Japan Spring: A Celebration of Things Old and New

A celebration of things old and new - this is the insight that made a significant mark to my mind soon after my Japan trip for eleven days. I think that it is an appropriate phrase for a sojourn to heritage places -  a symbol for things old; for a journey on spring time - a symbol for things new.

One of the most exciting part of our trip was seeing the famous cherry blossoms or sakura, especially when we are about two weeks late from the blooming season. Luckily and delightfully, we found some last cherry trees that bore flowers abundantly - pink, white and green. Every time we found one, our company swarmed around these natural beauties and take many photographs. 

I have not lived in Japan long enough, but I think that when cherry trees bloom, they are the most beautiful on earth. And when they do, they only bloom so for a certain short period. As what some romantic poets have celebrated on spring, cherry blossom is the best reminder that life is wonderful but only momentary.

Celebration of spring!

I also appreciate how Japanese people are passionate about for their culture. Japan is a testament that a country can go forward to progress without disregarding culture. Going to some of their cities, we found their ancient castles, temples and other historical landmarks exceptionally well preserved. One could see how love is written all over these old structures.

One time, we visited the quaint Kintai Bridge. I was touched about the past story behind the old bridge. I learned that locals once built protective structure around the bridge to save it from the raging typhoon one time. However, the bridge did not survive; locals tearfully watched the it get washed away by the great flood. But in a short span of time, the locals amazingly rebuilt the bridge piece by piece as a remembrance to the old heritage.

Japanese culture is also famous for the origami, the ancient art of paper folding. Japanese children learn origami early at the lap of their mothers. While some people may think it is just a plain paper folding, it actually reflects the ingenuity and aesthetics of Japanese culture. This is a unique art of living – a reminder of patience, resilience and discipline - values which are written and reflected all over Japan. 

This art forms a part of Japanese curriculum. Aside from integrating a uniquely Japanese trademark to their education, I am amazed how actually paper folding does cognitive advantages for learners. Aside from developing fine motor skills, origami is a pictorial learning through repeatable actions, and by transforming a flat piece of paper into a three dimensional crane, it is also a cognitive stimulation of spatial reasoning. Now, I wonder not why Japanese are very good in mathematics and science!

While they have proved their world leadership when it comes to technology and economy, I am amazed as well to know that they have maintained their communion with nature. I think that Japanese people are one of the few most passionate people about living with nature as we all are from nature and forever interconnected to nature.

Visiting some cities, I marveled at how organized are the spaces. Just a few kilometers from the urban center, one would feel like being transported to a completely different place because the outer villages still maintain their rural vibes. Trees are well taken cared and animals, like deer, turtle and bird, live in harmony with people.

This article is not enough to vicariously contain all the wonderful memories I gained but personally, Japan will always be a special place in the world being a perfect blend of heritage and progress... of environment and culture... of old and new....

Sayonara, Japan! Until I see you again!

Cactus House

Oh, this must be the longest hiatus that I had for this blog after the holidays. Whatever hit my life big time, what is more important now is that I am still kicking after all, and mind you, I am just as happy as I should be.

I was always anticipating weekends with bushy tail from my busy teaching career because I had garden make over at home this month. After years of experimenting for effective practices and mastering the art, I am overwhelmed by the result of my personal desire to build a terrarium for my unique dessert plants.

Extended beside our newly constructed concrete wall is a knee high concrete rectangular plant box that measures about eight spans long. I filled it with soil and then landscaped its top floor with many stones of varying sizes.

I used corrugated bars for its arch roofing and covered it with a seventy percent weaved net. Since cactus plants don't like heavy amount of water, I doubled its roof area with plastic cover to prevent excessive water during rainy days. With this roofing, I also love the gentle amount of sunlight that penetrates the terrarium which does not cause sun burn to the plants.

I designed the back portion of the plant box that is leaning to the concrete wall with big rocks to give an arid look that I typically imagine of a dessert biomes that have hilly parts and plain areas. I think there must be high and low points within the terrarium to give something variation to its overall dimension. 

I arranged all the plants considering their heights. I placed the tall and long ones atop the rocks at the back part while I simply arranged the round and flat ones just below the plain area. I have some small potted cactus and I used them to fill in the dead spaces in between the larger pots.

Now that I have almost reached the plateau of my obsession, it is my wish that my cactus collection will grow even better - no plant pests and no growth gaps. I love to imagine something bigger soon.

The Grass of Imelda Marcos

When somebody mentions General Santos City, the visual imagery that comes in my mind is that of wide plains of yellow creeping plants. 

Photo credit: www.dpi.nsw.gov.

These weeds are locally called "imelda grass" and "yellow creepers". It has small leaves, yellow petals, and spiny nuts. In college, I remember avoiding them on the way to the university for its sharp thorns especially during summer season when they thrive most. 

It can also be found in some parts of the world, notably in arid and hot places. A legend says that the plant was pegged from Imelda Marcos who bought and thought it would thrive best in the once barren area of General Santos City for its warm climate.

Aside form the tuna, why not make this peculiar golden plant a symbol of the city? I have never seen them in any place around the region.