05 September 2009

Today's Flowers


This beautiful white flower belongs to my neighbor, the Dasal family. Dasal is also a filipino word which means to pray. What a great name! The patriarch of the Dasal family loves to take care of plants, dogs and his big family. We fondly call him Manong, a filipino visayan (filipinos from the south) term of endearment for an older brother or man. In the Philippines, people easily connect to everyone by using words like ate or manang (older sister) or kuya or manong (older brother). I am called by different names like ate lui, tita lui (aunt), teacher lui, and my favorite: T. Lui even by strangers! It simply will not do to just call anybody by their names. There must be a semblance of a connection somewhere . . . . just like the plants we tend in our neighborhood.

When you need some plants, you are referred to manong or ate and you get free vegetables like malunggay, talong (eggplants), kangkong, sitaw or even ask for some fruits like chicos and avocados, our trees whose fruits we also share with the community.
Now my flower today is a flower of the taheebo plant. Manong said the taheebo leaves make an excellent tea drink for energy. I believe him. Manong is now in his 70s and he looks healthy and ten years younger! I asked Manong if I can have some leaves to try and he smiled in approval. Plants and people. So connected. Like the community that we should be. . . . Go and visit my flower community at FlowersToday and be connected to another world!

16 comments:

Cookie said...

i've never seen a taheebo plant...this is interesting :)

SandyCarlson said...

These whiskered flowers are very beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Such an interesting post! A really delicate looking plant - it must be lovely to grow your own tea :)

Kalyan said...

simply beautifully captured shots....lovely!

VALKYRIEN said...

What a lovely flower! I don't believe we have those in Norway. Thanks for sharing on Today's Flowers!

Carletta said...

I read Sandy's comment and my first thought when I saw the first image was cat's whiskers. :)
Lovely words and thoughts to accompany your images.

Carletta’s Captures.

Tammie Lee said...

thank you for sharing the way everyone and everything belongs to one another. I like this way very much and your flowers are lovely.
Spirithelpers

Anonymous said...

Great post and picture of a flower & plant I have never seen before.
Thank you for sharing,
Gisela
I googled and learned more about the taheebo palnt.

Arija said...

White flowers are always beautiful.

Mia N said...

Thank's God, you are not dead.
It's good to be in Heaven. You know how is YOUR Heaven but noboby knows how is the real Heaven.....blue sky...
I like your white flowers.

Naturegirl said...

I just love your cultures connection to plant life! I feel my own connection to my garden.. and post just that. I am on a healing journey and feel a connection with my healing garden...they the flowers.. understand and fill me with positive healing energy..
I am drinking your "taheebo plant tea" in spirit!
Thank you for posting and it is a pleasure to meet one who truely connects with flowers!

i beati said...

does it attract butterflies?? sandy

Bradley Hsi said...

Thanks for visiting our blog. I am really curious on what the tea the leaves of this lovely plant taste like.

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

We call that plant 'Misai Kucing',Cat' Whisker Flower - Orthosiphon Aristatus

mimi said...

lovely flowers with fins.

DeniseinVA said...

An enjoyable post with such beautiful flowers. Thank you for sharing them.