SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST OR GUANICA CITY AND SURROUNDINGS

THE TRIP to GUANICA, is often fun. One goes from crowded concrete, asphalt roads and highways to secluded out of the way places, most of the time. Too many people for my taste were hanging in the guest houses for rent and Marylee's by the Sea our headquarters. The worst are children with their squeaky voices and loud inhabitants.

But critics should also mention the good news. This time for some reason, there were SIGNS OF INTELLIGENCE, in the scenery and among the people.

One striking change in roads is the use of all kinds of AGAVACEAS in medians and other drought/heat resistant species on 116 Road, the main drag. These wonderful plants are not necessarily endemic but blend pretty well with the environment and require no particular maintenance.

Another example of this adventure was to find an owner of the only nursery in town, with some knowledge of botanical names and capable of intelligent conversation. His view on landscaping was original since not
many jerks with nurseries, the vast majority of them, know anything about brokers and even less botanical names.

Brokers for the lay person in this field are those charging a fee for buying for you the small fish, plants from the big fish. Many wholesale nurseries will only sell by the hundreds or the thousands. The broker does the service, buying smaller amounts for many small nursery retailers unable to get particular items otherwise.

I stopped at his, to buy a couple Aesparagus growing with organ pipe shape, resistant to my garden conditions: heat/drought/salt breeze. I critized his selling of silly, abused, ridiculous bromeliads from RAIN FORESTS, in the DESERT, to which he presented a stupid defense. Water them and keep them in the shade...That was his argument.

This is evidence of being intelligent, with notions of the matter itself and
stupid at the same time. All because of MONEY. If I had a nursery in the desert I would have less money at the end of the month, but I would not sell palms, ficus, bromeliads, PERIOD. I will not go with the crowd or follow the complacency destroying the environment and making it uglier
day after day. There is more about this trip...later....

UP IN THE BREAD FRUIT TREE GOES INTO DAILY NEWS MODE

I was pretty much amazed to see the same story again, with a somewhat different plot.
The protagonists lily white police officers and an uppity negro as they are described by
the lily whites at home. Our president expressed correctly his thoughts and impressions. I have no doubts about it.

What seems out of proportion is the reaction of these racist police officers who have an attitude of beating up now, ask questions later. It is well known certain pleasure among police officers in New York for example, to stick their batons in the rectum of
certain criminals or citizens suspected of having committed a crime, or under the impression of violating the law.

I used to work for the Criminal Justice Agency in One Police Plaza, for an idiot director Dolores Palmer, a negress. I had to interview some criminals to determine if they could be released without paying bail.

Imagine this scene. In a room not bigger than twenty five square feet, over a hundred people. Homeless, some who had jumped the turnstile in the subway, rapists, burglars, street peddlers from Senegal, Ecuador, Mexico. Prostitutes of all kinds, bums, bookies and murderers once in a while. The smell of piss on the floor, sweat, and the unmistakable fragrance of unwashed homeless hogs in the atmosphere, a stink only surpassed by a rotten carcass.

But what is remarkable, still fresh on my memory is the great fun policemen: negros, hispanics and the lily white segment, had while beating up these wretched of the earth with handcuffs on. Just the impression of being disrespectful or talking back was enough to get one ass kicked without any remorse. Note: since Asiatics are very few among policemen, I never saw one during this exercise.

When policemen were arrested for: selling weapons, working as body guards for drug dealing characters, driving under the influence or any other crime and brought to One Police Plaza, they never walked around with handcuffs and were treated as if
they were innocent or deserving such special treatment. I bet that still goes on.

But all these is nothing compared to the behavior of these mostly white, during a manifestation, a real shame to New York, during a walk out for more money, time off and benefits during the mayoralty of David Dinkins, a negro, the most incompetent mayor in the history of New York. In policemen circles Mr. Dinkins was referred to as the 'wash room attendant'.

During the manifestation these policemen took the city, blocking the traffic, roaming, acts of vandalism took place in the streets as if they belong to them. These guys are really scary.

But I bet that policemen in ANY country of the WORLD with different ethnic groups act just the same with similar situations. The law is written, enforced by those in power. What takes place in USA will make the news. However, I am certain that having a gun, a uniform and belonging to the correct ethnic group entitles one to ABUSE, and to demand apologies from the President, when he expressed indignity for the actions of a great percentage of police officers.

I REITERATE all policemen in USA, judging from those in NEW YORK, with the greatest variety of ethnics in the police force, will abuse anyone under the right circumstance.

But if one is interested in getting to the root of these issues, do not believe a word written here. Research the origins of the POLICE DEPARTMENT in NEW YORK from the beginning. If you think it is irrelevant, since New York is very different from most other cities, with over two hundred nationalities among its population, that is your motivation.

Then for the hell of it, check the FIREFIGHTERS, a lily white fraternity from its historical origins, in which no ethnics are welcome. So long. Forgive me for doing something I despise in many blogs: getting into what newspapers do. I will try not
to do it again, If I fall, forgive this humble servant.

JUST ANOTHER FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN PUERTO RICO

3 AMAZING TREES TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ANY MEDIA
NEVER MENTIONED BEFORE

THESE 3 Ficus, Marginata and Benjamina, close by the highway as you can see. They cover

almost the whole surface of the pavement. Probably between 6o/100 years old. The measures

are impressive for any tree in the island. Added, this trunk or multitrunks cover over one hundred feet in length. The drip line is between one hundred feet and one fifty, as you can figure with the concrete lanes below.

There is a hospital to their right, one of those poor picturesque vecinities also. That may explain why these wonders, one in a kind, are not a tourist or make believeecotourist environmentalist shrine.

The first picture from the bottom up, was taken across the highway, in the south side, on a hill. The top shows from
the roof of the lucky family having such sight behind. These houses are in el Barrio Venezuela in Rio Piedras.

I offer my apologies, I am not into photography, but it is evident that the resolution stinks, not
only here, but in previous situations also. Perhaps one of those kind people who offered their signatures, some of whom certainly have the ways, will feel inspired and take some graphic
artist quality photos and publish them.

THIS SUGGESTION before I leave. IN USA, where size, shape, age is relevant, trees and forests matter to most citizens, in such manner that there is a list with photos of their greatest trees in the WHOLE country with their exact dimensions, something I can not do. This people understand that to help the environment money talks.

For this reason, micro propagation, cloning of those trees exists. You can buy one and plant it in a suitable place. The same thing could be done here in this isle. Alberto Areces Mallea, the Phd who ruined the fifteen acres in the biggest ecoenvironmental crime in Puerto Rico, could
do it. In Trujillo Alto, with the Fundacion Luis Munhoz Marin as accomplices, they were the culprits. Perhaps they will earn the forgiveness from the people, nature and God, if they could
do something useful. I know because they, him and the olmec indian of his wife used to babble
a lot abour micropropagation. Lets see if they can do it.. Time to go....

WHY DO I COUNT TREES BY THE SIDEWALK

MOCK INTERVIEW

Interviewer: Why? If you know the result before hand? Callousness and indifference.

Antigonum Cajan: Before I get to that, may I offer some background information? It seems
that everyjuan believes the environment is a pet cause and the tittle "environmentalist" can
be claimed without discrimination and consequences.

I: Wow, is this your blog?
AC: Yep. NO objection, then. To count trees as I do, should have been routinely done by Fideicomiso de Conservacion, Parques Nacionales, 007 Natural Resources, or pro bono by the obscure islanders Arborists Association. But first things first. A brief list of requirements to make the counting with focus.

THE CERTIFICATE
NY BOTANICAL GARDEN

Soil Science 32 hours
Turf and Grounds Maintenance 18
Introduction to Plant Science 16
Tree Maintenance 16
Disease Identification & Management 12
Weed Identification 4
Insect Pests of Ornamental Plants 15
Intro to Interior Landscapes 12
Horticultural Tech: Landscape Gardening 18
Integrated Pest Managements 12
Weed Control 12

I: Oh boy, that makes you, what an authority in the subject? Someone who never makes mistakes? The perfection in person?
AC: None of the above, but close. When I started my vocation in the blogosphere, there was no expectation of any kind regarding yours truly, critical views on people dealing with flora/fauna, ecology, environment, installation of green areas, maintenance, biodiversity,
gardens as habitats, issues of aesthetics and nature, pollution of the environment with obsolete
maintenance practices, the need to eliminate, palms, turf and hedges for this reason.

I: Is that all, and do you have any hope regarding the isle inhabitants about aiming, focusing correctly as to what is the difficulty to deal, approach those destroying, enemies of the environment for profit or stupidity? You know, housing developers, government agencies, property owners and such?
AC: NO. I have no hope at all except in myself and what I do. I think that maybe in other countries with similar problems, some readers may be able to focus with a wide scope, not with blinders, protecting their own ignorant niche, measured by that list above this.

I: Have you counted anything lately?

AC: Glad to oblige here it is.

THIRD PARTIAL TREE INVENTORY
PONCE DE LEON AVENUE
FROM SAGRADO CORAZON ST.
TO
ELISA COLBERG/CERRA STREETS

BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET

Right side
Tabebuias 45
Dk 3
Almacigos 36
Eucaliptos 49
Palms 7
Empty Spaces 14
Mutilated no Branches 6

Left side
Tabebuias 53
Ficus 4
Hemajaguilla 1
Eucaliptos 77
Palmas 5
Empty Spaces 18

R=L 280
Empty Spaces 38

I: Are we done with the interview?
AC: You may go, thanks.
I: See you there and keep it up.

Now if we add the numbers from the first inventory on 16 June 09= 173 Trees 17 Empty Spaces,
second, 2 July 09=200 Trees 34 Empty Spaces and todays Trees 280 Empty space 38 the totals
are interesting =653 Trees with 89 empty spaces. I do not see anyjuan complaining about these dissapeared ones, where are the environmentalists when one needs one?

The relevance of inventories as mentioned before is not to continue planting the wrong species over and over as Eucaliptos. They all look scraggly, like those artificial christmas trees with the branches stuck to a green stick.
Same goes for Tabebuias and Almacigos. Most of the sidewalks are often cracked by
the root system looking for oxygen, in addition to the ridiculous small square for it. This is dangerous and makes walking hazardous. Particularly if you are in the handicapped segment of the population and almost impossible if in a wheel chair.

I would like to mention, If I have not, this 'counting of the trees', is a twelve miles trip, six in
each direction, how can our environmentalists in the occassional bangwagon, have missed them? Because they have blinders or never walk? The environment in the urban context is not what
it appears to be within the car or in front of the monitor.

All these trees, ALL of them have been mutilated at the trunk or branches. Some are more dead
than alive, requiring replacement if we were in a sophisticated arboriculture society. The majority are in the electrical wires. close to them or over. Consequence? The AEE, the government agency in charge of wire maintenance, executioners par excellence, will prune incorrectly, mutilating these trees, making them not only
uglier, a matter of aesthetics, but increasing the branches when cut in the wrong place.

Epilogue. Inventories give a whole picture about the lame horses that have been for thirty six months brought to drink the water, but somehow refusing it. I hope that readers from other countries with these problems, encounter down the road, path, highway, some horses more humble to accept, willing to focus and to remember....
that the moon is not made of cheese and shall not be eaten with molasses. Time to go.....

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT : THE FIRST RESPONSE

KNOWING THE END, it is time to allow our readers to follow the beginning
of this adventure. I thought that it would be appreciated, understood, but no,
it did not happen.

"Your message was referred to Public Relations". It has the name, that I will not
write to protect the innocent, but here the initials. J.L.M Internet Banking Support.

"The attached message arrived incomplete, I need to have it sent again to be able
to help you". Same initials and tittle.

The truncated message from yours truly:

ATTN: President Western Bank
Board of Directors

The first VERTICAL GARDEN installation in your facilities is full of conceptual
mistakes, including plant selection and lack of nutrients by irrigation.

Now we are getting to see the beginning of the end. I will reproduce it and will finish
with my impressions. Following is the email from E.T.T.,VP, Public Relations. Warning. It is not fiction or altered, If the translation
seems odd, imagine the original. I will not mention rules of this or that violated since anyjuan will be able to detect this rather unusual writing fashion.

"Dear Mr. ....(my last name):

We at Westernbank admire and are proud of citizens, friends and above all, that our clients be involved in our thing, that is why we are the
'PEOPLE'S BANK'.

These suggestions will be taken care off immediately and our President will be aware of your consideration, that you have shared offering your
opinion as an expert in green areas management.

For this we thank for your comments about the possibility of doing consulting work pro bono in a garden we have.

But the message is not understood. I will appreciate your phone number,
to communicate personally,or more information so we can understand
which is the garden, to refer the case to the corresponding department.

Certainly, citizens like you are the ones making that our nation be better each day. We count on your information so we can take care of your recommendation immediately."

Best regards,

E.T.T, VP
Public Relations

I am getting tired. If any of the pr islanders, a majority of my international readers, followed by USA wish to inquire, their phone
appear in the previous Investigative Report.

I notice some mocking from ETT,VP in the previous jewel he wrote,
but how can I criticize mocking? Just thought. This could have been
entitled: The Chinese umbrella affair.

Moral of the story:

If anyjuan offers

you information gratis that may be certain regarding a project of a million
or more bucks, use diplomacy, tact, intelligence. Think of a bottle of a nice single malt, a five thousand dollar certificate of deposit, a two week vacation in
New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam to name a few places where endemismo arrives...not a six dollar chinese umbrella, even better, do not offer anything since nothing was requested or expected, Jack you jerk!

AT THE GALLERY IN CAROLINA CITY

I WAS INVITED to visit a gallery in that dull city mentioned, its ghostown downtown. There were thirty paintings and mixed media at the most, in the well lighted, warm atmosphere, not overwhelming Escute Gallery, congratulations.

When you enter a gallery, museum and anything at eye level gets your
attention, is probably a real piece of shit or something really wonderful! I was fortunate. A still life by some great painter, surely unknown, hit me hard.

It was a group of watermelons (no offense brothers), pumpkins and relatives. What is the big deal about such still life? Wonders the local dissident and fellow readers from f a r away regions.

CRITERIA enters: light, composition, shadows, perspective, size, color, contrasts, grouping, but overwhelmingly evident: TEXTURE, symmetry,
or the opposite, balance, focus and perspective.

These edibles were painted with such care regarding texture that they seemed real. That in painting is judged as good or bad depending on who you ask. That is why those abstract fellows exist, some of which are good
in our creative horticultural critic view.

But lets get to our specialty. Perhaps, some readers, the happy type, complacent, successful or not, finds this blog, irritating, perpetual criticism as a form of resentment or hate towards people, the creators of our environmental kill.

But go back to CRITERIA enters, slowly, the fourth paraghraph. If yours truly can discuss a painting in apparent, seemingly educated fashion, and a garden is JUST like a painting, sorry; you will have to accept that my difficulty accepting the mediocrity, beyond mediocrity regarding gardens, horticultural installations is not a product of resentment or misanthropy.

A garden is just like a blank slate canvas! What you place in it should create an effect on the onlookers, relaxation, wonderment, pleasure,
quiet and peace. To be able to reach this ultimate goal, composition, texture, size, color contrasts, focal points and perspective
MUST be present NOW or LATER. Flowers and fragrance could be added as a bonus.

This virtual garden, some of which one may encounter in so many countries but here, start affecting our energy positively as soon as
you get closer to the entrance, under the shade if it is old, or under the imaginable one if one possess imagination or later, when things grow, as
time goes by. I have not felt that here, and it gets worse.

As time goes by, my feeling, frustration, is how come so many blind idiots work, are in charge of nurseries, maintenance and installations of every public/private space in Puerto Rico/Concreteasphalt isle?

For that reason when I want to feel those
sensations mentioned in the paraghraph above, I visit some gardens in the internet or step out of my kitchen in our backyard. There I recharge
the batteries to share my views with you virtual reader. Happy camper or not.

MOCK INTERVIEW REGARDING THE TWO MATRIARCHS

ALL THOSE readers and curious from far away lands may have noticed some hints of irony, sarcasm and worse in this here blog. A tendency to burn, rather than build bridges. It is not on purpose. In the beginning I go with open mind to those who are living legends in their own head, It does not bother me. Since I was fifteen, when most relevant decisions about life were taken, I concluded that if you are smart/wise, really,
it will show in your discourse even if one does not know what is being said/written.

THE INTERVIEW

Interviewer: Tell us how are things going in Puerto Rico, regarding the environment, horticulture, gardening and so forth. Please put it in context, lets pick two years.

One and only: In terms of people, virtual people met in the blogosphere, the situation
is sterile, symbolic, mesianic, and academic.

I: What the hell our readers are supposed to make of this vague response?
OAO: May I elaborate rather briefly?

I: Sure. It is your blog is not it?
OAO: Fine. I believe the first character I met was a fellow with a foreign degree who seems to
know his thing. Excellent credentials, knowhow, but carrying a lot of dead weight.

I: Dead weight?
OAO: Sure. The bible. In a world in which people kill each other because one prophet is cooler
than other, reason enough to kill those followers of the less cool prophet, I do not think that
speaking/writing in BIBLICAL riddles helps, convert anyone into EDIBLE GARDENS.

I: Did you mentioned it?
OAO: NO. I have learned that if you have an education, academic that is with a tittle or without
it, you should know better. I do not believe in the state, family, church, actually I am becoming
little by little a misanthropist to tell you the truth. EDIBLE GARDENS are important, but why
do you have to put the WORLD FOOD CRISES in biblical, apocaliptical fashion? I have never
been able to read the bible. Ten paragrahps is my record. Perhaps that explain why non catholic,
people carry that book in their armpits day/night and go to their places of adoration in vain
attempts to understand and decipher whatever the hell is written there.

I: Say what?
OAO: If I am mistaken YOU, tell me why anyone needs to have a book interpreted to them day
after day, 24/7, year after year. It is insane. However this finishes one of my replies to the original question.

I: Is there much else to tell our readers?
OAO: I you stuck this far. Wait for the best part. Check this out. In Puerto Rico, it is in the history
of environmental/landscapemanagement/horticulturalhappenings appearing in endemismotrasnochado.

I: Are you going to get to the point, please?
OAO. OK. The first attempts to relate to other bloggers from the isle, were through three individuals with three different blogs scratching each other backs in many subjects. The killing,
mutilation of trees brought us together. And separated us forever. I noticed that knowing nothing about inter relations in nature, the incident for them was one of posing, even if they
or you disagree with me. I started to call them the LESPERIANS, since their leader a Mother
Theresa sort of matriarch, a former teacher....became the guru of the ONE THOUSAND SIGNATURES, to be brought to the SECRETARY of 007 Recursos Naturales.

I: Please I thought you were going to be brief.
OAO: This is my blog, goddemond!

I: Calm down goddemond!
OAO: I feel better, sorry folks.

I: NOW, could you finish? After all this is history in your past articles or not? Those interested
could check postings from eight months ago and find the story....
OAO: I thought this was and interview. Can I continue?

I: Please proceed with more recent anecdotes.
OAO: Here it goes. This one is almost hot from the oven. I met another MATRIARCH, this
one will be baptized the SORCERER. This magic sorcerer is into exotic philosophies from the far east, there is nothing more important in life, that and yoga, probably vegetarianism, those are the pillars of
this fanatic edible gardeners if you ask me.

I: What is wrong with that?
OAO: NOTHING. It is just the perception of people that some people get and believe it is what
it is just because they, anointed by some extra terrestial being believe it is.

I: What? Are you pulling my legs?
OAO: Just one. Jaha, bilingual laugh. That is why I am into horticulture and criticism, environmental, ecological issues, constantly researching, reviewing what I think/believe. It
is not written in stone. The two MATRIARCHS, and the Biblical Edible Prophet, all, are humanitarians, but can not see a TOTAL environment, an overpopulated earth for example.

I: ARE they blind?
OAO: Not in the literal sense. The last matriarch is really wordy. Tons of cliches. For example
while questioning the only critical author on the issues discussed here I (in other words), wondered aloud why I did not teach the jerks and others how to make a correct VERTICAL GARDENING, with some 3D gadget. Believe it or not.

I: What is so bad with the goody goody intention?
OAO: Whatever one may think off. Check the end of this story.
By the way these THREE big people in the little puddle, never made a comment in their emails about
the blog read in so many places I will not even count anymore. This is the end. Not fiction.
She the MAGICIAN with the little brain, invites me to give a little workshop about this subject somehow I believe to have mastered in a far away town in Puerto Rico. If it helps for comparison, a trip from New York State to California, just a hundred miles long. It if for some
illiterate fellows who were given land from the government and wish to start an URBAN GARDEN, my favorite cause.

I: WOW, are you going to finish between the next twenty hours?
OAO. NO. I will kill it in your hands...After 2 thousand words in her emails about this or that,
always in a condescending tone, after I accepted without conditions to make that lengthy trip,
she requested nothing else than a RESUME. Believe it or not. Time to
go. Thanks for your patience. This is the situation, with people in the isle.