I took this picture of kalachuchi flowers at a friend's sprawling, nature-rich lush and verdant beach property with fish and shrimp farm ponds, an orchard, and resthouse. She was hosting a welcome picnic for my two sisters and me, all Philippine expatriates in the United States. Growing up, it had been an old Philippine custom to offer a lei made of kalachuchi flowers to special guests or returning expatriates, so when I saw these very familiar flowers by the pond, I knew I had made it--home!