Some "saving grace" from the deleterious effects of El Niño in the garden

Some "saving grace" from the deleterious effects of El Niño drought in the Garden

Living with Nature Center

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 

Dr Abe V Rotor

  

Country lass Angie Tobias 18, holds a bountiful harvest of karamay at the Living with Nature Center. Extreme drought triggered heavy fruiting of karamay or karmai (Cicca acida).  The ripe fruits are eaten fresh with salt, or pickled with sukang Iloko (Ilocos vinegar).

 

Sorosoro or karimbuya (Ilk) - Euphorbia tirrucali - is resistant to drought given ample watering, otherwise it loses all its leaves even when its stalk remains green. Try lechon baboy or manok (also relyenong bangos) stuffed with sliced leaves of karimbuaya. It's the secret of Ilocano lechon and relyeno.

 

 Upland kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica) survives dry field condition  at the basin (alug, Ilk) of ricefields, providing an alternative source of vegetables in difficult times.

   

 

The fruiting season of macopa (Syzygium samarangense) is summer.  Ripe fruits are picked from the tree, otherwise they fall to the ground. Dry spell and strong wind may cause immature ones to fall off. Macopa is popular among Ilocanos, the ripe fruits are eaten fresh, or specially made into fruit wine and vinegar.  

   

 

Golden shower (Cassia fistula) is brightest in summer, heightened by prolonged dry spell.  It is the tropical counterpart of the cherry blossom phenomenon in temperate countries.

 

 

Mulberry (Morus alba) is principally grown for the silk industry as food of the silkworm.  It is commonly found growing in the wild.  It is resilient to dry spell and flood.  Ripe fruits are alternative to "berries" in difficult times.  Table wine from mulberry has a unique quality in taste and color.

 

Caballero (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), also known as Bulaklak ng Paraiso (Flower of Paradise), belongs to the legume family, Fabaceae. It is used as traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and purgative properties. Although it blooms throughout the year, it is most profound in the dry months. Yellow and red are the most common local varieties.

 

The color of mature nuts of Bunga de jolo or Manila palm (Adonidia merrillii) is intense in summer, heightened by dry spell as shown in these photos. 

 

Drought-resistant Buntot Tigre maguey (Agave), and Variegated Oregano

(Origanum vulgare) grow luxuriously under moderate water regimen.  Maguey is a natural source of fiber for rope making, while oregano is home remedy for colds and other respiratory diseases.

 

Water plants grow in a garden pond - duckweed ( Lemna minor ), kiapo (Pistia stratoites), Hydrilla and water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ).  They are virtually unaffected by the deleterious effect of El Niño as long as the pond is full. 

 

Mango trees (Mangifera indica) laden with fruits during drought can be explained physiologically, but much of the phenomenon remains a mystery. Very tall trees are difficult to harvest, thus their fruits just fall naturally and browsed by goats and ground fowls.  Fruit bats have their fill in the tree at night. ~

 

Heritage trees such as anahaw (Livistonia rotundifolia) and caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito) are resistant to climate change and can withstand drought because their root system can pernitrate deep into the ground. A coed from nearby San Vicente Integrated School studies a three-generation caimito tree as part of a practicum. ~