Eight New Plants,Two Nights Away from Chacala

I felt really lucky on my bus trip to Tonala and San Juan de Los Lagos last week. I didn’t get to any plant nurseries, but I spotted a few in Guadalajara. Maybe I will get there on another trip. And I saw one in Tonala too, on the way back to the bus terminal.

I did get some plants though, at the tianguis, street market, in Tonala. Seven little succulents, and one bigger one. I brought them home wrapped in newspaper and tucked in a new little basket.

The most expensive plant was 5 pesos (45US cents). And the basket was 8 pesos. A very satisfying trip. I bought up every plant I liked, and wished there were more.

I got the plants home, undamaged. I planted the big one this morning, but I am enjoying the little ones sitting on the table. So maybe they will stay there for a bit.I am thinking I might borrow one of Bill and Mary’s nice pots (which I am babysitting) until next winter) and plant a little succulent pot for my patio. I like the idea a lot, and I think I still have enough dirt left to do it.

This morning I planted one of the little pocket gardens on the re-built wall at Dona Lupe’s. I had a small palm there, but Dona Lupe asked me to move it. She might have a concrete wall built there someday and doesn’t want a palm in the way. Makes sense.Apparently all the rocks we used to rework the wall had washed down the little slope during rainstorms over the past five years. So it makes sense to think about concrete. Of course, Fred’s wall may never fall down. It looks really nice. The part I built up looks really crummy compared to his section. But maybe my plants will cover up the mess.

I am going to plant bougainvillea plants to cover-up my part. I think that will look great. Of course, this is only an experiment.I don’t know what four months of 95 degree weather, with high humidity and rain at night with will do to these plants. But they have two or three months to get established and I am crossing my fingers.

This plant was for sale at the tianguis in Tonala. I don't know what it's called, but it was out of my price range. 35 pesos. $3.15US.These two palms were growing in the plaza next to the Cathedral in San Juan de Los Lagos, about hour hours north of Guadalajara. They are almost the only trees I saw in that barren town. They do grow beautiful churches there. Just not much green stuff.