(Posted on 3 March 2012)

Shipmate Glindell Van Winkle and I were invited to a Philippine home. The food was wonderful.
I did not know bananas could be prepared in so many different ways--mmmmmmmmmm.
I took all the pictures that follow. It was Christmas Day 25 December 1953.
How I wish now, that I would have recorded the names of our hosts then.

Signed
David J. Brouchoud

Van and I met the families.

Van and the kids.

The whole gang.

This monument erected in honor of winning against the Japanese.

This is their front lawn/yard.

Note the chicken.

Tried to capture the beautiful butterfly.

I knew nothing about flowers in 1953 except they were beautiful. Caught the butterfly again.
Little did I know then that these flowers are Canna and grow wild in warm climates.
Many years later, I was successful growing Canna in Wisconsin. Much work however.
Canna in our part of the world, must be dug up before each fall freeze and stored in a cool climate.
Our basement worked well.
Then, in early March, I would place the Canna bulbs in 4" pots covered with a potting soil mix.
The pots were placed in trays and located in front of our south facing sliding doors.

In late May, the nicely growing young plants were transplanted in our garden.
With luck, we might see blossoms by the 4th of July. View some of our Canna below.

Tropicanna Gold - Summer 2003

Heidi and Cannas 1995

Pink Canna

Canna and Mandevilla

Tropicanna Canna, Yellow, Red & Orange

Yellow Canna

Dwarf Red Canna