My First Bonsai

It's the sixth week of the quarantine. Two of our sewing machines expired from overwork and my craft stash has ran out of white thread. Hmmm, how do I kill time?

Since mother's episode at the hospital three days ago, I looked after her plants, watering them everyday after our afternoon snack.  Her garden is a cornucopia of plant varieties. There is no marked theme. She has cactus, succulents, roses, orchids mounted on palms (only a feet apart from each other), crotons (a number of varieties), sampaguita, rosal, bougainvillea, and scores of other which names escape me all in one row.

An inspiration struck as I spied the unruly growth of bougainvilleas. I watched a couple of videos on how to make a bonsai and started with it yesterday despite being unsure still if I understood the whole process or not.

Looking around the house perimeter, I found everything I needed: plant, pot, wires, pruning shear and pliers. I set to work right after breakfast. Whew, it was more difficult than I thought. I broke a lot of branches while wiring them and couldn't seem to bend them to where I want them to go. So, I called it a day and leave the rest of training in the next days. Hope, my plant survives the abuse.

Bonsai, Take 2

What could  be more urgent than delivering a wired Australian beach cherry at midday on the 29th day of the Community Quarantine?

After being out in the garden all morning on top of sanitizing the living area and the kitchen, the prospects of a lengthy bath was very enticing. It was an idea I did not dare delay once my body temperature has normalized.

Just after dispensing off my soiled work clothes, I heard a car pulled over and it sounded like it was just outside our gate. Thinking that nanay did not hear that, I wrapped a towel around me and tiptoed towards the screen door for a quick peek. I thought it would be the baranggay employees again who realized that we, too, might be eligible for SAP, hahaha! I was at first confused at finding out that it was bessie and it dawned on me that this day might be it, when my Australian Beach Cherry bonsai (in training) would come home. I was right, happy about it but a little put out at the timing. I mean, how difficult was it to key in a message to say that "we're coming".

So, I went back to the bath despite nanay telling me I have visitors and deliberately missed the opportunity to thank my donor personally.

When I was done with my excuse, I promptly went out to see the newcomer. As opposed to our (donor and myself) conversation, the fruit that came with the tree was ripe but was off it. I washed
it thoroughly and bit into it. The seed filled up most of the fruit but whatever little flesh (yellow in color) it has tasted soft and sweet. I ate only half of it and looked for a small pot where I can germinate it in. I would really love to have a fruiting, colorful hedge  in two or three years time. It is going to be a long wait. God, give me the patience to get through it :D

Two Scores and Six

Together with three sisters from different mothers, we planned to spend my birthday in South Korea and watch the cherry tree bloom along the river Han but apparently God has a different plan. Instead, I had the whole day spent at my sister's (all the way next door, hahaha).

It took the whole morning preparing "alupe" (a native dessert made of  steamed shaved tapioca root mixed with brown sugar and coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves). As to the proportion, I have no idea as "papi" (my brother-in-law) took care of it. He left the wrapping with Summer and myself.

The experience of doing things together with the little ones which actually teaches them something practical is a joy. I can feel Summer's sense of pride and accomplishment at doing something for me on my birthday.