Welcome to My Site

If this is your first visit, welcome! This site is devoted to my life experiences as a Filipino-American who immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in 1960. I came to the US as a graduate student when I was 26 years old. I am now in my mid-80's and thanks God for his blessings, I have four successful and professional children and six grandchildren here in the US. My wife and I had been enjoying the snow bird lifestyle between US and Philippines after my retirement from USFDA in 2002. Macrine(RIP),Me and my oldest son are the Intellectual migrants. Were were born in the Philippines, came to the US in 1960 and later became US citizens in 1972. Some of the photos and videos in this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing on your copyrights. Cheers!

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Crape Myrtle-Most Popular Landscaping Plant in My Neighborhood

 

The several varieties and colors of Crape Myrtles. They come either as a tree, shrubs or dwarf Plants. In Tagalog, crape myrtle is known as Banaba. It is not only planted as an ornamental but also for its medicinal( leaves) properties.

The Purple and Red Variety Across the Street from the House
The Light Pink Variety on my Next Door Neighbor to the East
My  Dark Red Crape Myrtle in my Front Yard



It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. The leaves of the banabá and other parts are used widely in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan as a tea preparation. Banabá herb is one of the 69 herbal plants promoted by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH). In Vietnam the plant's young leaves are consumed as vegetables, and its old leaves and mature fruit are used in traditional medicine for reducing glucose in blood.

The seeds have narcotic properties.

 Crape myrtles are chiefly known for their colorful and long-lasting flowers, which occur in summer. Most species of Lagerstroemia have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with a mottled appearance that arises from having bark that sheds throughout the year. The leaves are opposite and simple, with entire margins, and vary from 5–20 cm (2–8 in). While all species are woody in nature, they can range in height from over 30 m (100 ft) to under 30 cm (1 ft); most, however, are small to medium, multiple-trunked trees and shrubs. The leaves of temperate species provide autumn color.

Flowers are borne in summer and autumn in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crêpe-like texture. Colors vary from deep purple to red to white, with almost every shade in between. Although no blue-flowered varieties exist, the flowers trend toward the blue end of the spectrum with no orange or yellow except in stamens and pistils. The fruit is a capsule, green and succulent at first, then ripening to dark brown or black dryness. It splits along six or seven lines, producing teeth much like those of the calyx, and releases numerous, small, winged seeds. (Wikipedia)

Meanwhile, enjoy this video from my favorite 2Cellos band(Hauser & Sulic)










Note: Some ornamentals popular in the Philippines are: Kalachoche (Plumeria), Gumamela (hibiscus) and Adelpa (Oleander). I have collections of these ornamentals at Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines



Here's the latest photo of my baby ampalaya in my backyard here in California












 

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