In the past years, our dry season is terminated by a heavy downpour in May. In fact some old people have the term "Agua de Mayo" or May Water that is believed to have some therapeutic powers. So they drink a little cupfull of the first rain in May to assuage whatever ailment they are having during the dry season. But that is a thing of the past. In the cities, pollution will not render the first rains to be suited for drinking. But of course only very old traditional folks in the province believe that anyway!
This year when "climate change" is already a common new word fashion, it is already June and we haven't had the rainy season yet. There are a few bursts of ten-minute drizzle in very small areas, but do not quench the thirsty plants. The following photos are all in our garden in the province, and they will speak for themselves. We all hope that we get the much needed rain this early June. If only raindance works, we will all do it every weekend!
scorched leaf of a palm tree
drooping and almost dead leaves of crotons or Codiaum variegatum
i hope this croton will still be able to wait for the rains
Hoya diversifolia climbing a fruit tree, despite the little watering still gets yellowed leaves
other leaves of Hoya incrassata/crassicaulis showed yellowing with burned patches
Hoya pubicalyx is also not spared, scorched, yellowed and burned
birds' nest fern or Asplenium nidus lost all the leaves, hopefully the body and roots can be regained
the leafless extremities at the back of this tree is a full tree that didn't make it through this dry season
