My sisters and niece suddenly wished to climb our backyard mountain, Mt Gulugod Baboy, Mabini, Batangas. Imagine, one of my sisters hasn't been there! So that night we arranged for a tricycle which now can bring people near the peak. A couple of years ago, it was still a longer hike of about 30-40 minutes from the end of the road. It is now friendly to us who are not as agile as we used to be. It now takes only about 10 min hike to the top, following a different path than we used to. (I will have a separate post about this climb). On the way home from the mountain, it was already an easy downward walk, tricycles not needed anymore.
It is usually foggy in the early mornings during these colder months, today the fog disappeared at 10:00 am, when we set to leave. Cows are tethered in these areas, as grasses are plenty this time.
Roadsides are teeming with these white daisy-like flowers with golden centers. Bees and butterflies are plenty too.
close-up of the daisy-like flowers, ID i still dont know
This white flowers are also plenty, becoming more like bushes
They are loved by butterflies and bees but not by animals
Neptis mindorana ilocana
a grove of blue porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe
Those spikes are lovely when still green, but eventually they turn brown during the dry season, when fruits dehisce and conquer other land patches.
This celosia has very minute seeds, so easy to be carried elsewhere, no wonder they
find habitat at the foot of the mountain
This Impatiens balsamina is also a domesticated flower, but somewhat invasive with their small seeds. We don't have this in our garden, so my sisters gather some mature pods for home. We only have the single petaled violet and white at home. Next year this pink will also be seen with them.
What a beautiful green mountain...so many flowers and interesting to see those not native ones too. Wishing you a Happy New Year my friend.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year as well Donna. I am so glad that despite my absence in blogging for sometimes a very long time, you are always there to catch me. Thank you so much.
DeleteWow, what wonderful scenery. It almost looks Alpine, but with lovely tropical flowers. And even better, they are loved by butterflies! For some reason I had never imagined there would be grassy areas like that where cows graze. It is so lovely to see flowers and butterflies and greenery. It has been very grey and wet here for the last few weeks. There has been a lot of flooding and everything is so muddy!
ReplyDeleteHello Nick, Happy New Year! This mountain has many personalities depending on the month you go there. It is not too high but very interesting in every climb i've been there. Once i was there 5 times a year and they are all not the same. When you come over, i can bring you there, hahaha!
DeleteA stunningly beautiful place! Many of those flowering plants are familiar. They are all gorgeous and your photos, as usual, are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYes Beth, despite my many visits to this mountain as it is very near us, i still always find it stunningly beautiful. The flowers are maybe not native there because they are found in the lower altitudes. They can be carried by tourists on their bags or shoes, so they are tourist flowers. Happy New Year!
DeleteBeautiful, so interesting to see the tropical flowers growing in the wild at your place. Some of them we grow as annuals in summer in the garden.
ReplyDeleteWish you all the best for 2016!
They are not actually real native flowers, they are just carried there by tourist shoes or bags, unwittingly finding roots and life in the area. Thanks for visiting again Janneke.
DeleteThe more you post pics of Mt. Gulugod, the more my desire to visit intensifies to epic proportions, lol! If I couldn't hold the reins, I might force myself to just barge in and show myself at your doorsteps, one of these days! Call me uninvited, trespasser, stalker, I don't really give a damn! I've got to climb that mountain! Ain't no mountain high to keep me! This is just awesome friend!
ReplyDeleteEverim, what you wrote is a bit scary, hehe. But yes, i know what i post look inviting to people like you. In fact, there are a few folks from the office who are already organizing their own visit there, and they will be camping.
DeleteHello Andrea and very Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family..I would love to be able to walk around and if I was able, to take the hike... Green and flowers instead of cold and snow.. Michelle
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too Michelle, yes it is lovely to hike sometimes. It is a bit difficult now for me too, but i manage a short hike, and i am glad that i can still share them with the world now experiencing winter.
DeleteWhat a lovely and interesting place. The daisy like flowers resembles wild strawberry flowers though much bigger but the leaves look different. And of course the wild strawberry gets strawberries after a while. But could they be related? Thank you for your view of the world and a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina for visiting. This is not of the same genus nor family with strawberry. It actually is an invasive weed, but lovely, isn't it.
DeleteLush and beautiful landscape. Lovely flowers, not least the daisy-like!
ReplyDeleteThanks Villrose, you can visit my posts while you are in deep winter. I will give you warmth.
DeleteWonderful place for a nature walk, Andrea. You've photographed a very beautiful collection of flowers. The white daisy-like flower looks like a white Coreopsis nudata, maybe...
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for joining us at Floral Friday Fotos!
What a beautiful place for spending your holidays! -Jean
ReplyDeleteI recognized a few flowers! Beautiful photos and I love the little daisy. So glad you joined Wildflower Wednesday!
ReplyDelete