The membership of the Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines (CSSP) got a big boost with the joining of some 20 members during the club’s monthly meeting at the garden resort of Dorie S. Bernabe in Pansol, Calamba City.
They were inducted into the club by Kevin G. Belmonte, CSSP president.
The new members include Menardo Jimenez of GMA 7 and his wife Kay; Nonito S. Dolera, president of the Fern Society; Carlos V. Lazaro, vice president of the Los Baños Orchid Society; Godofredo Salud and Daniel Palentinos of the Philippine Horticultural Society and the Philippine Orchid Society; Joey Casador, a collector of cacti and succulents, ferns and aglaonemas; Dickson and Julie Laoque, the husband and wife who own the Victory Garden in Silang, Cavite, and who generously brought 20 kilos of tilapia from their fish cages in Taal Lake and ceramic give-aways for every attendee.
Also inducted as new members were Leticia Ligon, Aurora Guevara and Rosita Jose of the Philippine Bonsai Society; Elizabeth Heitzmann, owner of the Butterfly Farm; Atty. Cipriano Mercado, Dr. Fernando Silvestre and Neil Ganigan of the Philippine Tropicals and from the Adenium Philippines, Dan Hollanda, Wilson Dee, Edward Agdeppa and John Agbigay.
By the way, the meeting was co-hosted by Dr. Nena Evidente, Elvie Pecson and Beth Mariano.
The induction of new members was followed by an interesting lecture — demonstration on using cacti and succulents in "flower" arrangements. This was conducted by Serapion S. Metilla, the initiator and one of the founders of the CSSP and president of the Ikenobo Ikebana Philippines. Another lecturer was Zac B. Sarian, agriculture editor of the Manila Bulletin. He spoke on exotic fruit trees, including the red-fleshed dragon fruit which is much sweeter than the white-fleshed variety. He also gave pointers on growing fruit trees in containers. Among the fruit trees that can be successfully grown in rubberized containers are variegated chico, Perante orange, different varieties of makopa, atis, pummelo, sweet sampalok, rambutan, Abiu from Brazil, Berba and others.
Of course, the attendees enjoyed the beautiful plant collections in the garden of Dorie S. Bernabe who is an officer or active member of several garden associations besides the CSSP. She is active in the Fern Society, Philippine Horticultural Society, and the Ikebana Society.
Dorie’s garden resort is divided into several collections. Among the collections are rare foliage anthuriums, philodendrons, hoyas, agaves, ferns, variegated trees, and of course cacti and succulents. She has also fruit-bearing lanzones, latexless jackfruit and others.
Agave collection
The garden of Dorie S. Bernabe in Pansol, Calamba City is divided into sections. This one shows some of her agave collection which includes variegated varieties and others with very narrow leaves. She has also really big ones planted in the ground. Other sections are bonsai, ferns, aroids, fruit trees and others. Among the aroids are foliage anthuriums which are the object of plant collectors including Indonesians who have bought her mature plants as well as seedlings. Hers is not a commercial garden though. It just happens that some collectors appeal to her to sell some of her plants.
Cactus collection
This is a portion of the cacti collection of Mrs. Dorie S. Bernabe in her garden resort in Pansol, Calamba City. They are placed in a bright area that is roofed to protect them from direct rain.
At a Malaysian cactus nursery
Dorie S. Bernabe often travels alone or in the company of other plant lovers in the pursuit of her gardening hobby. Here, she poses with a 24-inch golden barrel cactus in a cactus nursery in Malaysia. She has also visited nurseries and botanical gardens in the United States as well as in Europe. Her plant collection comes from various parts of the world.
Another Bantigue winner
This beautiful Bantigue bonsai is one of Top Ten award winners in the recently concluded National PBSI Open Exhibition and Competition at the Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City. It was exhibited by Bobby Gopiao, president of the Philippine Bonsai Society.
Wilmer Madrazo is the owner of this Bantigue bonsai which was accorded Top Ten honors at the recent PBSI National Bonsai Open Exhibition and Competition at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. The show was considered highly successful that this early, the members of the club are already preparing for their next edition of the show in May next year.
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