Weekly Photo Challenge: Saturated

“This week, show us a photo of whatever you’d like, but make sure it’s saturated. It can be black and white, a single color, a few hues, or a complete rainbow riot; just make sure it’s rich and powerful. Let’s turn the comments into an instant mood-booster!” -Michelle

This week’s photo challenge is a wake up call for me. It’s been quite a while since I have denied my most meticulous attention to some lowly plants growing around the house. They were not necessarily part of my close up landscape plan but they still form part of the total panorama when seen from a distance. Somehow, this is their chance to be noticed. And so, to make up for the long unwitting negligence from me, I am giving them the full accolade to be featured in my blog :-). I could hear them saying: “thank you master for this special treatment”. And I said, “you deserve this”.

Here are some of them:

1. Gumamela

In the Philippines, the gumamela (local name for hibiscus) is used by children as part of a bubble-making pastime. The flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices come out. Hollow papaya stalks are then dipped into this and used as straws for blowing bubbles. The juice from the gumamela plant is also used as a major component of a locally made shampoo.

The red hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Tahitian women. A single flower, tucked behind the ear, is used to indicate the wearer’s availability for marriage.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is considered to have a number of medical uses in Chinese herbology.

2. San Francisco

These are the colorful leaves of a plant known as San Francisco (Codiaeum variegatum) in the Philippines.

3. Moringa Oleifera

The moringa tree (moringa oleifera) is grown mainly in semi-arid, tropical, and subtropical areas, corresponding in the United States to USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10. It grows best in dry sandy soil and tolerates poor soil, including coastal areas.

As with all plants, optimum cultivation depends on producing the right environment for the plant to thrive. Moringa is a sun and heat-loving plant, and thus does not tolerate freeze or frost. Moringa is particularly suitable for dry regions, as it can be grown using rainwater without expensive irrigation techniques.

We have learned since elementary grades how plants were so useful to human beings and other life forms. Without plants there would be very little other life. Through photosynthesis, plants convert energy from the sun into carbohydrates or fuel, creating oxygen as a by-product. The leaves, stems, and limbs of plants also provide food, shelter, and shade. Their roots hold soil in place, and their decay returns vital nutrients to the earth where they become available to other plants (source of our staple foods), trees that bear edible fruits and vegetables.