxlgb-g/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RlqVJxlgb-g?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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My Tropical Garden video.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water spinach under the wax apple tree and pomelo tree on the side besides Oleander flowers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bougainvillea swaying back and fort with the pink Mussaenda Dona Sirikit besides other plants under the pomelo tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am still looking for the name of this plant. Very easy plant to take care of.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crotons or as we called it Parpagayo in the Philippines. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hibiscus flowers side by side with Oleander.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds of Paradise</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mussaenda Dona Cory with its stunning yellow color.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning bougainvillea with Mothers Tongue and other plants around.</td></tr>
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I could post more of my plants but I think it is enough for now. I don't know the names of some of my flowers in my garden. If you like, you can comment the names of the plants you know. It would be very much appreciated. I have not written on my blogs for more than 2 months. Didn't really feel into writing. I am still mourning, you know. I miss Angus roaming around my plants and just sitting silently on my lap. </div>
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Thanks for reading and God bless us all.</div>
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Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved by <a href="https://hubpages.com/@thelmaalberts" target="_blank"><b>Thelma Alberts </b></a></div>
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<br />Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-4375460037698893942018-03-27T11:03:00.000-07:002018-03-27T11:03:17.989-07:00Kalabo, The Philippines Oregano for Coughs and Colds<span style="font-size: large;">Kalabo is a Philippine oregano. Also called origanom vulgare, Suganda in Tagalog language and coleus aromaticus, its scientific name. The Philippines oregano plant can grow up to 90 cm (from <b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">my tropical garden</a></b>) tall and the leaves can grow as big as a baby hand. The leaves are in heart form and a bit hairy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kalabo is a perennial herbal medicine which is not only used by the local people in healing their coughs and colds but also using the leaves in their cooking. The leaves are very aromatic and they have balsamic flavor. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Kalabo Plant</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was in my home country for a few months last year. The weather was so hot and humid. I think I was no longer used to the tropical weather that I thought my childhood asthma was coming back. There were days when I was okay and there were nights that I kept on "barking". It usually happened in the middle of my sleep. Water was always nearby to consume.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One evening when I was attacked by my coughing, I remembered my herbalist late grandmother. She had always chopped herbs packed in wilted banana leaves just in case one of her children and grandchildren got sick. The packed herbs were then roasted in an open fire in our "dirty kitchen". We cooked with coconut firewood and charcoal at that time. No electricity yet. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kalabo, Philippine Oregano</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How my grandma made Kalabo / Oregano tea:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remembered how my grandmother made Kalabo / Oregano tea. She prepared every afternoon wrapped Kalabo/Oregano in a piece of wilted banana leaves for emergency purposes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. She got a handful of Kalabo or Oregano from her packed herbs, washed them and put them in a mug. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Then she poured boiled hot water from the thermos in the mug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Left the Kalabo leaves in the mug for around 15 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 4. Remove the leaves from the mug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. She then added brown sugar from sugar cane she bought from the market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Then she gave the Kalabo tea to me and I had to drink it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After that drink, I was able to sleep well. It reduced my coughing and it was very calming to me that I could rest the whole night. Kalabo was and still is the best organic plant remedy for my coughs and colds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Remembering the sleepless night when I had an asthma attack, I saw my grandmother in me now, collecting Oregano leaves in our backyard. How I wish she is still here beside me. I have a lot of herbal questions to ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My YouTube Channel</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>P.S. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some parts of this post were published before on Niume site in 2016, which is now gone forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are some beautiful plants in my tropical garden:</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/2017/11/oleander-toxic-plant.html" target="_blank">Oleander</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/2015/05/how-i-planted-birds-of-paradise.html" target="_blank">Birds of Paradise</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/2015/06/visitors-in-my-garden.html" target="_blank">Butterflies</a> and more</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you very much for reading my blog. Please feel pray to comment, like and share this post on your social media sites. Have a great day everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved by </span><a href="http://hubpages.com/@thelmaalberts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #993322; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Thelma Alberts </a></div>
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-21893436935151160742017-11-22T07:59:00.000-08:002017-11-22T07:59:07.744-08:00Oleander, a Toxic Plant?<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Yes, it is. That was what I have read online when I was searching information about the beautiful plant in my tropical <a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank"><b>garden</b></a>. There were many pieces of information I got from reading and I was thinking, "shall I keep this plant in my garden or not?". I have to think about it for sure as we have dogs and small children at home. Well, before I have to continue blabbering on here, I have to tell you and show you the fragrant flower in our tropical garden.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6VkKvj8zt50/WhWDNNhALXI/AAAAAAAABxQ/cBnTY6KIXFAPhDdgGtFahEn9IlMtqTEaQCLcBGAs/s1600/20171122_145506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6VkKvj8zt50/WhWDNNhALXI/AAAAAAAABxQ/cBnTY6KIXFAPhDdgGtFahEn9IlMtqTEaQCLcBGAs/s640/20171122_145506.jpg" width="473" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0158S4194?ie=UTF8&tag=thellysblogs-21&camp=1634&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B0158S4194" target="_blank"> <b>Oleander</b></a> in my tropical garden. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Oleander which is called Nerium in other countries or Adelfa in the Philippines is a beautiful, showy and fragrant flower. It is easy to care shrub which can grow tall as high as 6 meters and the stems are straight where the flowers are on top of the stems. The flowers are in clusters and the leaves are in light green colors. They are in white, pink, yellow and in red variations.This plant is very common in my home country Philippines as well as in other Southeast Asian countries and in the subtropical countries.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u5c-ML0kObw/WhWEX7d1BxI/AAAAAAAABxk/D75xHwICEdg-m7faMpCoJ54PsicboWOvwCLcBGAs/s1600/FB_IMG_1511357724470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u5c-ML0kObw/WhWEX7d1BxI/AAAAAAAABxk/D75xHwICEdg-m7faMpCoJ54PsicboWOvwCLcBGAs/s640/FB_IMG_1511357724470.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Oleander / Nerium / Adelfa in my tropical garden.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Oleander is indeed a showy stunning plant but sad to say that it is a toxic plant one should be aware of especially if you have small children and pets at home. All parts of this plant are toxic due to the chemical ingredients oleandrin and digitoxigenin in Oleander. These chemical components are related to a heart medicine digitalis.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TG8MA-u9S2I/WhWDcfAkegI/AAAAAAAABxU/srVS2_XHDd88fIrpYBLlIqV4eyLuZrskgCLcBGAs/s1600/1511358834301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TG8MA-u9S2I/WhWDcfAkegI/AAAAAAAABxU/srVS2_XHDd88fIrpYBLlIqV4eyLuZrskgCLcBGAs/s640/1511358834301.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oleander / Nerium / Adelfa in my tropical garden.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>If you already have Oleander in your garden and you have no small kids and pets at home, I understand if you don´t get rid of this plant. Knowing that it is toxic, please wear gloves when you cut or trim Oleander because it can cause skin irritation and skin allergy. Don´t put the Oleander cuttings on fire as the smoke is toxic too. You might collapse after smelling the smoke or having a hallucination.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1bdh9aztWw/WhWDotBB9AI/AAAAAAAABxY/5TPE8VnHsiYxIHAYZswIcgp1471ZNEw8QCLcBGAs/s1600/1511358690722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1bdh9aztWw/WhWDotBB9AI/AAAAAAAABxY/5TPE8VnHsiYxIHAYZswIcgp1471ZNEw8QCLcBGAs/s640/1511358690722.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Oleander / Nerium / Adelfa in my tropical garden.</b></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>I have Oleander <b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">in my tropical garden</a></b> and I am thinking of getting rid of this after reading my research about this plant but I have other thoughts not to destroy it because I know what to do to keep away from danger. I have planted this a few years ago and I just watered it and when I pruned the Oleander, I just threw them in my compost bin and nothing happened. It is just a few days ago that I know much about this plant that I am careful. My relatives who live nearby are informed about this plant. I know that Oleander is not the only toxic plant in my garden. As long as my relatives and I know about the plants in my garden, they are safe.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3LGbP45e-8/WhWD7MmOuDI/AAAAAAAABxg/bSpiq4a3PqAb8Nrcz0ZIRZMD6jCmlQKAwCLcBGAs/s1600/1511358535805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3LGbP45e-8/WhWD7MmOuDI/AAAAAAAABxg/bSpiq4a3PqAb8Nrcz0ZIRZMD6jCmlQKAwCLcBGAs/s640/1511358535805.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Oleander / Nerium / Adelfa in my tropical garden.</b></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anyway, here are the signs of Oleander poisoning:</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">nausea</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">stomachache</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">dizziness</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">blood in the stool</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">heart problems</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If ever this happens, bring the poisoned person to a doctor immediately.</b></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tips:</b></span></i><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Always use gloves in cutting the Oleander plants.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Don´t use the Oleander plants as firewood in cooking.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Don´t use the Oleander cuttings in stirring your food while cooking and don´t use this as a stick for your barbeque or making Schaslik.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Don´t burn it as the smoke will poison you.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tell your kids the danger of this plant and not to play with this plant.</i></span></li>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Source: http://web.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Oleander</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Um9EOMnUc3s/WhWEkN1VLHI/AAAAAAAABxs/yMCdXzvSoAMKry0XKgGNs74VEkK-YmEJwCLcBGAs/s1600/FB_IMG_1511357714576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Um9EOMnUc3s/WhWEkN1VLHI/AAAAAAAABxs/yMCdXzvSoAMKry0XKgGNs74VEkK-YmEJwCLcBGAs/s640/FB_IMG_1511357714576.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Oleander / Nerium / Adelfa in my tropical garden.</b></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you very much for reading this blog. If you have anything to say about Oleander, please comment below. Have a great day! Please comment, like, pin, tweet and share this blog on your social media sites.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved by <a href="https://hubpages.com/@thelmaalberts" target="_blank">Thelma Alberts</a></b></span></i><br />
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-29681656302876451412017-10-19T14:22:00.000-07:002017-11-14T15:50:42.229-08:00 Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell In My Garden<span style="font-size: large;">Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell</span><span style="font-size: large;"> is a common flowering plant in the Philippines. The local people called this flower Yellow Bell as it looks like a bell before it fully opens the blossom.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Golden Trumpet has many names. Besides being called Yellow Bell in my home country, it is called Butter Cup, Golden Cup and Yellow Trumpet Vine. Its scientific name is Allamanda, after the name of Frederic Louis Allamand, a Swiss physician and botanist. (Source: Wikipedia)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell is a tropical vine plant which climbs up to 8 meters or more if it is not trimmed. The flowers are fragrant. They are shaped into trumpets while the long leaves are glossy and green. It is a perennial plant.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUuX9M0g_jI/WekFHh4EduI/AAAAAAAABsg/3MtgY9k91xI27xdaQEqWSz3aNSXJ-kBswCLcBGAs/s1600/1508443197269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUuX9M0g_jI/WekFHh4EduI/AAAAAAAABsg/3MtgY9k91xI27xdaQEqWSz3aNSXJ-kBswCLcBGAs/s400/1508443197269.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i> Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell in our garden climbing the pomelo tree.</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago, I was only admiring Yellow Bell flowers every time I passed by in those houses in our town, with those flowers climbing on their fences, vibrant looking. I knew that I had to plant one of those flowers. I envied those people who had those stunning beauty in their yards. One day, a friend of mine gave me cuttings of her Yellow Bell. I was happy. At last, I owned some cuttings to plant in my <b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">tropical garden</a></b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ns152ckRCgg/WekFPaoGaoI/AAAAAAAABsk/xEOQhycZqJsiyEBVO_rlx_SbcGLu_J_EwCLcBGAs/s1600/1508443259255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ns152ckRCgg/WekFPaoGaoI/AAAAAAAABsk/xEOQhycZqJsiyEBVO_rlx_SbcGLu_J_EwCLcBGAs/s400/1508443259255.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i> Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell climbing our pomelo tree. </i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was easy planting the Golden Trumpet. The lower end of the cutting was cut into a slant. Then after digging a hole in my front yard, I dug the cutting in it. Watered it every day when it was not raining. I have planted many cuttings in my front yard but only those I have planted directly to the sunlight were growing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZlZ5SCMHSs/WekFAqLmrVI/AAAAAAAABsc/xdetRjGAP44SdszzCunWKnKAsQtMqwtWgCLcBGAs/s1600/1508443079005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZlZ5SCMHSs/WekFAqLmrVI/AAAAAAAABsc/xdetRjGAP44SdszzCunWKnKAsQtMqwtWgCLcBGAs/s400/1508443079005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i> Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell climbing the fence of our neighbours' house.</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What I learned about planting Allamanda / Golden Trumpet / Yellow Bell:</b></span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">This flower loves the sun.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It needs a lot of water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It needs a very good and rich soil and should have a hole in the pot to avoid being soggy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It grows only in a humid temperature.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It can be trained by putting a trellis or plant this near a fence.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cutting back an old stem would encourage the flower to grow more and give more beautiful golden buds.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading my garden blog. I hope you know now the name of the flower you might have in your garden. For more information about my tropical plants, please visit </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/" target="_blank">http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to comment, tweet, pin and share this blog to your social media site. Thank you!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved by <a href="http://hubpages.com/@thelmaalberts" target="_blank">Thelma Alberts </a></span></span><br />
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-47710857937865693852017-08-10T14:49:00.000-07:002017-11-14T15:44:38.688-08:00Dancing Ladies and How I Planted Philippines Ground Orchids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you love orchids?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do love orchids. Different kinds of orchids. Some of my late mothers´ inheritance are the orchids in my tropical garden. Taking care of her orchids while I am in my home country means being near to her, spiritually. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xhOoYWY7VNw/WYy4xB_pZHI/AAAAAAAABoc/p2hIpQuPkhYLh2jwbrZ9W7oTD3Yr0bgFgCLcBGAs/s1600/1502393922227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xhOoYWY7VNw/WYy4xB_pZHI/AAAAAAAABoc/p2hIpQuPkhYLh2jwbrZ9W7oTD3Yr0bgFgCLcBGAs/s640/1502393922227.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My late mothers´ Dancing Ladies</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The striking yellow dancing lady orchids below were her flowers. These orchids were once hanging on a palm tree but the palm tree died as well and what was left was the trunk of that tree. The trunk was divided into two and the lower part of the trunk was carrying the bougainvillea flowers while the upper one showed in that photo below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am a lucky person. I have a friend at home who is taking care of my plants while I am away. She sent me these 2 photos of dancing ladies a few days ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a link to <b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DP2A07S?ie=UTF8&tag=thellysblogs-21&camp=1634&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B00DP2A07S" target="_blank">Orchid Care Gift box</a></b>, a complete set for taking care of an orchid.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGN6HaYHyHs/WYy46K1FqVI/AAAAAAAABog/B10ON_d4H_oZf4OGGVEOLbCCQ22ATLmigCLcBGAs/s1600/20170810_214345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGN6HaYHyHs/WYy46K1FqVI/AAAAAAAABog/B10ON_d4H_oZf4OGGVEOLbCCQ22ATLmigCLcBGAs/s400/20170810_214345.jpg" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dancing Ladies, taken at night time when my friend took this photo. </i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dancing Lady orchids are called Oncidium orchids. They are called dancing ladies or dancing doll ladies because the flowers look like the stunning dancing ladies. There are many varieties of dancing ladies, some you can hang on a tree and some just on the ground or in a pot. Orchids are very common in the Philippines and so I can buy them in the open market or ask my friends for some orchids rhizomes</span><span style="font-size: large;"> they have in their yards. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CFlYgMgh-_g/WYy5CMxTNFI/AAAAAAAABok/6eqCKZ99qvcwBPyXNgoTT9LtIJ4z-zFdgCLcBGAs/s1600/1502394395323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CFlYgMgh-_g/WYy5CMxTNFI/AAAAAAAABok/6eqCKZ99qvcwBPyXNgoTT9LtIJ4z-zFdgCLcBGAs/s640/1502394395323.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My new Ground orchids.</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How I planted my Ground Orchids:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;">One day one of my aunts came to visit me at my Philippines home. I have not seen her for a few years and so I was delighted to see her. I was more delighted when I saw a plastic bag full of orchid rhizomes. She said those were the rhizomes of her orchids. After her visit, I planted the rhizomes on the ground near my aloe vera plants and ferns. I did not know that they were ground orchids rhizomes until they bloomed. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kad5JWnMdX0/WYy7I4ZkQhI/AAAAAAAABow/GUS5Jt-5tt8jgDDyruX-yzspKyCaX8bXQCLcBGAs/s1600/1502394806390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kad5JWnMdX0/WYy7I4ZkQhI/AAAAAAAABow/GUS5Jt-5tt8jgDDyruX-yzspKyCaX8bXQCLcBGAs/s400/1502394806390.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Philippines Ground orchids (near Aloe Vera and fern) from the rhizomes my aunt has given.</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I planted the orchids in the soil. Watered them every day just enough to get wet. Like aloe vera plants, they didn´t (and still don´t) need a lot of water. They were best planted in a well-drained soil and received a lot of sunshine. After 2 weeks, one of the Ground orchids that I have planted blossomed. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni9wGOob0C8/WYy7Tt1LBQI/AAAAAAAABo0/rOPsU1wb4y45b-NUuP2udmBsSX3FaPM_gCLcBGAs/s1600/1502394871984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni9wGOob0C8/WYy7Tt1LBQI/AAAAAAAABo0/rOPsU1wb4y45b-NUuP2udmBsSX3FaPM_gCLcBGAs/s400/1502394871984.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ground orchids from the rhizomes my aunt has given.</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last 5 photos were the photos I took last May before going back to Germany. They were the orchids I have planted before I left.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fHZyJPBHuM/WYy7b6ojynI/AAAAAAAABo4/sxRgv-HrBxwEJjoiWfhkGFDbYYtVgZnpwCLcBGAs/s1600/1502394934937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="972" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fHZyJPBHuM/WYy7b6ojynI/AAAAAAAABo4/sxRgv-HrBxwEJjoiWfhkGFDbYYtVgZnpwCLcBGAs/s640/1502394934937.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Isn´t it beautiful?</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you very much for dropping by. Please feel free to comment or share my blog to your social media sites. Have a blessed day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VepsUMg890/WYy7jVOX6vI/AAAAAAAABo8/U9lMUIr8VGwGtCI3ArUPAIiPno5DBZpoQCLcBGAs/s1600/1502395028230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="972" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VepsUMg890/WYy7jVOX6vI/AAAAAAAABo8/U9lMUIr8VGwGtCI3ArUPAIiPno5DBZpoQCLcBGAs/s640/1502395028230.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Yellow Philippines Ground orchids</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some links to <b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">my garden</a></b> and orchids articles, please come and visit. Thanks again!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/My-Beautiful-Orchids">https://hubpages.com/living/My-Beautiful-Orchids</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/How-To-Take-Care-Of-Potted-Orchids">https://hubpages.com/living/How-To-Take-Care-Of-Potted-Orchids</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>UPDATE: I have found out that the orchids that I have planted which grow in the soil are called in the Philippines, Ground orchids. Another variety of Orchids. These orchids grow in the soil maybe because of bark chips that were still in the soil in my land, the remnants of coconut trees. I have found out too that there are plenty of Ground orchids not only with yellow but also with red and white blossoms. BTW, I have changed the title of this blog but the URL has not changed.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;">Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved by Thelma Alberts </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-28852833206171724912017-05-31T14:42:00.001-07:002017-06-12T07:25:20.981-07:00Oxalis Triangularis, a False Shamrock In My Garden<span style="font-size: large;">Oxalis Triangularis is one of the flowers I have in pots in my tropical garden. It is an easy to plant flower, so easy that I didn't know where I got it in the first place. As what I have mentioned before, I used to get plant cuttings and seeds of flowers and other plants from my friends in the Philippines. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Oxalis </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Triangularis is also called False Shamrock which was adopted from an Irish shamrock with 3 or 4 leaves clover. The difference is, the color of </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Oxalis </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Triangularis is purple with pink tiny flowers while the Irish shamrock is green with white, pink or yellow small flowers. During the day, oxalis open its leaves and closes them during night time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPICGZyKSio/WS82aXdWPtI/AAAAAAAABRM/uax0azeOUkEAfaG7gcTkI_byTHpvEl70QCLcB/s1600/1495400734023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPICGZyKSio/WS82aXdWPtI/AAAAAAAABRM/uax0azeOUkEAfaG7gcTkI_byTHpvEl70QCLcB/s400/1495400734023.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How To</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Take Care of </b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Oxalis </span><span style="font-size: large;">Triangularis:</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">It is best planted in a flower pot or container.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It is best situated in a shady place as the sun can easily burn this plant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don´t over water oxalis as the bulbs don´t like it. Better wait until the soil is dry. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">When the foliage of the oxalis withered and dies out, don´t throw the plant as some bulbs will still grow after a few weeks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Replanting oxalis is very easy. Just transfer the nursery plant bulbs in a well drain soil and water a bit. Remember, don´t over water it.</span></li>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRyu5vmbU7w/WS825LGf54I/AAAAAAAABRU/z6OXHSVxe-wVFOxINo_mC7iM-_iKbfZmwCLcB/s1600/1495400117931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRyu5vmbU7w/WS825LGf54I/AAAAAAAABRU/z6OXHSVxe-wVFOxINo_mC7iM-_iKbfZmwCLcB/s400/1495400117931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gardening is one of my hobbies but I can only do this hobby when I am in my home country Philippines. When I am not there in my tropical garden, but here in my 2nd home Germany, I write about my plants and my experiences with them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85K9fKbCDy0/WS83RtOOGsI/AAAAAAAABRY/CgAlSaa_a006W5WY0s918zBxyxl5UoJJgCLcB/s1600/1495400474713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85K9fKbCDy0/WS83RtOOGsI/AAAAAAAABRY/CgAlSaa_a006W5WY0s918zBxyxl5UoJJgCLcB/s400/1495400474713.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some flowers in my garden:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/">http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://niume.com/post/188754">https://niume.com/post/188754</a> my dancing lady orchids photos</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://niume.com/post/221996">https://niume.com/post/221996</a> my bougainvillea photos</span></li>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vE6b9ylagRY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vE6b9ylagRY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for dropping by and I hope you will visit <b><a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">my garden</a></b> online. Take care and God bless us all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: medium;">Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved by Thelma Alberts </span></span></div>
Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-84190926884970807182017-04-03T22:52:00.000-07:002017-04-11T23:30:45.461-07:00How To Grow Torenia Flowers<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Torenia flowers are annual plants that are easy to plant. Torenia is also called Wishbone flower as the anther arch form inside the bloom when it is open resembles a wishbone. This wishbone is broken by the bees when pollinating. Torenias are in white, pink, blue and purple color. They are good planted in the pots. They don't like hardy dry soil. They should be in a shady or half shady place in the garden, terrace or any where you want them to plant as long as they are not in direct sunlight the whole day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_oE8zKi0iI/WOMVdg0ydWI/AAAAAAAABNE/zSmCfhujRgsCR3QK5EoNzpSi_g9wn4_TwCLcB/s1600/1491276661387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_oE8zKi0iI/WOMVdg0ydWI/AAAAAAAABNE/zSmCfhujRgsCR3QK5EoNzpSi_g9wn4_TwCLcB/s400/1491276661387.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Torenia with white throat.</td></tr>
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<b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">How I discovered Torenia flowers</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was traveling with my friends in Davao City, Philippines. We visited one of the tourist spots which was <a href="https://hubpages.com/travel/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines" target="_blank"> <b>Eden Nature Park and Resort</b></a><b>.</b> It was located at the foot of Mt. Apo and in the middle of the forest. The park had a lot of beautiful flowers including Torenias.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uPea4xQyYU4/WOCTDBe9_pI/AAAAAAAABL8/BWpaZn3uzJYyDidfRpNjmf4MkOHYVj0AACLcB/s1600/1491111126020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uPea4xQyYU4/WOCTDBe9_pI/AAAAAAAABL8/BWpaZn3uzJYyDidfRpNjmf4MkOHYVj0AACLcB/s400/1491111126020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are the pink with white throat and dark blue with light throat torenias planted in a pot in the terrace of my tropical home, Philippines. They are near the "Butterfly" plants and succulent.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How To Plant Torenia From The Seeds </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is very easy. You just have to open the seeds pod (which is under the Torenia flower) and spread them in a moisty but not soggy soil. Cover them lightly with the soil. If you live in a tropical country, you can let the seeds germinate outside but if you have a cold weather country or you will plant the seeds in Spring time, better germinate them indoors.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAtsLNCe1A4/WOCetcpdQTI/AAAAAAAABMo/oq7zyLpYNH0HCOvBtgNHVwKsBfKAm4ZmgCLcB/s1600/1491110625913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAtsLNCe1A4/WOCetcpdQTI/AAAAAAAABMo/oq7zyLpYNH0HCOvBtgNHVwKsBfKAm4ZmgCLcB/s400/1491110625913.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Torenia flower pots I have. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How To Take Care Of Torenia Plants:</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>Keep Torenia pots moist but not soggy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> It is best planted in the shady but bright place. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> Fertilise once a month.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cut off the dead seed pods.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_Ee_DZwawE/WOCfCHqocUI/AAAAAAAABMs/mURGkjQQI8kHqvRMexro1LlAsWkLzdT1wCLcB/s1600/1491110505574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_Ee_DZwawE/WOCfCHqocUI/AAAAAAAABMs/mURGkjQQI8kHqvRMexro1LlAsWkLzdT1wCLcB/s400/1491110505574.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Torenia pot with roses and other beautiful plants.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading and I hope you you liked what you have read. Please feel free to comment and share this to your social media sites.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJzQIsKteDs/WOCaUjbXD_I/AAAAAAAABMU/glROBJWCjqAW2_vlt2L0zVBPaX9mSUKtACLcB/s1600/1491110949222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJzQIsKteDs/WOCaUjbXD_I/AAAAAAAABMU/glROBJWCjqAW2_vlt2L0zVBPaX9mSUKtACLcB/s400/1491110949222.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I planted this violet with white throat Torenia in the pot together with roses. Actually I just spread Torenia seeds on the soil of this rose pot and the seeds grew into beautiful flowers.<b><br /></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some garden links for you to check:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://hubpages.com/travel/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines">https://hubpages.com/travel/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">https://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery </span></a><br />
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<a href="http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE6b9ylagRY" target="_blank"> My Tropical Garden in my you tube channel </a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved by Thelma Alberts </span></div>
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-53754741979068174072017-03-06T05:31:00.000-08:002017-04-11T23:24:57.791-07:00Torch Ginger Photography<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hello Guys! It has been a few months since I have written about <a href="http://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank"><b>my garden </b></a>here in this site. Sorry about that. Anyway I am here now and I want to show you the beautiful torch ginger flowers in my garden. Well, my torch ginger plant has spread so widely. The one piece I have planted a few years ago has multiplied. They are plenty now and have a lot of blossoms these few days. I am happy about it and I want <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">them</span> to share with you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzCBljQ1k3M/WLgXmV56KfI/AAAAAAAABHs/ZUpGr7DxaHoGdi4XGRIgsRQ75hniKTI1ACLcB/s1600/1487673815664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzCBljQ1k3M/WLgXmV56KfI/AAAAAAAABHs/ZUpGr7DxaHoGdi4XGRIgsRQ75hniKTI1ACLcB/s400/1487673815664.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you can see in this photo below, some blooms got brown already. The beauty they have shared has passed. Some of them have just started to bloom.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QaC8051a0Eg/WLgD02ZH1qI/AAAAAAAABG0/-2t7rTnBVxc55CFx1LlseMByNwFTDWVIQCLcB/s1600/1488454167789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QaC8051a0Eg/WLgD02ZH1qI/AAAAAAAABG0/-2t7rTnBVxc55CFx1LlseMByNwFTDWVIQCLcB/s400/1488454167789.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I took this photo, I have chosen the fully bloomed torch gingers. They were so beautiful but I had to harvest them for bringing them to my late mothers' grave.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhfopNQKBis/WLgTePAi7lI/AAAAAAAABHM/safg2EqyRuA2L79mAYUaDst8YCy2aUK3ACLcB/s1600/1487676408644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhfopNQKBis/WLgTePAi7lI/AAAAAAAABHM/safg2EqyRuA2L79mAYUaDst8YCy2aUK3ACLcB/s400/1487676408644.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is it not pretty? The beginning of an awesome flower. I have read online that this un-bloom torch ginger can be cook into curries. I still have not tried it but I will, soon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r2xyRgqPvic/WLgWG4up6EI/AAAAAAAABHk/IwTDGVWAwQ4PEwUrGLPkrN0KHmwwukbiACEw/s1600/1472566568094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r2xyRgqPvic/WLgWG4up6EI/AAAAAAAABHk/IwTDGVWAwQ4PEwUrGLPkrN0KHmwwukbiACEw/s320/1472566568094.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This photo below is in the heights of its beauty. Amazing how a piece of torch ginger root I have planted can produced a stunning and gorgeous flower.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1rZ27rFbBw/WLgVACmcMxI/AAAAAAAABHY/lNlyU5OHr7ch-t0D5ILjUcwB4B08jEkNQCLcB/s1600/1488454516945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1rZ27rFbBw/WLgVACmcMxI/AAAAAAAABHY/lNlyU5OHr7ch-t0D5ILjUcwB4B08jEkNQCLcB/s400/1488454516945.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading. Here are some torch ginger blogs to check:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://niume.com/post/262960" target="_blank">Limerick </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://niume.com/post/131847" target="_blank">Painting</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://niume.com/post/127741" target="_blank">Photos</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE6b9ylagRY" target="_blank">My Garden in my you tube channel. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Copyright 2017 by Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</b></span><br />
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-90445870412226821062016-09-03T01:30:00.002-07:002017-04-11T23:34:32.411-07:00Hibiscus In My Garden and Hibiscus Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ThBSWCf27ME/V8o6iKbnwoI/AAAAAAAABCE/_nNnPQNR_ewEaQHvr_-8KUQjrpymP13PgCLcB/s1600/1472751815622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ThBSWCf27ME/V8o6iKbnwoI/AAAAAAAABCE/_nNnPQNR_ewEaQHvr_-8KUQjrpymP13PgCLcB/s400/1472751815622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hibiscus is a beautiful flowering plants in many colors. They are in red, pink, yellow and white. This plant is not only for decorative purposes at home and in <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE6b9ylagRY" target="_blank">my garden</a></b>, it has also medicinal purposes. Hibiscus is also called Gumamela in the Philippines. Hibiscus is native to many countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, China and of course in my home country Philippines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was planting hibiscus again in my garden as I have found a vacant place to plant them. I have planted 4 different colors of hibiscus cuttings in a hole. Dark red, red, pink and a mixture of pink and peach color. I wonder how they will look like in a few months from now when they bear flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are 4 hibiscus plants in my front yard and two of them are getting huge that they almost reach the electric wire. They have plenty of flowers, too. I have heard about hibiscus tea. In fact, I have seen hibiscus tea in some supermarkets and drugstores in Germany.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afT1E1V7RNk/V8o7Qn2dnCI/AAAAAAAABCI/jJqiVLsyo5AvlC0QF0WdyM_D-_guvc5kQCLcB/s1600/1472870505178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afT1E1V7RNk/V8o7Qn2dnCI/AAAAAAAABCI/jJqiVLsyo5AvlC0QF0WdyM_D-_guvc5kQCLcB/s320/1472870505178.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sundried Hibiscus/Gumamela.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking about it and feeling thirsty, I decided to make my own hibiscus tea for the first time in my life. Well before I did it, I researched about this plant and its health benefits. I have found out that drinking hibiscus tea is good in lowering blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, lowering cholesterol, helps aid menstrual pains, satiates thirst and other some health benefits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Decided to make my own hibiscus tea, I harvested the red and pink hibiscus flowers. Some of those flowers were closing their petals already as they have bloomed for that day. I decided to harvest them as well before they landed on the ground and dried them under the heat of the sun.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptaec_xA11U/V8o8KDMSLwI/AAAAAAAABCM/c1rrlNwQJQwlOEOXK3rMxZVEV94duHBMgCLcB/s1600/1472871417634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptaec_xA11U/V8o8KDMSLwI/AAAAAAAABCM/c1rrlNwQJQwlOEOXK3rMxZVEV94duHBMgCLcB/s400/1472871417634.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh harvested Hibiscus</td></tr>
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Red Hibiscus in a pot.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LYIIdgQKl0/V8o93QQpFEI/AAAAAAAABCg/QhbAthf12hoJoJukQv_FbjvwNPcKyj9nwCLcB/s1600/1472870844592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LYIIdgQKl0/V8o93QQpFEI/AAAAAAAABCg/QhbAthf12hoJoJukQv_FbjvwNPcKyj9nwCLcB/s320/1472870844592.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Hibiscus poured with boiling water.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How I made the hibiscus tea:</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">I have washed 6 red hibiscus flowers to get off the dust.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Put them on a kettle.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">I boiled 1 liter of water in the water cooker.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Then added the boiling water in the kettle with hibiscus flowers.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">I let the mixture stayed for 5 minutes.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Then drink a glas of this warm tea with a bit of sugar and calamansi juice. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">I have put the remaining hibiscus tea in a thermos.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don't wonder when the hibiscus flowers becomes violet when poured with boiling water. It will still turn red when added with lemon or calamansi juice.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IpcSMwJdI4/V8p_ajzgqrI/AAAAAAAABC0/Fki5c3RgSm0kVMWt85ASOijxuvYP7WmjwCLcB/s1600/1472888560074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IpcSMwJdI4/V8p_ajzgqrI/AAAAAAAABC0/Fki5c3RgSm0kVMWt85ASOijxuvYP7WmjwCLcB/s400/1472888560074.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hibiscus / Gumamela tea.</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">You can put more hibiscus in a liter of boiling water if you want a stronger taste.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">You can put the hibiscus tea in the fridge when you want to drink it cold but wait until the tea has cooled off.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">You can add lemon or lime instead of calamansi juice. For every glas, at least half a teaspoon of this juice I mentioned.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If you want it sweet, you can add sugar or honey.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Only red and pink Hibiscus are good for making tea.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How did I like the selfmade hibiscus tea? Yummy😀 It has a tangy refreshing taste. I am drinking it every day now but only 2 mugs a day to boost my immune system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NOTE: If you are taking any medicine, please check with your doctor if you are allowed to drink Hibiscus tea. Hibiscus tea is dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause abortion.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thanks for reading and have a great day.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved by Thelma Aberts</b></span></div>
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-70906846967638556242016-06-12T04:07:00.001-07:002016-06-12T04:07:34.517-07:00Mango Fruits From My Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSLB43mKxl0/V1tNmWbGa1I/AAAAAAAAA-I/gIIJGsSMCe4HPe3Bp2TfyEHSUvxspa2bgCLcB/s1600/13405508_804701459629532_916673849_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSLB43mKxl0/V1tNmWbGa1I/AAAAAAAAA-I/gIIJGsSMCe4HPe3Bp2TfyEHSUvxspa2bgCLcB/s640/13405508_804701459629532_916673849_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mangoes are one of the most delicious fruits in my home country Philippines. It´s mango season in my home country. Have you tried eating those Filipino sweet and very fragrant mangoes? They are very different than the mangoes that are sold here in Germany, which come mostly from South Africa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday when I was skyping with my family in the Philippines, they showed me plenty of mangoes they have harvested from my front yard. My mouth watered upon seeing those mangoes. I was even mentally smelling the luscious fragrant of those fruits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The mango tree in my garden is bearing fruits for the first time. I was not the one who planted this tree. It was my father if I was not mistaken. Two years ago when I was still having my long vacation in my hometown, the mango tree was still young when I kept on watering them. I was indeed surprised when my family told me where those mango fruits came from. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wfkb3Oe7Cr8/V1tPTpt8jYI/AAAAAAAAA-c/Cajnk2u1e2U0MuG4JMxzujI7SVz5nPSBwCLcB/s1600/13410775_804701389629539_1017471898_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wfkb3Oe7Cr8/V1tPTpt8jYI/AAAAAAAAA-c/Cajnk2u1e2U0MuG4JMxzujI7SVz5nPSBwCLcB/s640/13410775_804701389629539_1017471898_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These are the fresh harvested mangoes from my tropical garden. Some of them are not yet so ripe but in a few days, they would be.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am already worried if I will be able to devour the fruits of my garden and so I told my cousin Jane to freeze the ripe mango slices without skins in the freezer. I told her how to do it just like<b> <a href="http://hubpages.com/food/How-to-Store-Strawberries-in-the-Freezer" target="_blank">how I freezed my fresh harvested strawberries</a> </b>for winter season here in Germany. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a lot of plans what to do with my mango fruits when I am there in my Philippines home. I will make mango cakes, cupcakes and other recipes I am going to bake or cook. Besides that, I can use the purreed mango fruits for my facials and body scrubs. I can´t wait to do that thinking how my skin feel smooth because of mango. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have you tried mango and papaya fruits for your homemade beauty skin care? I hope there are still mangoes when I arrive in my garden. I think that will be the second thing I would do. Harvesting my mango fruits. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Here´s a link if you want to try.<a href="http://hubpages.com/style/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks" target="_blank"> http://hubpages.com/style/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a lovely day! Take care and God bless you.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.73px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Copyright 2016 <a href="http://hubpages.com/@thelmaalberts" target="_blank">© Thelma Alberts</a>, All Rights Reserved</span></b></h4>
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<br />Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-32430331571399289872015-11-15T12:36:00.001-08:002017-03-06T05:36:49.134-08:003 Mussaenda Bush Plants In My GardenI have not visited my garden for a year as I am still here in Germany but I receive any new updates and photos of my garden from my cousin who take good care of it while I am away. I miss the beauty of my garden as well as the birds and butterflies that come to visit there everyday. I hope it will no longer takes too long for me until I can talk to my plants and hug my dog Angus again. Off course I miss talking to my relatives, too. As I am still here, what I can do is to talk about my plants.<br />
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<b>The 3 Mussaenda Bush Plants In My Garden:</b></h3>
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1. Doña Aurora Mussaenda</h4>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RRx0YwKuaqo/VkjWGLF4hAI/AAAAAAAAA6o/OaRBA5XJ4RE/s1600/DSCI0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RRx0YwKuaqo/VkjWGLF4hAI/AAAAAAAAA6o/OaRBA5XJ4RE/s640/DSCI0787.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the young planted Mussaenda bush plant which is commonly known as Doña Aurora in my home country <b><a href="http://blogjob.com/philippinesmynativeland/" target="_blank">Philippines</a></b>. It is named after the wife of the 1st President of the Philippines. I bought this from the neighbor who was selling plants. It was planted in the small pot but I transferred it when it went bigger for the pot. I dug a deep hole in my garden which covered the whole roots and soil of the Mussaenda. I bought this beautiful white bracts flower in 2011.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtJ1nmIv0OQ/VkjPwDQHl7I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/sy-cUCl65cc/s1600/11944839_691990580900621_669370024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtJ1nmIv0OQ/VkjPwDQHl7I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/sy-cUCl65cc/s640/11944839_691990580900621_669370024_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">4 years later, Doña Aurora Mussaenda grows in height. It is 2 meters high now and my "garden care taker" keeps on trimming the branches to let it looks good. As you can see, it really looks good. Mussaenda loves the tropical weather. This plant love the full sunshine for at least 6 hours a day. No wonder, it´s growing so well. With the TLC of my cousin and my small nieces who are helping with the care of my garden.</span></td></tr>
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2. Doña Sirikit Mussaenda</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCWMspIMFRg/VkiytN65u2I/AAAAAAAAA6A/vNiOa3gpNs0/s1600/Philippines%2B2012%2Band%2BBayern%2BUrlaub%2B2012%2B312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCWMspIMFRg/VkiytN65u2I/AAAAAAAAA6A/vNiOa3gpNs0/s400/Philippines%2B2012%2Band%2BBayern%2BUrlaub%2B2012%2B312.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the young Mussaenda Doña Sirikit plant I have planted with the cuttings I had asked from the neighbor of my sister. It was so easy to plant. I just cut the cuttings a bit slant in the lower part of the branch and dug it in the hole in my tropical garden and watered it. I made a small fence around it so the playing dogs would not destroyed it. I was lucky it grow well. That is the first photo of Doña Sirikit with beautiful slightly pink bract flowers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQTno9skYdo/VkjQavgSnnI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/53gHGgPnKw4/s1600/11992538_691990710900608_725194809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQTno9skYdo/VkjQavgSnnI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/53gHGgPnKw4/s640/11992538_691990710900608_725194809_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This photo above was taken last year. It has survived more than 2 strong typhoons that I thought it could die. Gladfully, before it broke the whole Mussaenda down, it was strongly tied up with the ropes. Well, some of the branches were broken, but the plant survived.</span></td></tr>
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3. Doña Cory Mussaenda</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSYe1d90iUw/Vkiw2Z2gDjI/AAAAAAAAA50/nfN5ug_xVYM/s1600/10421509_569470619819285_2736527139616609314_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSYe1d90iUw/Vkiw2Z2gDjI/AAAAAAAAA50/nfN5ug_xVYM/s640/10421509_569470619819285_2736527139616609314_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have seen a lot of this plant on the way to <b><a href="http://hubpages.com/travel/Outdoor-Adventure-At-Tinuy-an-Falls-Bislig-Surigao-del-Sur-Philippines" target="_blank">Tinuy-an Falls</a></b> in Surigao del Sur. I did not know those plants but since then, I kept on looking for a seedling or cutting of this unknown plant. Then I saw this in a flower shop in the city. I bought </span><span style="font-size: small;">Doña Corry Mussaenda before I went back home to Germany last year. This is the only photo that I have but I will add a new one soon. As far as I know, this flower is called after the name of the former President Cory Aquino. Maybe because the color is yellowish to dark yellow.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Here is the link of my beautiful garden if you want to see it. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery">http://hubpages.com/living/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery</a> Thanks for your visit and feel free to comment or share this post in your social media sites.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;"><b>Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</b></span></div>
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-81386317156878681332015-09-13T05:15:00.001-07:002016-06-06T13:20:19.347-07:004 Fruits In My Tropical Garden<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are plenty of tropical fruit trees in my garden. Well at least 4. There are papaya, guava, star fruits and makopa or tambis. Oh! There´s a mango tree of our neighbour with branches coming over my fence. Some of the mangoes fell down on my ground. Is it not great? So, I can savour the ripe mango too if I am there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These fruits are very healthy and plenty of vitamins and minerals besides fibers. Though they are delicous, not all of these fruits are eaten by my relatives. Not so inviting like the sweet candies from the shops or the hamburger and chicken joy from McDonalds or Jolibee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I´m there in my Philippines home for a few months, these fruits are mostly my breakfast. I eat these fruits in the garden while watching the birds and butterflies flying from one plant to the other.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Makopa / Tambis / Wax Apple from my garden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Makopa fruit is also known as Tambis or Wax Apple. I have written about this fruit and so I just have to let you check this<b> </b>link. I don´t like to have a duplicate of my <b><a href="http://www.bubblews.com/posts/makopa-a-healthy-tropical-fruit" target="_blank">Makopa</a></b> written articles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Star fruits are also healthy and delicious. One can make these fruits into smoothies, milkshakes, fruit salad, vegetable salad with fruits and of course into carambola / star fruit cake. You can find some informations about how healthy carambola is and what benefits you can get from eating this fruit in my <b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Eat-a-Star-Fruit" target="_blank">Hubpages article</a></b>.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Papaya from my garden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the most loved fruit that I have in my garden. It is not only sweet, juicy and delicious, one can use the seeds to add them into a milkshake or a smoothie. Besides that, ripe papaya fruit is also good for your beauty treatment like papaya scrub or <b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks" target="_blank">papaya facial mask</a></b>. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Guavas from my garden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Guava is one of the super fruits in the world. It has lots of vitamins and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">minerals and consists more vitamins C than the orange. I would not buy orange for my vitamin C consumption when I´m in my home country as I am mostly the one who eat the guavas. Sometimes I feel pity of the guavas lying down on the ground, ignored. They just feel down. Nobody climb the guava tree anymore just like I was used to as a child. Next time I will be making something out of this fruit that not of my small nieces will know that it´s from the guava tree in my backyard.</span></div>
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I will be writing more about this fruit and so I have to stop here. More information about my favorite fruit will come soon in my blog. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for your visit. Please feel free to comment, like and share this blog to your social media sites. Have a great week ahead!</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;"><b>Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</b></span><br />
<br />Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-72961452905026770602015-08-17T09:22:00.000-07:002016-06-06T13:24:22.049-07:00How I Use Aloe Vera Plant From My Garden<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Aloe Vera plants in my garden.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Aloe Vera</b> is one of the plants I have in my tropical garden. It´s a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">short stemmed succulent plant which is easy to care for. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is one of the most healthy medicinal plants that is used in cosmetics and in alternative medicine. It is widely used in the traditional Chinese medicine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I came across to this plant in the 90´s when my best friend gave me a pot of aloe vera as a gift for Christmas. My friend was talking highly of this plant. Then she introduced me to the Forever Living Products which came from the U.S.A. I bought some of the FLP products from aloe vera juice to aloe vera gelly for burns as well as toothpaste and shampoo. I was satisfied with the products and I became a member of FLP who sold the products to friends and relatives. I was not a good seller. Most of what I have ordered was for my own consumption and I got discounts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few years later my hubby was operated in the neck and I adviced him to use the aloe vera gelly for curing his wound. He did and it was successful. I can´t see the scar now of where he was operated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we started living in our house in the Philippines, I planted aloe vera. The first aloe vera I have planted was from a friend of a friend who did not know what it was. I only planted 1 stem, then it multiplied to many that I separated them from one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How I Use Aloe Vera:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Healing the wound or damaged skin by applying the aloe vera gelly on the wound.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Healing burned or sunburned skin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Using the aloe vera gel as hair conditioner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Drinking the juice of the aloe vera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Making smoothie with aloe vera gel with other fruits or vegetables.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Using aloe vera gel for a facial mask.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2eY9lNeJVM/VdH2XsjkRaI/AAAAAAAAAvc/52QkUDXZyI4/s1600/11872883_685222951577384_158388945_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2eY9lNeJVM/VdH2XsjkRaI/AAAAAAAAAvc/52QkUDXZyI4/s400/11872883_685222951577384_158388945_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Aloe Vera plants in my garden.</b></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to get the gel from Aloe Vera:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just cut one leaf of the aloe vera. Then open the leaf by cutting it horizontally and get off the glassy gel out of it. I can also cut the leaf in small pieces and scratch off the gel from the cut leaf. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How I make Aloe Vera smoothie:</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 leaf of aloe vera</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 ripe mango, cut into cubes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">50 grams of pineapple cubes or other fruits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">some ice cubes</span></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scrape off the aloe vera gel from the leaf and cut it into cubes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I put it in a blender with slices of ripe mango.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I add pineapple cubes or some other fruits I have at home.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I add some ice cubes and mix the mixture in the blender.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No sugar added as I want the natural taste of this healthy smoothie.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How I make Aloe Vera mask:</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I scratch a half of aloe vera leaf gel from the leaf (it depends how long the leaf is) and just put the aloe vera gel on my face for 10 minutes and wash my face off after that. Then apply facial moisturizer on my face or native olive oil when I do it before bed time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Be careful!!! Always check yourself if you are allergic to aloe vera. Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day!</b></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here´s a link to know more about Aloe Vera: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.4799995422363px; line-height: 21.7299995422363px;">Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span></div>
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<br />Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-68655685265075137922015-08-05T13:36:00.002-07:002016-06-06T13:28:01.047-07:00Healthy Water Spinach In My Garden<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iM98XxqkjRU/VcJei64yDzI/AAAAAAAAAso/O0xbdrbXLZg/s1600/DSCI3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iM98XxqkjRU/VcJei64yDzI/AAAAAAAAAso/O0xbdrbXLZg/s400/DSCI3231.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kang Kong / Water Spinach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Water spinach is called Kang Kong in my home
country. It is a green leafy vegetable with long leaves and hollow stems. It is said to be a “poor mans” vegetable. It taste a bit like a normal spinach and the leaves and stems are soft. It´s a perennial plant which
grows in the water or at least in a moisty
soil. It is an affordable vegetable that all Filipino people could buy this in
the market. That is, if they know how healthy Kang Kong is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">I am so lucky that my front yard is moisty if
not flooded as water spinach is growing
well in this part of the <b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery">garden</a></b>. I never bother to put more soil in this part
of the garden because I am the one who keeps on eating this vegetable when I am
at home. At least I know that this vegetable is clean. I don´t like buying
water spinach in the market because I don´t know where it comes from as it is
known that one of the funeral homes in the city has plenty of Kang Kong in its yard.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes, our neighbours or friends asked for
some Kang Kong and I was glad that they did. I mostly gave them more than they
could eat. Sometimes, I let them harvest for what they needed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgI69N0LBTQ/VcJnI4csyYI/AAAAAAAAAs4/Vr30PTaK3eE/s1600/Kang%2BKong%252C%2BPNG.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgI69N0LBTQ/VcJnI4csyYI/AAAAAAAAAs4/Vr30PTaK3eE/s400/Kang%2BKong%252C%2BPNG.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kang Kong in my garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Kang Kong or water spinach has a lot of
nutritions. It contains Vitamins A, B, C, K and minerals like iron and magnesium. Eating Kang
Kong is one of the treatments when having
iron deficiency. Through my research, I have found out that it is not only good
in reducing cholesterol, but also a good prevention for cancer as it has more
than 10 different anti-oxidant compounds found in this “poor mans” vegetable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Ways to devour Kang Kong or water spinach:</b></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Stir frying</span></span></li>
<li style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">K</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">ang Kong salad</span></li>
<li style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Adobong Kang Kong</span></li>
<li style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Sinigang (sour soup) with Kang
Kong</span></li>
<li style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Meat balls with Kang Kong</span></li>
<li style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Kang Kong curry</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Tip: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Clean the water spinach very well especially the inside of the hollow stems just in case there are parasites. Use only the green leaves and the upper tender stems for cooking.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">These are only some of how you can make this
healthy veggie for your meals. It might be a “poor mans” veggie, but it´s a “poor
mans” healthy food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvL3G72-pkw/VcJcXFBp8JI/AAAAAAAAAsc/W7n0_bi_jE8/s1600/DSCI5908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvL3G72-pkw/VcJcXFBp8JI/AAAAAAAAAsc/W7n0_bi_jE8/s400/DSCI5908.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Adobong Kang Kong / Water Spinach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading. Feel free to like, comment or share this post to your Fb, Twitter or Pinterest account. Have a nice day!<span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here are some links for our healthy living:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/What-Is-Moringa-Tree">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/What-Is-Moringa-Tree</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Tips-On-How-To-Stay-Healthy-At-50">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Tips-On-How-To-Stay-Healthy-At-50</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.4799995422363px; line-height: 21.7299995422363px;">Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span></div>
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-30141048380857367592015-07-06T15:50:00.000-07:002017-07-11T09:04:10.883-07:00Many Ways To Use Papaya Fruits<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Papaya is a tropical fruit tree which grow in Asia and some parts of America and Africa. It is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> an oblong form and sizes from 5 to 20 inches. Well, it depends what kind of papaya it is as some papayas are as small as the size of my hands. It can be eaten ripe and unripe. It taste yummy and has a soft texture. It contains Vitamins C and B, carotenes, fibers, magnesium, minerals amongst other. It contains papain which is an enzyme good for digesting proteins in our body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Papaya is one of the fruits in my garden in the Philippines. When the typhoon hit our papaya tree, we prepared the ripe and unripe fruits in many ways. We did not like to waste them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7V5mwn310s/VXIHQbxJRrI/AAAAAAAAAYM/_HLZ2qlagHY/s1600/DSCI0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7V5mwn310s/VXIHQbxJRrI/AAAAAAAAAYM/_HLZ2qlagHY/s400/DSCI0808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ripe papaya.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong>The Unripe Papaya Fruits for :</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></strong><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Papaya pickles with carrots, ginger and peppers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Chicken soup with papaya. A Filipino recipe.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Using green papaya or the ripe seeds for marinating meat. It tenderizes meat.</span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLkwHiFyy3c/VZrwMz_FP3I/AAAAAAAAAkM/XgeG7vMIfkY/s1600/DSCI4218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLkwHiFyy3c/VZrwMz_FP3I/AAAAAAAAAkM/XgeG7vMIfkY/s400/DSCI4218.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pickled unripe shredded papaya with carrots</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span> <strong><span style="font-family: "arial";">The Ripe Papaya Fruits for :</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></strong><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Just eating it alone or with other fruits like <strong><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Make-A-Healthy-and-Delicious-Fruit-Salad" target="_blank">fruit salad</a></strong>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Using the inner part of the papaya skin and the fruits for body scrub.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">For facial mask treatment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">For making papaya fruit drinks such as <strong><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Guava-Pineapple-Smoothie" target="_blank">smoothies</a></strong> and juice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Papaya cupcakes or cakes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Fruit ice candies with papaya.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2aXZYrSNAA/VZr7zzYGm_I/AAAAAAAAAkc/3Zpk4DxqW58/s1600/DSCI3466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2aXZYrSNAA/VZr7zzYGm_I/AAAAAAAAAkc/3Zpk4DxqW58/s400/DSCI3466.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Papaya Cupcakes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tnBi5Wd5Dw0/VZr9P_jCiLI/AAAAAAAAAko/j4gFHOFE1ls/s1600/DSCI3575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tnBi5Wd5Dw0/VZr9P_jCiLI/AAAAAAAAAko/j4gFHOFE1ls/s400/DSCI3575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fruit Iced Candies with Papaya</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I see now that I have to write some of the recipes of the photos I included here. I think I have written the papaya cupcake recipe at Bubblews. I am no longer sure. I have to check my files so I can share the link with you.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qHnZ1COAsOc/VXIG71sTyvI/AAAAAAAAAYE/u2qLca6USZQ/s1600/DSCI0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qHnZ1COAsOc/VXIG71sTyvI/AAAAAAAAAYE/u2qLca6USZQ/s400/DSCI0806.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ripe papaya</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are indeed many ways you can use papayas in your meals or <strong><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Guava-Pineapple-Smoothie" target="_blank">snacks</a></strong>. Sometimes you just have to be creative. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the link of my papaya beauty treatment I wrote for Hubpages. You are welcome to read it. It´s an amazing beauty treatment I have found accidentally during the time we had a lot of papaya fruits during that typhoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
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<a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks"><strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks</span></strong></a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you very much for reading my blog. Have a great day!</span></strong><br />
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;">Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"></span>Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-25382524053015829582015-06-28T02:10:00.002-07:002017-06-22T14:24:26.120-07:00Visitors In My Garden<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having a garden in my home country Philippines is one of the best things I have done for myself and for my environment. Although I am not there always, as I am a traveler, I see to it that my <strong><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines" target="_blank">garden</a></strong> is well taken care of. It is well taken care of by my kind and loving cousin when I´m not there and I am glad that I have somebody whom I can trust to. I call this garden as my sanctuary and a heritage from my late loving mother. God bless her where ever she is now. The flowers that are planted there are all dedicated to her and we bring these beautiful flowers every time we visit her grave.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JrkYM7jHb-E/VY-tePDtXPI/AAAAAAAAAhM/m0CoThUsgHI/s1600/Philippines%2B2012%2Band%2BBayern%2BUrlaub%2B2012%2B219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JrkYM7jHb-E/VY-tePDtXPI/AAAAAAAAAhM/m0CoThUsgHI/s400/Philippines%2B2012%2Band%2BBayern%2BUrlaub%2B2012%2B219.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A huge butterfly hanging on a plant.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I started planting flowers in my front yard in 2011, natural visitors come walking and flying in. Well, not only flying but also crawling. Butterflies, humming birds and dragonflies of different sizes and colors are enjoying their "flight" since that year I discovered my green thumb.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gF68otHXn64/VY-lwDFiSBI/AAAAAAAAAgg/BPH6oaVEH5Y/s1600/DSCI5739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gF68otHXn64/VY-lwDFiSBI/AAAAAAAAAgg/BPH6oaVEH5Y/s400/DSCI5739.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A butterfly sipping the nectar of Zinnia flower.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whenever I am in my house, I drink my first creamy black tea at the garden table while thinking what other things I can do to my garden. I enjoy listening to the sounds of the birds humming on the branches of my star fruit, guava and pomelo trees. Butterflies and dragonflies on the other hand are flying from flowers to flowers. The butterflies love the nectar of Zinnias, Cosmos, Sapphire Showers and <strong><a href="http://thelmastropicalgarden.blogspot.de/2015/06/5-easy-to-grow-flowers-in-my-garden.html" target="_blank">Lantana Camara</a></strong> flowers. Some butterflies are flying with their small babies. Every time I notice these, I silently walk to them like a paparazzo with a digital or a video camera in my hand. I know that some neighbors who noticed me in that behavior thought I am crazy. I don´t mind.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQEB_9-gg8Y/VY-m89CRZ8I/AAAAAAAAAgs/HeUmM2G4Rw0/s1600/1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQEB_9-gg8Y/VY-m89CRZ8I/AAAAAAAAAgs/HeUmM2G4Rw0/s400/1171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A beautiful bird resting in a branch of bougainvilla.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zybBN_ttkgc/VY-pmkp5m_I/AAAAAAAAAg4/QLWwOxVnNdA/s1600/DSCI4955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zybBN_ttkgc/VY-pmkp5m_I/AAAAAAAAAg4/QLWwOxVnNdA/s400/DSCI4955.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another beautiful butterfly sipping the nectar of Zinnia.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-4Df0w8fsQ/VY-qY-x5yeI/AAAAAAAAAhA/BHXNf29aivc/s1600/DSCI4729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-4Df0w8fsQ/VY-qY-x5yeI/AAAAAAAAAhA/BHXNf29aivc/s400/DSCI4729.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A dark brown butterfly hanging on a Sapphire Showers plant.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUqRA0h-27g/VY-lG_kn1bI/AAAAAAAAAgY/5CTKF-fFI68/s400/DSCI4826.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A snake crawling in the Guava tree</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don´t know the names of the butterflies, the bird and the snake above. I hope you can help me with this. The butterflies and birds are getting plenty in my garden but I hope a snake will never come again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Butterfly in my tropical garden.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading my garden blog and I will be happy to see your comment below. Have a beautiful Sunday and a new productive week ahead. Take care;-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here´s a link to my garden:</b> </span><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;">Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;"></span><br />Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-66814039329057087222015-06-10T16:10:00.000-07:002016-06-06T13:37:22.549-07:005 Easy To Grow Flowers In My Garden<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think planting in a tropical country like<b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines" target="_blank"> Philippines</a></b> is more easier than planting in a cold country like Germany. You know why? It is because my flower plants in my balcony here in <b><a href="http://myblogaboutgermany.blogspot.de/" target="_blank">Germany </a></b>are more difficult to keep alive than when I planted in my yard in the Philippines. There, I only have to throw seeds to the ground or in a hole in the pots and they grow. I have a green thumb there than here in my adopted country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are 5 easy to grow flowers in my garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Moss Rose</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moss Rose or Portulaca is one of the most easiest flower I have grown. I planted every where but mostly as boundaries to some boring plants where I thought Portulaca could give life and vibrant colors to the view. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just a few cuttings planted in the ground like the photo below and watered them. They loved the full sun and mostly opened their flowers at around 10 in the morning that was why they were and still are also called 10 O´clock flower.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqg6oLpYeGI/VXiqBpAsBFI/AAAAAAAAAaE/ERL5hyI5m7M/s1600/DSCI0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqg6oLpYeGI/VXiqBpAsBFI/AAAAAAAAAaE/ERL5hyI5m7M/s400/DSCI0783.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Moss Rose or Portulaca</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Lantana Camara</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lantana Camara is also called Otot-Otot ( Otot means farting in Bisayan language) in my home country Philippines as the smell of this flower stinks. This flower is very ornamental and easy to care for. Just plant a cutting of Lantana Camara without leaves on the ground or pot, water it and voila, it will grow fast. This plant loves full sun, too.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vTmpjpp-jM/VXim9bRRvkI/AAAAAAAAAZc/fXJZSLhO8II/s1600/DSCI4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vTmpjpp-jM/VXim9bRRvkI/AAAAAAAAAZc/fXJZSLhO8II/s400/DSCI4324.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lantana Camara </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Turmeric Plant</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My cousin had accidentally found out the name of this plant growing in our garden when she was searching acne cure online. It was a surprise that what I planted from the root rhizome was one of the healthy spices that I was using in my kitchen here in Germany. Some of these plants were growing near our fence and we did not planted them. Maybe some birds brought the seeds in the garden and they just grew by their own. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNYz35y0gEM/VXinweWYl2I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/BpU-Tn0yQP8/s1600/DSCI4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNYz35y0gEM/VXinweWYl2I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/BpU-Tn0yQP8/s400/DSCI4261.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Turmeric Plant I planted from rhizome</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Cosmos</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My brother gave me the seeds of Cosmos a few years ago after I told him about wanting to have the seeds from the ornamental highway plants. I have seen these beautiful flowers along the sides of our town highway. We did not know the name of the plant yet when I planted the seeds and so I was searching online after taking a photo of the flower. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the most easiest flower I have planted. When the Cosmos flowers got brown and wilted, I harvested the seeds and just threw the seeds to the places I wanted them to grow. The seeds that felt on the ground propagated themselves. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K0Ic1yNMSk0/VXimEADoSFI/AAAAAAAAAZU/JD6pdzN7vnE/s1600/DSCI3447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K0Ic1yNMSk0/VXimEADoSFI/AAAAAAAAAZU/JD6pdzN7vnE/s400/DSCI3447.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yellow Cosmos, Red Bougainvillea and Dona Sirikit </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Zinnia Elegans</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Zinnia Elegans is one of my favorites. I brought the seeds from Germany and I did not believe that Zinnias could grow in the Philippines as I have not seen one yet before that. I was glad Zinnias grew well and I had to do trial and error. I found out then that when Zinnias were planted, they should stay in the same place as transplanting them was killing them. They love full sun as well and butterflies are loving them, too.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAD9KeSQ9Sw/VXirEaj93_I/AAAAAAAAAaM/Ierjr2dbcDw/s1600/DSCI1843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAD9KeSQ9Sw/VXirEaj93_I/AAAAAAAAAaM/Ierjr2dbcDw/s400/DSCI1843.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Zinnias Elegans</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you like this blog and please comment, tweet, pin or share this to your online account. I would love to hear from you my readers. Thanks for your visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here´s my link to my garden hub and to my main writing site.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJJC6Sr06DM/VXik3K796bI/AAAAAAAAAZM/ohF8Vuk7LgA/s1600/DSCI2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJJC6Sr06DM/VXik3K796bI/AAAAAAAAAZM/ohF8Vuk7LgA/s400/DSCI2223.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cosmos in the vase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;">Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span><br />
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-3590428331914988452015-06-05T15:33:00.000-07:002016-06-06T13:38:30.802-07:00Typhoon Hit My Tropical Garden<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every year, my garden had to suffer from the monsoon rain, typhoon and flood in my home country. Every year, some flowers and other plants were destroyed. Either cut off by the strong wind or uprooted from the ground. Well, it made me sad but what could I do? Nothing besides accepting the fact that nature is sometimes cruel. Then, I tried to save what I could or else I have planted new ones.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a2ainwpd8ZQ/VXIDToBoL4I/AAAAAAAAAX0/DzzJAmZqFsI/s1600/DSCI1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a2ainwpd8ZQ/VXIDToBoL4I/AAAAAAAAAX0/DzzJAmZqFsI/s400/DSCI1183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the plants that the typhoon uprooted in my garden was the papaya plant that had 21 pieces of fruits. Yes, I counted them. Mostly were still green and unripe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was one of the ripe papayas that we were able to eat right after we gathered the papayas from the garden. It was so delicious as it ripen from the plant itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was how it looked inside when it was cut through lenghtwise. It had a lot of seeds and some of these seeds were planted in my garden. I hope the new papaya plants will be having new fruits when I´ll be back in my garden again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you Guys for reading this blog. Please comment below. You are of course free to share, pin, tweet, etc. this blog to wherever you want it to be. Happy weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here are some links for what I did with the papaya fruits from my garden.</b></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Homemade-Papaya-and-Mango-Body-Scrubs-and-Facial-Masks</span></a></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Make-A-Healthy-and-Delicious-Fruit-Salad">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Make-A-Healthy-and-Delicious-Fruit-Salad</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Fruit-Snack-Mix-Recipe">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Fruit-Snack-Mix-Recipe</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;">Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span>
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-19248248788606439542015-05-31T15:09:00.001-07:002016-06-06T13:39:33.778-07:00Bougainvillea, A Beautiful And Easy To Grow Plant<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I grew up with different kinds of bougainvillea plants. Those were the first flowers I knew of as a kid besides bananas and coconuts. I still remember the bougainvilleas my late mother planted in the pots and were put on the sides of our balcony of our traditional wooden house with nipa roof in my home country, Philippines. The bougainvilleas were in white, pink and red colours and they were very healthy as they were fertilized with urine mixed with a lot of water. It was not stinky as it was more with water than with human urine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My mother is gone to heaven (I hope) but some of her bougainvilleas are still in our garden but no longer in the same house. The bougainvilleas were almost dead when I came in our garden in 2011. I was able to revive them with love and care, with the help of my relatives living in my house</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jtfsoGc9Lk/VWt2wMTdkQI/AAAAAAAAAU0/IWlu59AkhOs/s1600/DSCI4681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jtfsoGc9Lk/VWt2wMTdkQI/AAAAAAAAAU0/IWlu59AkhOs/s400/DSCI4681.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a bougainvillea I have planted in 2012. I have planted this by just inserting the cutting in a small hole I dug. It was so easy, with luck and with my green thumb as I found out years later. My cousin and I always trim this plant when it blocks the way to our house again. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-866DGbdqh-g/VWt1WUvIByI/AAAAAAAAAUc/_Vp6Z-A3NzQ/s1600/DSCI4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-866DGbdqh-g/VWt1WUvIByI/AAAAAAAAAUc/_Vp6Z-A3NzQ/s400/DSCI4653.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the same bougainvillea taken from the other side of the garden. You can see the pink Plumeria/Frangipani before it and the yellow cosmos at the back.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9uu2itdWOk/VWt9Vis1kpI/AAAAAAAAAVM/kPUOsc3Y2wI/s1600/DSCI2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9uu2itdWOk/VWt9Vis1kpI/AAAAAAAAAVM/kPUOsc3Y2wI/s400/DSCI2175.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This pot of bougainvillea was one of the flowers my late mother left behind. I treasure her flowers like the beautiful orchids she left behind as those are my inheritance from her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are interested, please check these hubs on my main writing site Hubpages:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Beautiful-Orchids">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/My-Beautiful-Orchids</a> </b>a poem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Take-Care-Of-Potted-Orchids">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Take-Care-Of-Potted-Orchids</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you very much for taking the time to read my blog. If you have something to say, please comment below. Enjoy your month of June. Take care!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.48px; line-height: 21.73px;">Copyright 2015 ©Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</span><br />
<br /><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"></span>Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-6867524601973544652015-05-26T12:02:00.000-07:002016-06-06T13:40:31.000-07:00How I Planted The Birds of Paradise<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you heard about the Birds of Paradise? Maybe you have as this tropical plant has many other names. Some of the names are Heliconia and Strelitzia. I can´t remember where I got this plant as I kept on asking and collecting for some cuttings or seeds from my friends and relatives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It´s common in my <b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines" target="_blank">home country</a></b> to just ask some cuttings or seeds from the people who own beautiful plants. I would have paid for the flowers and plants though, as long as I love the beauty of them.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg6DDAu2RUk/VWS6G2mDLdI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/eGHIF-mPOnY/s1600/DSCI2155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg6DDAu2RUk/VWS6G2mDLdI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/eGHIF-mPOnY/s320/DSCI2155.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Birds of Paradise was an easy perennial plants to plant. I had a few of those young plants with roots, which was separated from the adult one. I planted them near the bamboo fence side of my garden. I just planted them in line with the fence. I dug the soil where I intended them to plant (one by one) as deep as 10 inches, put the cuttings inside and covered the lower part with the soil. I watered them after that everyday. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fkGuAPXbk4g/VWS6kPuqYAI/AAAAAAAAARE/cyIV1YgYY6M/s1600/DSCI2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fkGuAPXbk4g/VWS6kPuqYAI/AAAAAAAAARE/cyIV1YgYY6M/s320/DSCI2153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The weather in the Philippines is so hot and humid. That´s the weather the Birds of Paradise / Heliconia / Strelitzia like. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YwnhDU2LFOo/VWS6yicIeII/AAAAAAAAARM/5yq9nhGnbDI/s1600/DSCI2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YwnhDU2LFOo/VWS6yicIeII/AAAAAAAAARM/5yq9nhGnbDI/s320/DSCI2154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The photos above were taken last 2013, 2 years after I have planted them. They grew so fast to almost 2 meters tall, leaves almost as wide as the banana leaves and have given a lot of new plants that they occupied the bamboo fence. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though Birds of Paradise need less care, my cousin and I had to remove the old brown leaves of this plant every now and then.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to read more about my plants here´s a link.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank"><b>http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery</b> </a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Copyright 2015 ©Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span>Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-75192635397043442542015-05-17T13:30:00.001-07:002016-06-06T13:42:20.067-07:00Torch Ginger Plants<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Torch Ginger is one of the flowers I have planted in <b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">my garden </a></b>in 2011. The year I started gardening in my front yard. At first I saw this plant in the front yard of my sister. It was a huge plant and I was amazed by the beauty of the pink flowers. I asked my sis the name of this plant but she did not know. Anyway, it did not matter. I still like the plant and so my sis gave me some of the ginger rhizomes cuttings and I planted them in the ground inside where I put a not used truck tire.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyhUpUn-EEY/VVjwG-iHcgI/AAAAAAAAAOc/NlT83hSiEtQ/s1600/DSCI2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyhUpUn-EEY/VVjwG-iHcgI/AAAAAAAAAOc/NlT83hSiEtQ/s320/DSCI2125.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Torch Ginger is a huge plant. It grew so fast to 6 feet tall. I often trim the plant as its young rhizomes were already growing out of the tire planters where I planted them. Then I search online the name of this plant and found many things about it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Torch Ginger is tropical perennial plant and does not need a lot of caring. The unopen flower is edible and are mostly used by Asian in cooking curries.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1i9eVwoVuuA/VVjypX6ph1I/AAAAAAAAAOk/oOGgvHDlg2g/s1600/DSCI2104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1i9eVwoVuuA/VVjypX6ph1I/AAAAAAAAAOk/oOGgvHDlg2g/s320/DSCI2104.JPG" width="193" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have not tried cooking the unopen Torch Ginger but I will try next time I am in my garden.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Crsn_NWqlVU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Crsn_NWqlVU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a video of the blooming Torch Ginger. Courtesy of You Tube.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here´s the link about <b><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank"> Torch Ginger</a></b>. Thanks for reading. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial";"><strong>Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</strong></span><br />
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Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769010022932871697.post-23425944781777171952015-05-12T14:16:00.002-07:002017-07-09T13:56:38.675-07:00Thelma´s Tropical Garden<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thelma´s Tropical Garden is my niche blog about my garden in my home country Philippines. I will be writing about how I came to like digging the ground of my front yard and creating the garden that I always wanted to have. Traveling to Great Britain and <strong><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Advice-on-Moving-to-or-from-Ireland" target="_blank">Ireland</a></strong> has inspired me in creating my own cottage garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2011, my hubby and I started our journey of living our dream. Living in our house in the Philippines "for good." Well, since that remarkable year, a lot of things happened. We can´t leave Germany for good. We then live in 2 countries, so to speak.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AqTx-e-HgJM/VVJi0V_sPYI/AAAAAAAAANU/Q32-j8CvBw8/s1600/DSCI2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AqTx-e-HgJM/VVJi0V_sPYI/AAAAAAAAANU/Q32-j8CvBw8/s400/DSCI2118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">After 2 years of happy digging, my <strong><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/Amazing-Eden-Nature-Park-And-Resort-Davao-City-Philippines" target="_blank">tropical garden</a></strong> becomes the beautiful haven of birds, dragonflies and butterflies.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GtVKvcQTtQs/VVJl1ZZpapI/AAAAAAAAANc/i3bEoVY61PE/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GtVKvcQTtQs/VVJl1ZZpapI/AAAAAAAAANc/i3bEoVY61PE/s400/052.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the first photo I took in my garden in 2011. Our dog Angus was "fertilizing" it. That ugly front yard inspired me to beautify this view. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">If you want to see more views of my garden, just visit this link </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery">http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/The-Flowers-In-My-Garden-A-Photo-Gallery</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Torch Ginger, one of the flowers I planted. I planted this just right there inside that tire planter in the photo above where the pots were located.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"> Above is the video of my tropical garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I hope you will continue visiting my blog as I will write more of the plants and flowers I have planted, what experiences I had being in my home country and what healthy plants and fruits I discovered. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Thanks for reading.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial";"><strong>Copyright 2015 © Thelma Alberts, All Rights Reserved</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span>Thelma Albertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155779397352349297noreply@blogger.com8