Mozart loves Orchids

Phalaenopsis species from the philippines blooming in my garden

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 03:27:38 +0800

Phalaenopsis deliciosa

P. hieroglyphica

P. equestris

P. bastianii

Philippine orchid species blooming in my garden

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 03:22:00 +0800

Cleisostoma uriaense

Luisia cordatilabia

Calanthe sp.

Nubes Monte Inspired by the cloud forest from my recent...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:51:00 +0800

Nubes Monte

Inspired by the cloud forest from my recent climb.

Foreground : Selaginella uncinata & Goodyera clausa

Center : Zeuxine lancifolia & Ludisia Discolor

Background: 3 species of Moss and epiphytic vine on fern slab & Selaginella willdenowii

Mt. Mandalagan , Negros Occidental

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:23:00 +0800

view of Mt. Kanlaon from brgy. Patag, at about 700m

Last week while I was in Bacolod city to vist my primo Josef , my friend Ronny Boos decided we should climb Mt. Mandalagan. I said yes, expecting the climb will be with out glitch , I was sorely mistaken. He turned out as the anti thesis of German efficiency, at the 11th hour I was informed I had to prepare food and that we had no car to Brgy. Patag, the jump off point to Mt. Mandalagan. I borrowed my friend’s car, but Ronny didn’t have a license. had to borrow a driver as well. got a driver, had jollibee take out and 2 hour later at 11am got to brgy. Patag.

we passed by our guide’s house where we saw several orchid species blooming, like this massive clump of Cylindrolobus fastigatifolius formerly belonging to the Genus Eria

and this is the macro shot of the flower.

one of the first orchids found was this Bulbophyllum vagans from the section Stachysathes

while I mostly focused on terrestrials like the following photos of

gorgeous jewel orchids from the subtribe Goodyerinae.

Goodyera clausa

Anoectochilius sp.

this one isn’t a Goodyerine orchid, but is a jewel to behold, Nephelaphyllum pulchrum

oh and the mosses that comes in all shapes and sizes like this strange one

while I was busy looking down, Ronny was busy looking up. he focused on epiphytes like this Bulbophyllum catenulatum

as much as I would like to post each and every photo we took, sadly I only have time for these.

after spending a good four hours climbing up ‘til we reached 1200m we had to go down, it was four O’clock by then.

on our way down, and just at my eye level I found something special a bulbophyllum from the section Stachysanthes, with the biggest blooms I’ve ever seen for from the entire section. and probably still unknown species.

we call it ” Snowbell”

though I rather wish that it is called Bulbophyllum bustamanteae. but thats just me. and I found it first!

here is a parting shot of the mountain with Ronny

by time we reached the car it was 6pm. we got to bacolod at 8pm. even with that, and the incessant complains of Ronny. the mountain was well worth it.

Anilao, Mabini town, Batangas Sadly not very forested , only...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:45:00 +0800

Anilao, Mabini town, Batangas

Sadly not very forested , only saw 4 species of ground orchids in what looks to be a 40 hectare forested area

Mt. Madjaas cloud forest.

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0800

Mt.. Madjaas at 2113 meters high, is the tallest peak in Panay island.

after a two hour trip from Catiklan, we arrived in Culasi town. we went to the tourism office of Mr. John Sumanting. located on the second floor of the culasi public market. there we had to pay a 150 per person fee for permission to access the mountain. we also had to check in with the local police. the tourism office called for transportation ( in this case two motorcycles ). we then bought supplies in the market for us and the guides and porters. after a 30 or so minute ride on dirt road we arrived at our starting point, Brgy flores. where the motorcyles took us to the house of our guide Josue.

the climb started easy enough, at 400m, brgy flores is the closes point to access the mountain. the trail was arduous, and very often steep. on the trail we saw Spathoglottis kimbaliana var. antiquense

a beautiful terrestrial orchid growing amidst the cogon fields. we also nibbled on some berries ( Rubus rosifolius ). much like strawberries. at around 4pm we arrived at the campsite located 1100 m.
THE CLOUD FOREST
At this level, everything was covered in moss & orchids. species like bulbophyllum, thelasis and dendrochilium is found everywhere. so where the jewel orchids.

Anoectochilus sp.

Zuxine sp. flower

Zuxine sp.

Liparis dumaguetensis

Phaius fragilis

We camped overnight near a water source at 1100 m

the next day, we woke up early and tried to reach 1800m
amonst the trees I found several liparis ( stichorchis ) philippinense one of which was flowering .

with the thousands of Dendrochilum plants growing we only saw one that was blooming , Dendrochilum hastatum

by the time we arrived at 1400m I just stayed behind, I told the Bulbophyllum expert to go ahead and try reaching 1800m. while i was resting, I still was looking for terrestrial orchids, which can be confusing because some orchids which where normally epiphytes are growing as terrestrials in this mossy forest. like this Appendicula luzonensis

at 1200 til 1400 m we found

Corybas sp.

Goodyera sp.

Dendrobium auriculatum

The Bulbophyllum expert came back saying he didn’t reach 1800, because the 1400m level is large.so we all headed back to camp. while on our way back , we saw orchids we missed. like

Orchids of Mt. Madjaas. blogging about my climb soon.

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:41:59 +0800

Orchids of Mt. Madjaas. blogging about my climb soon.

What's behind Puerto Galera?

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:36:00 +0800

What’s behind Puerto Galera , literally.

Puerto Galera, one of the well know Diving destinations of the Philippines has more to offer than the surf and the beach. Last Jan 19, 2013 Ravan Schieder, the resident expert on orchids of Mindoro ( several of which are named after him D.ravani, Gram. ravani etc. ) took me through the old abandoned marble quarry a 5 hour trek that started from Ponderosa Golf course at about 400 m. above sea level.

About 15 minutes of a relatively easy walk, I found our first orchid Nervila plicata (sadly not in bloom)

Ravan has never noticed this, but who can blame him if the orchid doesn’t look at all like a typical orchid.

minutes later we came across more nervila plicata.

also along the way was habenaria hystrix and habenaria sp.

along the way you can see the colourful flora and flora of mindoro, though i only took pictures of plants and invertebrates.

like these two millepedes

I have no Idea what they’re doing, but it looks fun.

A female Carpenter Bee

I’ve never seen a female before. just the big black male. which is seen here peeking from the inside of their nest.

this is a sight you’d never expect at 400 m

a hermit crab , which usually live on lowland forest close to the coast.

snails, forest snails…

pretty right, ok i got something better.

or better yet.

and for full effect

ok will stop with the snails.

something move alive I guess.

ok, maybe not as alive. but much more interesting, this frog was just sitting there oblivious to the camera.

wasps.

Can you gues what this is? Phasmatodea .. or the stick insect.

ok, back to the orchids. here is a new Ludisia sp. so new it hasn’t been described. for over a century since the last and only other Ludisia sp. ( Ludisia discolor)was described.

Paphiopedillum henissianum at 700 m

the cloud forest at 1000 m

and my favorite orchid of all Anoectochilus sp.

Peloric form

normal anoectochilus flower and bud

Anoectochilus habit, this jewel orchid is hard to grow.

Macro shot of anoectochilus flower

New website for Philippine orchids

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:15:53 +0800

we are making a new website to highlight orchids found in the Philippines. I have stopped making entries in Wikipedia as it is very limiting and the editors are biased to one research or the other.

though it is still under construction I’d like to hear your opinions of it.

www.orchidiana.com

please leave a comment

Isabal Gatuslao does paper : Anglophilia

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:08:47 +0800

Isabal Gatuslao does paper : Anglophilia:

Isabel Gatuslao’s new stationary line

Inspired by Britannia, English symbolism and patterns

featuring Agador Spartacus my Whippet

Where can I buy your terrarium?

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:04:22 +0800

Hi, please check my facebook page terrariums by raab, thank you

Will be off to the mountains this weekend, only web access...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:16:04 +0800

Will be off to the mountains this weekend, only web access I’ll have I have to share with spiders.

Naming The Orchid ~ by Justine Camacho-Tajonera

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:33:00 +0800

Naming The Orchid

By Justine Camacho-Tajonera

We agree that there is a universal dead language
that we use for naming living things.
I tell you of my regret that I do not know
the names of our island trees.
You shrug and tell me of your complete immersion
in only one flower and for that one elegant species
there are a thousand specific epithets.
You are looking for only one,
the one that you can call your own.
I imagine days and nights of taxonomy,
of careful handwritten notes in journals,
of phone calls to distant,
condescending scientists.
Love could be that slow cultivation,
the gradual uncovering of that one
uncommon color or texture
that no one has ever seen before.

For Raab

Justine Camacho-Tajonera was born and grew up in Cebu City, Philippines. Despite starting a corporate career in telecommunications, she pursued an M.A. in English Literature to keep her close to her first love of writing.

She has had her poetry published in several anthologies and local publications and she has published two books: Artemis Lets Go, a novel, and Gift: Poems, her first collection of poetry. She maintains a poetry blog, Claiming Alexandria.

She works full time on a corporate job in the Philippines, is married and has two children.

For more of Justine’s works , click here

New Terrarium № 6 : “Fern tree”

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:57:54 +0800

New Terrarium № 6 : “Fern tree”

Terrarium № 17: Triptych Cliffs A Bottled Landscape in Three...

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 21:43:58 +0800

Terrarium № 17: Triptych Cliffs

A Bottled Landscape in Three Jars

Terrarium № 15 : La colina in pink

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:20:48 +0800

Terrarium № 15 : La colina in pink

Daphne Oseña-Paez' blog about Isabel Gatuslao's Pad

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:24:00 +0800

Daphne Oseña-Paez' blog about Isabel Gatuslao's Pad

Terrarium № 16 : La colina in Pink

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:05:04 +0800

Terrarium № 16 : La colina in Pink

Terrarium № 16 : La Violetta African Violet on a little...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:46:00 +0800

Terrarium № 16 : La Violetta

African Violet on a little moss covered hill with rock formations in a large apothecary jar

Terrarium № 15 : La colina in red

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:53:00 +0800

Terrarium № 15 : La colina in red