Recently, one of my heroes passed away. My granduncle, Lolo Ondoy. (Lolo is Filipino for “grandfather”.)
A lesson I am learning and re-learning very well is that life is indeed full of changes.
Lolo Ondoy is one of my heroes indeed, and a strong garden influence in my life. As a child, I remember visiting him in his garden – (I’ll post photos if I can ever find or get the albums out of storage…) admiring the all of his fruit trees, orchids, and his insane rose garden. Even as a lil’ kid, spending these moments in his garden inspired me to do what I’m doing today. My Lolo Ondoy worked in the nursery industry, at Kitiyama Brothers Nursery for 30 years. Even after retiring from there, he still continued with his passion of gardening and also shared this love (and all of his harvests) with us.
I also remember him being fascinated by the carnivores running amok in my back yard. (*the back yard currently being deconstructed*) Sure, carnivores are just a little different, but he enjoyed seeing them and observing them in action catching and digesting bugs. He told me that I should probably have my own nursery one day. With all of the recent changes I have going on, I think that one day is drawing closer and closer… Below are a few photos from his visit earlier this summer. He will always have a part to play in my garden.
Roberto Devera
May 26, 1931 – December 14, 2011
Lolo Ondoy, I miss you. Thank you for all you have done and for your inspiration in all of our lives.
