tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302976152024-03-13T03:32:51.567-07:00Gardener in Chacala MexicoGardening report from a gardener learning to grow succulents and "tropicals" in the almost tropical beach village of Chacala, Nayarit Mexico.
My email address is gardenerinmexico@gmail.com. My other blog is called My Life in Chacala, at http://mylifeinchacala.blogspot.comAndeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-64451650871225948772008-01-16T20:11:00.000-07:002008-01-16T20:12:44.124-07:00Sad News about Andee Carlsson<p>Hi I am Erik Ordway, Andee's son. This Sunday Andee passed away, most likely from a stroke. There, the easy part is over.<br /><br />I sent this out as an email this on Monday after I personally notified the people that I could. I will try to find others to send this too but I would ask you to send it on to anyone that you think I missed.<br /><br />We should not feel to much sadness at this ending. We should fell happiness that Andee got to spend extra years, that she did not expect to be living, in what was to her a little paradise. She had many friends in the town, Chacala, and meet and gained friends for all over the world. Over the years Andee has touched and helped many of us in our lives. As I said to her more that once "I am who I am because of you and I am pretty happy with that." She tried to do good things to the world whether that was the glorious plants, the work she did with those that needed help, and just the people around her.<br /><br />Andee was a private person about her difficulties but I think that at this point she would want it known why she moved down to Mexico, if she did not well I am sure she would have forgiven me. For a few years before she left, to Mexico, she was having issues with her memory and this drove her find a place that she could live and not be to burdened by this. Chacala provided this place for her and allowed her to live her last years as had she wanted. We should all be so lucky.<br /><br />I will be traveling down to Mexico tomorrow (Tuesday) to take care of things. Tom my father and her ex-husband will be traveling with me. Andee largely left it up to me with what to do with her remains and I had discussed my plans with her on my trips down there. She will be cremated and we will spread some of the ashes there in Chacala. I also plan to spread some in a few locations in eastern Washington in the spring, some time around late June.<br /><br />As to celebrations we all know Andee would not want a big fuss to be made, we had to sneak birthdays parties on her after all. I do hope to arrange something for June when I spread the last of her ashes. I do not know what this will be or where but I will let people know. In the mean time I would ask you all to do something good for the kid, cat or plant closest to you and have Coke. I think that she would like that.<br /><br /><br /><br />To all of her blogger friends I will be updating her blogs in the next few days to let every one know. I plan to leave most of them online.<br /><br /><br />I can be reached at eriko@jumpsuit.org.</p>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-23239459897285966792008-01-05T14:29:00.000-07:002008-01-05T14:46:52.404-07:00Bamboo Right in Front of Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4qdH8bBgvUGjfo7Y2wHpsFhiv_JfOcbjsZkoVtZ0JWOLNk0Ct1tkBKxCkpsV1bfjnaR_LjncgKWPS4T21Jng1UNlIQdD8GPE1-gVV6g85olvp37VwMqGtJMYU2NoV85wxIA1YQ/s1600-h/bam5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4qdH8bBgvUGjfo7Y2wHpsFhiv_JfOcbjsZkoVtZ0JWOLNk0Ct1tkBKxCkpsV1bfjnaR_LjncgKWPS4T21Jng1UNlIQdD8GPE1-gVV6g85olvp37VwMqGtJMYU2NoV85wxIA1YQ/s400/bam5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152110170559105618" border="0" /></a>A few weeks ago I took the collectivo from Chacala out to the Crucero de Chacala. The Crucero is the place where the Chacala road meets the main north/south highway to Tepic and to Guadalajara. It consists of about 40 fruit stands along the highway, a nice motel, and few places to each and a couple of basic restaurants.<br /><br />At the Crucero I caught another collectivo to my favorite nursery, just north of La Penita. The total ride is about 20 minutes. Maybe a little longer.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybG7MWYu8vXMraz4QE7dtdc7uF8JiJxqykFzN8ydL-Kax2bOpOOWys2RY7sdouJiRGb7YBUoArw-VLlmywyV8XKXYmu6MD5cbJcnqzs_55DcL0PWZOEOUEwRLD9nSNIxQk2LZ8Q/s1600-h/abam3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybG7MWYu8vXMraz4QE7dtdc7uF8JiJxqykFzN8ydL-Kax2bOpOOWys2RY7sdouJiRGb7YBUoArw-VLlmywyV8XKXYmu6MD5cbJcnqzs_55DcL0PWZOEOUEwRLD9nSNIxQk2LZ8Q/s400/abam3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152111132631779938" border="0" /></a>Rancho Las Palmas is the vivero managed by Benjamin. He’s been at the nursery for almost 15 years and is very friendly and helpful. They don’t have many fru-fru plants (flowering annuals) at Benjamin’s. But there are some, and the other plants are very healthy and about 25/30% cheaper than the other local Nursery, near the Pemex station.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3H4ABjFNCEEu5KzwDFZTlZoNMKwNtVpvtOWbHU3gp71wcmjDC-fv9xyx1ioIdZV7-xafhgNpGDLGOWI3eitvr4QU_Pw1E22U1FwwfhlOuTt9Ukn_LCFehmYYDFhSibGeYr1Odiw/s1600-h/abam2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3H4ABjFNCEEu5KzwDFZTlZoNMKwNtVpvtOWbHU3gp71wcmjDC-fv9xyx1ioIdZV7-xafhgNpGDLGOWI3eitvr4QU_Pw1E22U1FwwfhlOuTt9Ukn_LCFehmYYDFhSibGeYr1Odiw/s400/abam2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152108856299112914" border="0" /></a>Anyway. I was there looking for bamboo and whatever, and hoping for succulents (only some lovely white and some rose colored Desert Rose/Rosa del Desertio/Adenium Obesium plants), and some smaller leafy type palms. The Desert Roses were large size-$20mx ($2us) for the pink and $70mx for the white. I guess because they are new here I guess. Or maybe new everyway. Don’t know. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive5Istcy2tfr_kx8ejmijgCrKUs3BbBxv8423gRDFGUON6lklz55EGwiVbkZWqFUEyAljz_jCWV7mkVteDtjVbsaPqstaw4hrX5QVsFAR302ruRj9XhBdyAZ_wLdu7tl3PlBuww/s1600-h/abam4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive5Istcy2tfr_kx8ejmijgCrKUs3BbBxv8423gRDFGUON6lklz55EGwiVbkZWqFUEyAljz_jCWV7mkVteDtjVbsaPqstaw4hrX5QVsFAR302ruRj9XhBdyAZ_wLdu7tl3PlBuww/s400/abam4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152108860594080226" border="0" /></a>No palms in my price range. Under $40mx. ($4us).But I got some bougainvilleas for $15mx and $20 and a beautiful deep maroon geranium, like the one I got the other trip. And some portulacas and a small palm. Don’t know what kind.<br /><br />No bamboo of any kind. I would have been nervous planting some anyway because of not having labels on the plants and not knowing how invasive a particular bamboo might be.<br /><br />Then I bought my eight plants and I walked out to the highway and waited in the shade for the next collectivo. If they aren’t packed to the gills the driver will usually let you take almost anything on the collectivos. Including 5 big and three littler plants.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginO_aAsKqboQlxZyJzaaL3g7_Kh017Z_liwuyEcxeTKoM-Fw4D-98oKFBEvXdlh1v24icqJBL3G5CUmEvXFXcz4jaFbjavSdwLeAPKLx9XsedB8Ub6_e8XlqDiMhgAEoqYn-wiA/s1600-h/bam1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginO_aAsKqboQlxZyJzaaL3g7_Kh017Z_liwuyEcxeTKoM-Fw4D-98oKFBEvXdlh1v24icqJBL3G5CUmEvXFXcz4jaFbjavSdwLeAPKLx9XsedB8Ub6_e8XlqDiMhgAEoqYn-wiA/s400/bam1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152108864889047538" border="0" /></a>It took me a few minutes of standing in the shade to realize the shade was being provided by a giant stand of medium diameter bamboo. I couldn’t believe I hasn’t noticed the bamboo stand before. I have stood under the shade of this plant a dozen times, at least. And driven by in on the bus maybe 100 times.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV_I4u7mHbguQBdJ1I-YmggbSB5_-FanTb2h-DHQ9YnU_OGty86REm1nzs5VmIHeuX5YxyMFTok4tFv7WBvy3YhyphenhyphenVHbg8bUoejY7ibEMwzLugRf-TX_HxsD__bryF9UAyhib5cA/s1600-h/bam4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV_I4u7mHbguQBdJ1I-YmggbSB5_-FanTb2h-DHQ9YnU_OGty86REm1nzs5VmIHeuX5YxyMFTok4tFv7WBvy3YhyphenhyphenVHbg8bUoejY7ibEMwzLugRf-TX_HxsD__bryF9UAyhib5cA/s400/bam4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152110166264138306" border="0" /></a>I have this maybe genetic longing for bamboo. My mom loved it too, and so did my Swedish granddad on my father’s side. I think the stalks are so graceful and lovely, swaying in the wind. And the leaves rustle so sweetly, and the colors of the stalks are so beautiful. I think Bamboo is my favorite group of plants. Maybe even more favorite than succulents.<br /><br />Bamboo is sooooo useful. Bamboo grows all around Chacala. And is used everywhere in Chacala. Used in construction and decoration and making furniture, fences, and for all kinds of things. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREMB3c_9zXxg-B7e0D1Iv4-qu99j6i4iTuzYp-GsIJxToLkzvygNgigkWeapf6y4xqmRFDiQ667BxXMGi_jtKP8lb02oIIo0MC9NpkSzWnuoxFFz-E920qz7dlEbJeaqw5Sfc6Q/s1600-h/bam2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREMB3c_9zXxg-B7e0D1Iv4-qu99j6i4iTuzYp-GsIJxToLkzvygNgigkWeapf6y4xqmRFDiQ667BxXMGi_jtKP8lb02oIIo0MC9NpkSzWnuoxFFz-E920qz7dlEbJeaqw5Sfc6Q/s400/bam2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152108869184014850" border="0" /></a>I walk the beach most days. Especially after storms. There are often some bamboo poles thrown up on the sand after storms. I drag them home. I keep thinking I will make something with them. But mostly I pass them on to people who remember seeing them on my staircase and who need a piece for something or other.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUGgs8ha2VcV8kxXoU9hAmMLjSeBOs0iDI9s0ADUuOopsHk5KeVIGtYWt0TZW9zDxkSdO6fZJaQxtYRg2PzwvSj8xO3lDUxBaWlNeEVGrNbUfztkySlX8oWJTMJDfJYDbXf9B2w/s1600-h/bam3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUGgs8ha2VcV8kxXoU9hAmMLjSeBOs0iDI9s0ADUuOopsHk5KeVIGtYWt0TZW9zDxkSdO6fZJaQxtYRg2PzwvSj8xO3lDUxBaWlNeEVGrNbUfztkySlX8oWJTMJDfJYDbXf9B2w/s400/bam3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152110161969170994" border="0" /></a>I always keep my eyes open for stands of bamboo around here. But most clumps are owned, or at least claimed, by someone so I haven’t has a chance to collect a big stash yet. Or to transplant some into pots. But soon maybe. An almost empty collectivo came by after and few minutes, and took me to Las Varas. And then I caught another one for home. To Chacala. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSjUgNptiHclndMHw5RP_VXmcdjjDQ4rDlstivCIiAzLKNE0yLF2Je_bV9WptwUDV_ueiaq9BWdvRfqBLf4fwtubUzBjFAC3ajmDM8CvtJvujR_ntxhaMBcFITvrmxWc_mvYPag/s1600-h/aaamoon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSjUgNptiHclndMHw5RP_VXmcdjjDQ4rDlstivCIiAzLKNE0yLF2Je_bV9WptwUDV_ueiaq9BWdvRfqBLf4fwtubUzBjFAC3ajmDM8CvtJvujR_ntxhaMBcFITvrmxWc_mvYPag/s400/aaamoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152112077524585074" border="0" /></a>And I got home before dark. And the moon was out.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-84557766988331855972008-01-04T15:28:00.000-07:002008-01-04T15:53:45.724-07:00Walking Thru the "Jungle" in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqpJa73jTUHOAUgw3IZVqWP9sOX0DFpRFtILsBPktUATnpBeBkptF9NBuVYJTXCCLlj6mtx-SR9LNnHSW960NWkquSXLtyTUOMz6ifl-s3PRFq0utPfOKpEZ5kZjGC0q-HNDzVQ/s1600-h/fullmoom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqpJa73jTUHOAUgw3IZVqWP9sOX0DFpRFtILsBPktUATnpBeBkptF9NBuVYJTXCCLlj6mtx-SR9LNnHSW960NWkquSXLtyTUOMz6ifl-s3PRFq0utPfOKpEZ5kZjGC0q-HNDzVQ/s400/fullmoom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151757905931422130" border="0" /></a>I don't know why the areas of deep vegetation around Chacala are called the "jungle".<br />Well, it doesn't seem like "the woods", or the "forest", so maybe it's a good name. Chacala is surrounded by jungle, cattle range, fruit orchards, wild animals, birds, little monkeys (sometimes). The animals that I have seer are mostly smaller animals, similar to raccoons, possums, armadillos, and various cats. Some of which are pretty big. Bigger than I would want to me up face to face. The only time i was close to a wild cat there was a steel house door and heavily grated windows. He was very long and blank and tall. With huge claws and a long, thick tail. And big big glowing eyes. He was leaping about 12 feet into the air, trying to bat down the plastic garbage bag that was hanging from a beam over the patio. Scary.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPUZbs1t3MhpILSh4KR8FQ_Z1_eje5w5x3gGB9oDm_QK1SFwZZH-gQpG2qS_U4PrX0-8VCDCx5SrJJIP9uIvkZYI9JtEOHgC1v7cp4TZolvZWzx9BGCSNai8pi9GH9Wwv3C2i9A/s1600-h/fruit66.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPUZbs1t3MhpILSh4KR8FQ_Z1_eje5w5x3gGB9oDm_QK1SFwZZH-gQpG2qS_U4PrX0-8VCDCx5SrJJIP9uIvkZYI9JtEOHgC1v7cp4TZolvZWzx9BGCSNai8pi9GH9Wwv3C2i9A/s400/fruit66.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151757901636454818" border="0" /></a>Anyway. Christmas Day I went for a nice walk up into the hillside above the south end of Chacala. Via path and dirt road. I was up there looking at three construction projects (ugh) and just looking around.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTAMszEuhyXIP-i1c6LW36DIHTK3VBJFa6eNbkpCJFPSU7xSovyM0ayj3JRWKEQoZ2GwGnlC096LW961WxPOquQc7tD_fI9UeSGPtx00_C1zarTL3inNH5VlPFzP-ymIXK4dXxQ/s1600-h/fruit44.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTAMszEuhyXIP-i1c6LW36DIHTK3VBJFa6eNbkpCJFPSU7xSovyM0ayj3JRWKEQoZ2GwGnlC096LW961WxPOquQc7tD_fI9UeSGPtx00_C1zarTL3inNH5VlPFzP-ymIXK4dXxQ/s400/fruit44.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151757893046520210" border="0" /></a>There are orchards on that hillside. The guy who is trying to develop a 40 acre plot into rich people vacation homes has totally blocked off access to orchards (which are not on his land). Using stone walls. Very strange.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qO9TON3b2g6u4hdveWhyGA3ESX4KX3Iwcmm6vl0qSTL0dotegc6KDjOHZy1MHO-XKKfg7nHGIdFG6Dvx1Xt1LbM6sd2dq-PcO-QzIVBKTgt_sUXCjm4-XmLXI1IwmO1x-5fMOQ/s1600-h/fruit1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qO9TON3b2g6u4hdveWhyGA3ESX4KX3Iwcmm6vl0qSTL0dotegc6KDjOHZy1MHO-XKKfg7nHGIdFG6Dvx1Xt1LbM6sd2dq-PcO-QzIVBKTgt_sUXCjm4-XmLXI1IwmO1x-5fMOQ/s400/fruit1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151754710475753794" border="0" /></a>These three photos are of one of the fruits growing in the orchards. Another popular orchard fruit here is mango, and bananas. And there are papayas everywhere. Anyway. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_XE7SQrN6ZZ-5jNFafFmw1OllEf290tMCei3dCXD2Syx22pbwgzho1I6UG0po7dEvi56a48V9piV8wStf6ZMx4_wA-W8To_Ef2U_u1xH5eLh66SfS1D7ycKSKnLd0rNNmb6IAA/s1600-h/fruit2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_XE7SQrN6ZZ-5jNFafFmw1OllEf290tMCei3dCXD2Syx22pbwgzho1I6UG0po7dEvi56a48V9piV8wStf6ZMx4_wA-W8To_Ef2U_u1xH5eLh66SfS1D7ycKSKnLd0rNNmb6IAA/s400/fruit2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151754714770721106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqNmPOKew57I7JAGnCZbw88kTVPJycL96JvrTVW6OrATfXBc-f7G5n-MfMS0BywuHbY98xMkecAP2Bu10i-T_mBUSYTlB7EzSZDyO9t1RsAODJA1Zqi2oqhXK5SUW2ICt_aLepQ/s1600-h/fruit3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqNmPOKew57I7JAGnCZbw88kTVPJycL96JvrTVW6OrATfXBc-f7G5n-MfMS0BywuHbY98xMkecAP2Bu10i-T_mBUSYTlB7EzSZDyO9t1RsAODJA1Zqi2oqhXK5SUW2ICt_aLepQ/s400/fruit3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151754719065688418" border="0" /></a>There are some very tall trees on that hillside, aside from the palms. I love this one, called a Limbo Gumbo. It looks like a peeling Madrone. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9f0HKnZs1MyFN_rp_NYqa00P_oWKewHLShhuRJshJhJCxs-UdmAwzZEE16zuBWoJzKaPiVOghLrwAm50vNv0-zh9IZW75V-9v_nAL8qa6mQzhAcj_4CgsOh4oWTNaBnxn4FFr1g/s1600-h/fruit33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9f0HKnZs1MyFN_rp_NYqa00P_oWKewHLShhuRJshJhJCxs-UdmAwzZEE16zuBWoJzKaPiVOghLrwAm50vNv0-zh9IZW75V-9v_nAL8qa6mQzhAcj_4CgsOh4oWTNaBnxn4FFr1g/s400/fruit33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151754736245557634" border="0" /></a>If I sit quietly near these big trees, and be still, the natural sounds start up again. Bird songs and other sounds. And usually I end up seeing animals sleepings on tree branches, kind of hanging over the branches. And sometimes snakes wrapped arund the bigger branches. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5Sm_9meX9FOxWI_WqREXbWVJSKTVetBV2X2qffwkMOGxmIgBDtkBvLA4iS0f7rGKYlfKmokW1Y0EQFWRwjvIzChSPDdSpa85uK9q40Qzy24dG4h3iUl_zo1t0nML_XSumQ9Auw/s1600-h/fruit22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5Sm_9meX9FOxWI_WqREXbWVJSKTVetBV2X2qffwkMOGxmIgBDtkBvLA4iS0f7rGKYlfKmokW1Y0EQFWRwjvIzChSPDdSpa85uK9q40Qzy24dG4h3iUl_zo1t0nML_XSumQ9Auw/s400/fruit22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151754727655623026" border="0" /></a>I have the feeling that when I am walking along and make noise, all the wild things hold their breathes, and stop moving, until they thing I have gone on by. But if I sit still and wait, they seem to forget about me and go about there business. I love that.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-66539522029455679702008-01-01T12:26:00.000-07:002008-01-03T08:40:46.123-07:00Catching Up in My Chacala Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3_z7PXhRfnh_hadQq072csXhMyAGucopsYHmXIUcfoihC1gfieWFk7DTN8LJSp4usN4j5jggFbpnnJ5wxUxRbePBv93hBNyv2Mtoh24yhwTvfMQ7BKGMdmJ1n4LxQA10-ZM8VQ/s1600-h/af3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3_z7PXhRfnh_hadQq072csXhMyAGucopsYHmXIUcfoihC1gfieWFk7DTN8LJSp4usN4j5jggFbpnnJ5wxUxRbePBv93hBNyv2Mtoh24yhwTvfMQ7BKGMdmJ1n4LxQA10-ZM8VQ/s400/af3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150592569634867410" border="0" /></a>I have hardly been blogging about my Chacala garden. Mainly because I was waiting for my replacement computer. Without it I have been spending time there. I am really pleased with how things are growing. also bought a really pretty deep purple geranium. I can't remember what's a geranium and what's a Cranebill (is that the correct name? Can't remember). Anywhere I love the color. $1us.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pFPDKfKqdNIcrNqCrryYhFo9Y7xUp_kewJ1WEBh9AL3kyzLAOLiFulZxuvSl6fLBn6utiy2EgIzT2WbzVj7KfHJnDS_ZYJrxfLzc_wm3HOcvIkPjghI2ylU8eZUENRLbM433hQ/s1600-h/ab22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pFPDKfKqdNIcrNqCrryYhFo9Y7xUp_kewJ1WEBh9AL3kyzLAOLiFulZxuvSl6fLBn6utiy2EgIzT2WbzVj7KfHJnDS_ZYJrxfLzc_wm3HOcvIkPjghI2ylU8eZUENRLbM433hQ/s400/ab22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150608538323273970" border="0" /></a>I have two sets of plants I grew from seed. I can't remember the names of the plants. Marta, from Mars Tres restaurant gave me the seeds for both. I think they are everday plants, even in the U.S. but I don't know either the Spanish or the English names.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3c1zqFIebFmJN9LlKlSvH7hKeV9e4XV1lsfwK4_K2q3RsGhOvGseZzxZufGw7hyphenhyphens4rUXTTrAqzQB4V6xROOrzbqrAbzZl94A0j-BdkJAperzuRTekvMfHPuTfx9g1pBQDOZkdQ/s1600-h/ab1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3c1zqFIebFmJN9LlKlSvH7hKeV9e4XV1lsfwK4_K2q3RsGhOvGseZzxZufGw7hyphenhyphens4rUXTTrAqzQB4V6xROOrzbqrAbzZl94A0j-BdkJAperzuRTekvMfHPuTfx9g1pBQDOZkdQ/s400/ab1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150608546913208594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G_vcYXbYKwOhe47V0hkx6BVFmZ7IWQ0ehMh3n_l3QusbYBV-yGdNp72ZF1pAtAZv8GoYfm0fClCh2qIJZUMthY1iFxlT_xhSJkah6-Mq9YCFZAPl01zA1nmIImwyfU_I14wgdw/s1600-h/ab11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G_vcYXbYKwOhe47V0hkx6BVFmZ7IWQ0ehMh3n_l3QusbYBV-yGdNp72ZF1pAtAZv8GoYfm0fClCh2qIJZUMthY1iFxlT_xhSJkah6-Mq9YCFZAPl01zA1nmIImwyfU_I14wgdw/s400/ab11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150608542618241282" border="0" /></a>I bought a new little vine yesterday with kind of tubar yellow blossoms. I haven't looked for it in my book yet. Or planted it. It was 20 pesos, about $2us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL-kV_lJG1Xi6lYcufsdeOygSkQbRG1Aov39Y1xCP8aSkOWz7Ck7PHBR-2M4s0fMp9hdZy7_tJgC3-C5Z94JFnlCUCx4jwzw0nhIv_zacQQkJPb684tgdwUjzhJcbi3JbgTtgaA/s1600-h/af4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL-kV_lJG1Xi6lYcufsdeOygSkQbRG1Aov39Y1xCP8aSkOWz7Ck7PHBR-2M4s0fMp9hdZy7_tJgC3-C5Z94JFnlCUCx4jwzw0nhIv_zacQQkJPb684tgdwUjzhJcbi3JbgTtgaA/s400/af4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150592573929834722" border="0" /></a>The succulent has very similar blossoms to another plant that is growing all over my garden, but I think the leaves look pretty different. I love the blossoms. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjLnvuJtm4OGB0tCmoyIEdT_Jp_03iNamUBMHnwRPXmwy7gP79HKR1EgQ7CksI9lU1t7u22VnNhDhqre3tcSKiMgoNZufA58obLNFGfoqYyw7v6S86R5asxPnt4SGAfqm_xqFug/s1600-h/af2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjLnvuJtm4OGB0tCmoyIEdT_Jp_03iNamUBMHnwRPXmwy7gP79HKR1EgQ7CksI9lU1t7u22VnNhDhqre3tcSKiMgoNZufA58obLNFGfoqYyw7v6S86R5asxPnt4SGAfqm_xqFug/s400/af2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150592565339900098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunNCjMLI2Ltoco_OQXBQbt5HNihDRE12Eqq_vHBv72Fg81i_Y0jJtF6wFrpd3Z0f0875suEfoV9E1XK3Y75a875VWh1-e23QJOC46tXX9b2qfDpZWzE8XtxSk3E6ZcDstPzT10g/s1600-h/af1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunNCjMLI2Ltoco_OQXBQbt5HNihDRE12Eqq_vHBv72Fg81i_Y0jJtF6wFrpd3Z0f0875suEfoV9E1XK3Y75a875VWh1-e23QJOC46tXX9b2qfDpZWzE8XtxSk3E6ZcDstPzT10g/s400/af1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150592561044932786" border="0" /></a>I have also been starting lots of plants from seed and cutting. I'll save that for another day.<br />MCM commented about this plant as follows:<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">The succulent at the end of your post is Kalanchoe pinnata, sometimes called Mexican love plant -- according to Robert Lee Riffle (The Tropical Look), its probably originally from India, but now widespread throughout the tropics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The other succulent plant with the similar flowers that you mention is a close relative (Kalanchoe grandiflora).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another Kalanchoe, that I think you also have, has bright red flowers -- Kalanchoe blossfieldiana. That one doesn't reproduce quite as easily</span>."Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-14489194795316695592008-01-01T12:05:00.001-07:002008-01-03T08:48:20.541-07:00Crinium Blossoms in My Chacala Garden<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> I just added a couple of photos to this post. </span><br />My Chacala garden has three of these plants growing in it. They are growing bigger everyday, and are about 4 feet across and four feet high, not counting the blossom stem. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VNIHPM6dUfbLFcz_S44wywDgVdvUQct4oPtLjz3F60sztaj2Uu4hNoDz_ilc0yd0oOn03uvvHWdhLVlzIo2CdRg43AP7Q10ZK1VSlJORlSQ8DRHWs9Zv0BSQ-3_RGP8qy3FNjQ/s1600-h/ac1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VNIHPM6dUfbLFcz_S44wywDgVdvUQct4oPtLjz3F60sztaj2Uu4hNoDz_ilc0yd0oOn03uvvHWdhLVlzIo2CdRg43AP7Q10ZK1VSlJORlSQ8DRHWs9Zv0BSQ-3_RGP8qy3FNjQ/s400/ac1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150587321184831570" border="0" /></a>Apparently they are Criniums. They seem to blossom either two or three times a year. I am going back to check my notes later. One just finished blooming, and the other just started.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Mz3y_5VdCxAUrxuSPlDIypNdHGuyTFxA-YmkbHL2Yi4Ey9tWBcmxs9bpf6W_9SDCFdj36pMYgZMkCjsNzLtVAxYmBuibK98rjLzX_iZnDB2KBxESx4lpMGGnRXREKty6rpZ_VA/s1600-h/ac3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Mz3y_5VdCxAUrxuSPlDIypNdHGuyTFxA-YmkbHL2Yi4Ey9tWBcmxs9bpf6W_9SDCFdj36pMYgZMkCjsNzLtVAxYmBuibK98rjLzX_iZnDB2KBxESx4lpMGGnRXREKty6rpZ_VA/s400/ac3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150587351249602658" border="0" /></a>The stalk seems to just shoot up overnight. After a couple of days they look like this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4wqNluefBgr7NJTuyimNtM6IZokxFTh3zN6vDZ5_GJMZ7IllwM6CY6VQgdhdrGAflaTvrro4MytJh1Hg_TCTU7Xed1ciXB00AETxx5DRtAksMkPgUaJ802rKgZOkQOETgx70xg/s1600-h/crinium2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4wqNluefBgr7NJTuyimNtM6IZokxFTh3zN6vDZ5_GJMZ7IllwM6CY6VQgdhdrGAflaTvrro4MytJh1Hg_TCTU7Xed1ciXB00AETxx5DRtAksMkPgUaJ802rKgZOkQOETgx70xg/s400/crinium2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151277273321195810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j6X-CmmhyphenhyphenDi_Z-01owCGkP0IQSfndgoqn6oNkAKbbS7jn3SclEJUaWVdyJcXj6SPnD56EMrVdwe_m3e5bAa-rDLQlKW_ktMQN132imLMnDIj3GoAkDSH_iYM83bMuQk5j2C2EQ/s1600-h/crinium1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j6X-CmmhyphenhyphenDi_Z-01owCGkP0IQSfndgoqn6oNkAKbbS7jn3SclEJUaWVdyJcXj6SPnD56EMrVdwe_m3e5bAa-rDLQlKW_ktMQN132imLMnDIj3GoAkDSH_iYM83bMuQk5j2C2EQ/s400/crinium1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151277281911130418" border="0" /></a>Then in takes another few days to burst in huge blooms. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3L1p_aA4nNkWSyJC7cILlXydRfro9pqkH_izyOCGSRpD3YoQ3uYmYLNK70T7psabWezIiR_8_fU62GuXwG7YVlzIBAkBg9fux_pLjlDzVTNpNsZchaMdRjtwI5sytG2iYoc4ZjQ/s1600-h/ac6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3L1p_aA4nNkWSyJC7cILlXydRfro9pqkH_izyOCGSRpD3YoQ3uYmYLNK70T7psabWezIiR_8_fU62GuXwG7YVlzIBAkBg9fux_pLjlDzVTNpNsZchaMdRjtwI5sytG2iYoc4ZjQ/s400/ac6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150587411379144850" border="0" /></a>The blooms are usually between a foot and 18 inches across. Maybe more. This is a totally new plant for me. The first time I saw this plant, I don't remember seeing it anywhere before, and I didn't notice the blossom until it was fully in bloom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigstR4GzG-z0uxIuIoeX2JbesYuvmttLc2vih15FFa7s8m4pDUX2EQQSxSKEloc56s3Bs0Vj8y2nTjp0v9tcbRacMQ45xsbjspIQ_Nu4bAJ5vn5QlNsVdCcpmMiyf9SinCCstM4Q/s1600-h/ac7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigstR4GzG-z0uxIuIoeX2JbesYuvmttLc2vih15FFa7s8m4pDUX2EQQSxSKEloc56s3Bs0Vj8y2nTjp0v9tcbRacMQ45xsbjspIQ_Nu4bAJ5vn5QlNsVdCcpmMiyf9SinCCstM4Q/s400/ac7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150587810811103394" border="0" /></a>My plant book for this area, Linda Abbott Tripp's "<span style="font-style: italic;">Ornamental Plants and Flowers of Tropical Mexico</span>" was created by a non-gardener. But has been very helpful for me when I am trying to identify a plant. Unfortunately the author doesn't use the Spanish names, which makes it difficult when searching nurseries. Otherwise it's very helpful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3cNHOzl7Vzp1YfEjRPBuGaQX5KGyTpAYWd73xhqpuNIn6-_d_Fl-uJxipu7dPXUlVV5tyNbcTGZVsOeNszFmYKhIa9XFDEzQssYPtHJls_ly2kzTzgOHyCfu87SPAZ8eNjrrLw/s1600-h/ac4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3cNHOzl7Vzp1YfEjRPBuGaQX5KGyTpAYWd73xhqpuNIn6-_d_Fl-uJxipu7dPXUlVV5tyNbcTGZVsOeNszFmYKhIa9XFDEzQssYPtHJls_ly2kzTzgOHyCfu87SPAZ8eNjrrLw/s400/ac4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150587368429471858" border="0" /></a>The author says the Crinium is in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Amaryllidaceae </span>family<span style="font-style: italic;">, </span>and is also called Swamp Lily, and Milk and Wine Lady. It seems to like heavy dampish soil and grows from a giant bulb. I have tried various ways to propagate it without success.<br /><br />I don't want to dig any of the plants up. They are very large. The strapping leaves are often about 5 feet long. I think they are spectacular looking and am glad my landlady planted them here. She thinks she planted one plant about 5 years ago. She doesn't know how the other plants grew up about 10 feet away. Neither do I, but I sure like them.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-36683637021972611872007-12-05T20:24:00.000-07:002007-12-05T20:49:49.478-07:00A Plant on Playa Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEB2ojKW8MSF702l6fuSlTLRGHk5yqmE5UnKLovMpWS326VqaYAT1Um9uNs7-7BNnfIIXsqJN8WF7N9ILJFniljMepr6Cwh1C76SXqLU4watr4qto4eFVRCGj9pezgc0y3uMvuQ/s1600-h/ag4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEB2ojKW8MSF702l6fuSlTLRGHk5yqmE5UnKLovMpWS326VqaYAT1Um9uNs7-7BNnfIIXsqJN8WF7N9ILJFniljMepr6Cwh1C76SXqLU4watr4qto4eFVRCGj9pezgc0y3uMvuQ/s400/ag4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140698576025984722" border="0" /></a>Yesterday morning I walked over to the home of one of my favorite landladies in Chacala. I love the new palapa and grass turf at Mirador. The palapa, and two of the unit units overlook the ocean, with a short staircase and a 50 foot walk to the big beach.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DEQRle9qpf253NwwhNod7R1b3JLpw0k3Gprz5a9SOZGcUX7cRqySl8l11xAnRlTuJOsjrQ6RCjBeqbFVAe_uult7SI5CNeDzla0iD3B0eUuQMPLbl8U0AMP6skEEvQSSbMV7KQ/s1600-h/ag10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DEQRle9qpf253NwwhNod7R1b3JLpw0k3Gprz5a9SOZGcUX7cRqySl8l11xAnRlTuJOsjrQ6RCjBeqbFVAe_uult7SI5CNeDzla0iD3B0eUuQMPLbl8U0AMP6skEEvQSSbMV7KQ/s400/ag10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140696896693771970" border="0" /></a>As I was walking home along the beach, I noticed a plant I didn't recognize, and don't remember seeing before. On a talk stalk, behind a fence, just off the beach.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4eHTHBK_oS_uLVSu87umlObs-RPVLeOr11PEJ1NDZseyiV5QpM8GGiR5v1-K0mVc2Hhx989bwBUy9VRQWW6rHIm4sZVH8Qc2ifiS0lYrp0EocVf8GQkGU_Oz2YIrseOrxSnUtg/s1600-h/ag5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4eHTHBK_oS_uLVSu87umlObs-RPVLeOr11PEJ1NDZseyiV5QpM8GGiR5v1-K0mVc2Hhx989bwBUy9VRQWW6rHIm4sZVH8Qc2ifiS0lYrp0EocVf8GQkGU_Oz2YIrseOrxSnUtg/s400/ag5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140696626110832306" border="0" /></a>It was growing just inside the fenced off area of a small home. Actually kind of a dumping area from the beach. The soil seems to be basically sand. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ9v184AXHzdgKVH53Zuen2Bcr-VgpQrMgt_apoScYlYzGm-uOkugF9om3z-QmMBGAQ-IY9S48dg6Noktv2HzBDrZOJU9RMgfgqsHK0p7NA3ypuPSPLah1aAZIfmuODbuHb1NOg/s1600-h/ag2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ9v184AXHzdgKVH53Zuen2Bcr-VgpQrMgt_apoScYlYzGm-uOkugF9om3z-QmMBGAQ-IY9S48dg6Noktv2HzBDrZOJU9RMgfgqsHK0p7NA3ypuPSPLah1aAZIfmuODbuHb1NOg/s400/ag2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140696617520897666" border="0" /></a>I tried taking photos from different distances, and angles. And with the light shining from different directions. I read about doing that in a "Gardener Gone Wild" post a few days ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vAs90JWhe0nxaxwHOdC1zCj5KnbyqFFmJRjgEWcU9VmtzWtcYMF_b41f65n4KFuzAEud4mcZrk2PVvSIA1Gh805FUNhNNn7A9jJdGKdNYmRzNUbyYRgbTNmwwB1UnBjGAw3uUg/s1600-h/ag3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vAs90JWhe0nxaxwHOdC1zCj5KnbyqFFmJRjgEWcU9VmtzWtcYMF_b41f65n4KFuzAEud4mcZrk2PVvSIA1Gh805FUNhNNn7A9jJdGKdNYmRzNUbyYRgbTNmwwB1UnBjGAw3uUg/s400/ag3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140696621815864978" border="0" /></a>But, of course, my photos didn't look anything like the author's, . But it was fun trying. I looked thru my books, but haven't looked on the internet, to see what this place it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKlfntM3RYAPYkMaBW8CKwFXyBcHBLpgZE55Trs1UQvrgS0pIfCUVbIhFOa_sCO4cyPaa98fqb4afZHQbRQxppwvDHQv-4FywOEnjVy9Sp5SK73zEOt-wOm7in4HYu3rtAdtbYA/s1600-h/ag4.jpg"><br /></a>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-15655012864137881412007-12-02T21:20:00.000-07:002007-12-02T14:37:06.888-07:00Moving Plants Around in Chacala<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflda8TYZOW-gApThLPe8ZcsRCfnO22hiJGvuSpZS0i33O_4XtUKktAumJo0Pbr_h1L5He-OsnMjm3cJOkh33U9JtXPI3NXyopCoINSBCHHMawBvBFu9rCZLn2COy30nc_dakokA/s1600-r/ab2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp9Km6xAd9JTmJ-GuxeQoLbE21JS35Xr9g01xq5HgvGz8v818C0v0WdxlCNrannwLBTYP8WrzxW8-yZIMOA3r5VSrAEzZrjRRk2uCdwi-RemRpBC0e_fJq0ARgax8oZwUwc5SJQ/s400/ab2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139233888326216450" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Here is a hibiscus cutting and four Kalanchoes and three Aloe Veras are sharing a space.<br />Probably not a good plan. </span></span><br /></div>I have been gardening in this space where I live in Chacala for about eight or nine months now. It was hard for me to get started here. I had lots of plants from my old place. Still in pots. But I couldn't figure out how to plant them. How to arrange the gardening space.<br /><br />The space was a strange mess, with no topsoil and several levels plus two small hillsides. It was hard to figure out how to get started.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3YXOsFQsuJI1AATWEBraEJyWs7bZ-DWczO4PGK32sEngSc4NiE_Xo9VSvu0YW8rE4ODLo5oCz7lK2ZYX_LEtKkqAAU3cHbCP3fQ9spPHg0mQ_Aim7mpL_9654QSpKwilvcbf6g/s1600-r/ab4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRq3a0dSiuXSzz-3kvifeP4mqHOz7lqzw307irppezucmklDv8mjhjZTO-A_TBH4wSnHAdrAcFV7_8EELnK1PqCOEEHkvRm6M9tTMajyMAXNfh3oksOm7WDCqGPfvjkNNsotYvw/s400/ab4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139233892621183762" border="0" /></a>But my gardening consultant(works for frozen lime cheesecake pie), Sherry Merciari, from Oakland, California, came over from next door (she's here for a month each winter), and scoped on the situation in two seconds. She basically said to make planting areas tucked in the five different flat spots. And that's what I did. With the help of her son Freddie, the famous stone worker.<br /><br />I worked on things for about three months. Making beds with low stone walls to hold the dirt in. And a little bit of terracing off the hillside. Freddie did most of that. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs0WNJbjEc1x0IsnPgbtovze1goRigymxCJE14pnz5sPpl4h2EQHNH-8RL5j0WbtsPOPvXBiJq2KYHcOFy9FRLYLoRrI8Vaos4yzeQcAgH-neaUIAu8hXrjXczr9AzOsOnpHbNQ/s1600-r/g6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCScOLA0YhEbirW-EmYwSGov1L3zqpfQ8nuTjt6a0rdZ-fclXYEdhEXTtMinZHoMqpPSXW37vAoD3HyChyphenhyphenuCeb-5XNl6ighYBdestbjXyiLmM90TXB1FlKhUlvzcjNO7pj9JpxHA/s400/g6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139229812402252514" border="0" /></a>You can see from these photos that the different types of plants are all mixed together: succulents and regular flowering plants, shrubs and Criniums, a papaya, a Noni, Desert roses and cacti and Bird of Paradise, a rose, and Gardenia, etc etc. Succulents in soil that was too rich and wet. But they mostly grew anyway. Some rotted.<br /><br />But I kind of got discouraged the day I came home and found that my landlady's boyfriend hauled off all the 105 large rocks I had collected from across the road. To finish terracing the hillside. And he used them to make a wall......never mind. it's too annoying to talk about. Anyway.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK15SwKWK-zL70OPkfiGti27V9W4ngIubxdhbxh6g65JH5n2mFD2VqFFwui99zsZ0yXpx3xDrf58JLEgcDcsd7FHV0y4PwQfwBu1Y_J3IkpMTFtXPjWOH9pkWgw8cr-uZL2sAkZg/s1600-r/g2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4UTFuT7pYTSKcyJ9OOAndJvWN3o4Ss1p0FYOnDrPPot_uj4l1sqpvxok1Qn3MYQKQedGWd2m3zYcROLWTBYVX-uZmZ9eZflcYJ4T5E3K1p7fudeLgQoCOK12_vzGefebt5D8Wg/s400/g2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139226354953579154" border="0" /></a>I kind of lost interest for two or three months. Partly because of the trouble I was having protecting my plants. From the malicious anti-plant behavior on the part of the male members of landlady's annoying family.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2_VMHuw6r6jgxQlbF6RdGbTKV60W4FBtbWcn3uDu9jYsantl6Ti2WJnsCXDgbIYTj7zW0LaLRJCuNhCbkWCjzsTZmbsT_iLRav5Td7zanUCrqo7kCjK1fEkTauNX_bJTQLKoIA/s1600-r/ab1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHhcWH1xe_ZkgBlqZCRovvra9oCyt2F1K3ZUoh_fHp03qoRJzWyDcknRWz6ZraqyxpH6gT-a4bC3-kdLYRluEIwG3ZeJtOcIDQi-G4Om27raYMai5fXEcxKXMzD7upHCtLUJDDA/s400/ab1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139233884031249138" border="0" /></a>But I am really back in gardening mode. Two trips to buy plants, three sacks of good dirt, and three containers of cuttings from plants I already have or that someone gave me. And lots of little pots of rooted cuttings. And some plants started from seed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg0mS83aTz4VJRi2cBQ-E3pvyCMC4rfTyE2P3sm99FvhPi1SyqBNkkcueHiJAsykdTYGa6D-3CRauqgSNQqNRQidi7M7kYVqrG5AX_Jqf_jdLOWu3tkbmXH7qrmaXoN3v5jfocQ/s1600-r/g4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_RipeKOye2a7zPCksWiFyiDUfYNA_Zr8pTKBbuZw72wS6kJQkQ5FZ8BCpaUCBZFGr3Uo7buNgPsSHw6jCrcoujhUXWmsWIz-FjkUcZMWb5uipBiVm-hjoKbM0aOL45E5I4KEUQ/s400/g4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139226367838481074" border="0" /></a>This past year I have been treating my three main (small) gardening beds like places to stash plants, rather than a "garden" with a plan and some thought about how would look. I was trying to figure out what the different plants need for sun/shade, poor soil/rich soil, water/not much water, etc. And being kind of lazy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSfWrwBWNfhOCQgO2M2WahzKK2NuER_MeSORBc4OiMMpN5jBp_rND163FFcr3jlqjpr6gMoSVdou_WAYjohUfCQjiImQZZbGMMSt66AXeO4eHJTvJ40BGUICWN2HW0cQuT-si-w/s1600-r/g3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHUx_a8O4YBNQ-FbPEB73LhQaMHnlTCDMznVdYsCKxmmrSJIYGNRvsGmBLG3YtjdMytXmmLI8gkE3KnP-SPO9Yr_SxtAqp7i-cabl3dAGxE9NnzTQ6T0o5zikSSidDPfvbS8irQ/s400/g3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139226363543513762" border="0" /></a>My first three years in Chacala I had gardened almost entirely in pots. And you can just drag them to another spot if they don't look happy, or even change to soil. So gardening in the ground in Zone 11 or 12 has been a learning experience.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLI7d1G2JofUB1QMH53VFJkV5f4whIWvdCISK-eWLtJdZbiWBe5KS_rMVFIeems0D0D4T2EVSP3DbU4NWSCbq6ri3TNCnfxAShyrJumdyB3h5zrtUnQcMAd31i4UjHk5p-q29Tg/s1600-r/g7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73LQwo0G4HuDMNYD3cVxDM1LBBYx0T0LMb-te8_vNL1pvrvEcW7PxGODabrP-GTodSY2odStrS9rVH1Ak0FHh-MWk6YQb6Nl4zBAH0_QPkuN9vpu303gkTgRAAqYKKHEM8S6m3A/s400/g7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139229808107285202" border="0" /></a>I am starting to move things around. It looks like I am going to have a larger (still very small) bed and some hillside for the succulents, including cacti, And three other area for lush flowering and and non-flowering plants. There is room for both sun lovers and shade lovers I think. For shade and privacy. And because some of them were already planted, from when I lived in this place three years ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0kDVarmJi6M6eGq8fhbFajbAVdO2ZG-qns5r9mTPkiIQNmpvwJOplYob-3bIVOtO3rIw3t1J9rV6iVIWmst4qFDvHYos_HOl2RBN-H6up93sXca2vAj-IcDEx6JASlG4Z2Ourg/s1600-r/g1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmjLPlbiJog6N2ZMlVLurtqZoksdICeJL8TIhr9LDFYjIoW7Fa3Znt0bVi3UkJzRIhhq2Byyz9uaBGfPyu9xJTIf0UGZ3PJaIf9gquYw3ssxKjHACA5wNaBi6qD5AFjNObkFHdw/s400/g1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139226350658611842" border="0" /></a>Those beds are out closer to the road. Then there are two other beds right up near the house. They have been mostly nursery beds. For transplanting cuttings to after they root. And for sticking plants I don't know much about. There are two bouganvilleas, three plumbagos, and an oleander, payapa, rose, another Gardenia and four huge flowering Criniums, and some other flowering plants along one side of that area.<br /><br />I think I am going to use two smaller bed areas just for young plants from seed and cuttings. I moved most everything out of those two beds today. Except for the oleander, plumbagos, and bougainvilleas, which are kind of big to move. And they look nice from from on the road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzryLuIrxwnQNeKIgANk2mOPr3RdfkJNua_FxNskRKvY-jWcNIXgQEDzOzmTj3Pv-TrzW5GT0KuPrQskmfxHd_96KX2-k6vvlZDFXr8zzfGTa0IxK3A47WWc94hX13RaaJbl2Umg/s1600-r/g5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFLOFhTmfGeP5S2JYY7t0H7c3QQX4J2b_C90oQxi2z73NTTMY3PhUxmaYtrLvDTFfo6s1kQ7RhAL1a8wP95-TIUpzi1AhtQsqnd3Ert_ptP13uR9ye-3LmMsEoUbn3GQinGBjsg/s400/g5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139226367838481090" border="0" /></a>(Above)This is a photo of a bunch of Desert Rose (Adenium Obesum) cuttings I put in a bucket of soil last spring and forgot about. Their roots are so tangled together, I just planted them as one big plant.<br /><br />So the next time I go out there to garden, I am going to continue shifting plants around. And plant my last large purchase. Another Desert Rose that I am going to use as a cutting plant.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-48856831500761966632007-12-01T07:35:00.001-07:002007-12-01T22:58:13.816-07:00Seeing Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAzEeswX3wRx-ULhn-tZJWEAoIqUI3NNCBmefrwU3-E5D2LKSRaUY42zeqXFzDnQTG9H2MIaVvVX6NQs1SV9G-IKvJ9hK9tN7oZPfqn6plDCsIMkM-uOdmVEKsh4CamRoWiKQ8w/s1600-r/gg8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWHcOSHX3yTrDDZI5BfmMugKIMIrVUDgrA3XkG1y3z5upx5_ZUdUvlybbEIiK_CRwvpHppsDek3E8L52bGKlWp9SgCk3eBSFjYx0-6m0PUXh_s5TPxvL5_D22tPsWIpAL34ZY6w/s400/gg8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014986728040962" border="0" /></a>I often sit on the sand of Playa Chacala early in the morning. I love to watch the sunlight move across the water toward me. I usually remember how grateful I am that I live in such a beautiful place. And that I can see something new every day. Well, really, I can see something new every second, if I stop to take the time to look.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMmt3W_MW9x0JSsnnTUuXsQ_sy_EVk57qriBodvKdUxX75z3MlPBCVSQeP28kH2GXJtLnSq-MsLY7UBSJfvu2Wc_ggR7mT1DtAw5djKUKSLzHarCE9bN8CI75TYBrEbGevUuNkA/s1600-r/gg10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cxDPvv6riBb4fUIODsfpMj70p-VS2cTP90-BiVUddlWMamxTeRLVmdXSa96aE2P61pS1ywcpDbIpjkYN0Og4WQg9UN1eJ25Y9W7iumX21I_B0GNxbu1qQGTtxUQN7Fd28uYlGQ/s400/gg10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014999612942882" border="0" /></a>But this morning I was triply thankful for my good fortune. I was watching three little kids, maybe 5-6 years old. They were into the water as soon as the sunlight crept up onto the beach.<br />A woman, their mother I assume, sat on a little low bluff about 50 feet from them. Watching over them and smiling.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUgzy5Q4Woa7VEpe3rgyBF9Ppx7uohQESDec2l30Bv0SyJR4ITJ3QBCQCW8N4ScnqopQgmMK86zEjpa53xREUgPT_Yf3AnUEKsScQQq0kM0uaTM7ZkFsJL9twisddVMBLAhycmA/s1600-r/aaaaa3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlbqayyy7Zl9-oEy6qbv0eQb9MNhQ9H5gtCqruclkDaE4JXX6r1x5LV1CBGBsQgIWHp3pBHtQWJr3OfaYqoqIH0LWpmjo7LK7zqbf3A9n0LOAp-qWVOIfpdM8iN49gEd7Iq807Q/s400/aaaaa3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139020746279184978" border="0" /></a>Several times I noticed on of the girls holding the boy's hand. I thought they looked sweet together. It look me a awhile to realize the little boy couldn't see. And that she was guiding him. I never would have guessed until I saw him up close. And then it was obvious.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLMsBe_4yTeHEFMAuxlammk-4iPvu-dIjL3bNUx6zhqTTkMB5RPGpw4Whz6tOvj4p4axmstRhcRfv5XMt4gSN_pJEnvjCF4TSBAcm_wuOkfOfta_irnM1OvYajIacEwlnb9XXmg/s1600-r/blindboy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEQYE3L1okB6DVffVLBAEntJdyCyRB8YEkXVsUVS5zijReEe0HSQH68oUz0-CZkmfWcOsCBTr9Hi-xeJ4Ck67fPj5bTEnaa6dL5Zus7qlGK-H3k3JyC2hP_cZ0vsTye4op4wC8A/s400/blindboy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139128120461584994" border="0" /></a>He was running in and out of the water, on the the smooth sand, enjoying the little waves rushing in and receding. They sat in the water, waist deep and dug little holes in the wet sand. These children were so full of life. Enjoying the ocean and the sand and the sunshine.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI8cJ1lmxpfPSLAx6w_a0kjRvyjQ6rSA3HlK_9KUHfzaF1kKJhLoLc10Ek-Hb6DFEobqI_kFoVB3OtL8AD0ZnD68MtsNq-_lvdVz0h9vBlgx82r8vVsflOMMZ1CN8ldWA52OAOw/s1600-r/gg11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdMoPTNeJeXHdegh0_xP7Bav44x9gsIsV0oUn6Z2zOF4IhZbXygA1iMoTOhosasf6t05AxMM-aHqe584i2iPxwyGiF-wi3dA_YESUPJORDE2dUFop1Epoz-y2bOGr4SkWa8WCYA/s400/gg11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139015008202877490" border="0" /></a>I walked home in a much different space than I was in when I arrived at the beach. I felt overwhelmed with how much there was to see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEgSW5PXQ_LBpNUns8BRkj295dVgnY6k1fC3DvE1E7KohGvS4RXDx4pl8n70_gtrX9BptXHwKXjRcWBe_fvosiNUdQCMb84otXEK0KeTaKuQu17Hrc_IfIhvuPf2m2Ceq-2hSCg/s1600-r/gg3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELNd5uMkWmtXx25XKsvwcT2dKQ0h54qwZnwRKDZUaCEkXVmKFb0qnQd2GH0052-x2EHQhrGi649T5JMQ4wXyS-pXNsKN3UEuZhpIc2uvBzrjdyZelYKq74pRN9g_b4QEDhOrltw/s400/gg3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014136324516290" border="0" /></a>I kept looking at all the plants in buckets and containers, in front of every house and restaurant. Every one is different. And many are filled what I still think of as houseplants.<br />But they grow out in the open here, year around. And often under difficult conditions. Sea spray, not enough water, blasting sunshine, and drowning in the rainy season.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LMBQra9PBZqLIMlnYw5avTjxp1Qw807PwpevefvSpBdoSNFnOXkRIPINoYe7TJyXAs_QQfYLQE42cpOIn9deXvvkNAd20SoZUZS9fmbET4X4P8d_EVV4iVED5aJF37eMU6Hrfg/s1600-r/gg1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbt1TP_JplBEl0-RM-gdbYetSB_zSP1Yj3Leg-g4vLqojdzfDt8uOHW2BGCo3ov29P30oYsjnxWlGdQejQb4DwKAIUx1v9jzBqw_X_vJgCT1xPiMozYvKONJa8DbqithsIx_gL6Q/s400/gg1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014119144647074" border="0" /></a>The containers in front of the yellow wall are set on the little landing to the restrooms at Chico's. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-GFqoNlhXJLPt_7iXuZGhY3ELjYo6vLfuTyAWt-tGQiB58Ik-tvsMwgsey-lcn4houtThY0x3pM3pENakQhLSYZKSV-No8ug8iZZMOHJTHglyPYpgQ3syyiEGOo7e-Fd3oZ-IQ/s1600-r/gg9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtU4tpiOir0McyMEJI8OePIfPufO9LDQkS0vx0CN4kXe_4AbJpQbW5XYE32nu466LQfaJG8Z23ustrkuyVyit-Ufqw64y15e7akGHOFYvzMR4ssyWe6ifITKkCSg9lwM9-jJSg3A/s400/gg9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014991023008274" border="0" /></a>The plants on the staircase are on the step's up to Socorro's daughters little home. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnEeEcm8L3yhhREDg0VMktTGgnNRpsOIPuOMXo7ng7nbv5FWDgZ0MTdoKMJ4UtNmgbf3V4PAJLZ7QESc8shIn4S5fvc66HlCIFL9ocBkWQvqfCjAT5R2XSbekcvXKZcOttd3_Bw/s1600-r/gg2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hPjwusU9XUKTE6_LZn4lFwN53JFRT5lKnQVoMQt4tiGhwOLc1Ef4It0MO0mzfnY1irNcIK1MRqxIAICZCwpMoWMZbnmGizKQOZWL7144H0nAy8GQXK5XvYOYL7KrIi6K63NLcQ/s400/gg2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014127734581682" border="0" /></a>These plants filled this little empty restaurant. It's only open during Semana Santa and Feliz Navidad/Ano Neuvo, when Chacala is packed to the gills with visitors from the inland states of Mexico.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiHqS3f6c9JzXJqQBXprQUNyt2zmqo_e1DduoMsLbkVzjkp2zGAKN_Svzb6Pd9wBzVaKI6YMoe9wIzQRACW2XicYZFc3G3kcFuJG4BGKwKwGWqcP_zbGPuPB120kE1IiO3ts_3g/s1600-r/gg7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNTb6RzZM70JpRzYkcXLXNjo9zxvQ9n0X-Jrsgn5GXSLtj32zCuGDqUvWcRL7Q22iF7LLW4MAUMrHlxr5229MadPrSE_DPDOTeDsXgaUfTklgjZHpJNBrV47K0SfNd5LRMtbIfg/s400/gg7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014982433073650" border="0" /></a>This container was in front of Augustine and Ana's house. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiFYFhdEa1Fnk5oUFWsR-oukhCWqvm02mb9EtimzYjApSbjbzB6xnNU350zP3bqR2GBen1DMAzLBUlFaklaVyd5bO3c2PTzGgQGSjeHTOZtb7LSPgsQ9Tlm5IBsohO1bTlfhaWQ/s1600-r/gg6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSidqMg2SOh9vTRjyfUwtCT87RJu3Yru11QqWgC3JpUjlynRbzMmQ7MhsAAcxdy1gPFzcnB2SqFG8UgmBZtbTepyuUc8QGnIc-U60VGQNsRi9guNtt3S0w1bVYsL89CMiG2dAjg/s400/gg6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014144914450914" border="0" /></a>And almost every yard has a chili plant. This huge one is also in front of Ana and Augustine's .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwYJj2KAusky2eEkcqYORlLJUDk3XLXS5RnVGFtRESnrM32U2OExVaMsvOEsQbIz9JcclWAmx-_-UYp0F2K-9-7kebH8CrKrCrQhSTJ6CqDUTbOtQJPWRNcGCHfYp5eTiFujL8Q/s1600-r/gg4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr3PyZUk-f6h8Tb_M1NRBiJXUDGN5OihXIL0n7Fw4QZNpjBlNqSYHxWFOboxgFmrykeVWmt-hOrEftcBL2k0IB2TvmFnpfbDYTxyW0xwLXsPtclj7L1d8iavZBY0-UsB4hYJFBw/s400/gg4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139014140619483602" border="0" /></a>It was a nice walk home. And I really enjoyed looking at my new plants as I walked up there steps to my place.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfawJjbSB1SM19jKSqpra-4wfUQnajMaxIm1PcXycC417zWba9Kei4obta1uvIwHZLUP0O_F5MwEiPbIKL_iaU9Ux7pzMZNbF6gM2UQFzwcuglqFbgTzunpuGr83JYmfYRGcmZJw/s1600-r/papayatree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWO91cjcZm_WmNuC4CqS9ZkJmDp7e2VfzaPlbaa3BMEl0FC5__SdCZdCRWbhfbDyHyztEooPfY9JQeeD2zmlO7stoVy8Hneg5i1L3Qp5jHq240IjvNt17Ox9ESVOgtZpRGtC2XQ/s400/papayatree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139128150526356082" border="0" /></a>Somehow I had never noticed this little papaya tree up against a fence. A very usual sight in Chacala. A wooden fence. Wood is rarely used in building in this part of Mexico. Too many voracious wood-eating insects. But here's a little fence section I never noticed before.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-79583976989994453552007-11-29T19:46:00.000-07:002007-11-29T20:40:19.465-07:00Bringing New Cacti Home to Chacala<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jCzAfyk2p3sW0YLaZ0D5UuaHqSX-sEinCpbZndVtQReOKlYqp706XIywkQllZW51xdcq8-0ud1NwQzLp27oQi9j6hq3y_w3LZ_jMjcIQwQG49bC5FQ-I1wBWA4m-R6emfEPkEQ/s1600-r/aaaa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpbdsXs9nnH8awDJU50OiaRInV7YtyoRXSCjBqhHpmMlvhqGPsTVcawUvq9oGaMeQE93WMp1FgpBWKteAtqbYmnwtzgag4v_EiDlGG_9lPgJFyAdiVzDJIufpyt4ohkk6KyLpbg/s400/aaaa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138472352243606706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This is a piece of thread art created by a Huitchol Indian, who live in Nayarit and Jalisco.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> They were being sold at the market today.</span><br /><br /></span></span></div>I left Chacala early this morning. I went to the street market in the neighboring town, La Penita, this morning. It's about 12 miles away, but it's a two-taxi/collectivo ride each way. I wanted to be home by 10:30am because I was expecting some company.<br /><br />So I left home at 7:15am and caught the collectivo that takes the private school kids to Las Varas. And got out at the highway. And stood there for about two minutes, when another taxi that does the Las Varas-La Penita run, came by. It took 22 minutes to get from Chacala to La Penita, for 25mx/2.25us.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8PD2v4w6yDQblD5NIwamRk7n0qPGFRxOltDDPKn1afjAfFupWneFwcyVhjYdZg03L3Kb2uA_ZYQYWdEClebEe7B_jzseQjWRDaHBc3pBRjloYs3SBbZw1Lxvqiwv7VH1ZbfVdg/s1600-r/ag7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4VXxiHB6NeIDJSHZ6QjRbSNv56MSXf0k2XUYh9EizYGaAlYQpVQ6wd3E3IGOgzM9LaDw0gXjRVU1PP_01e7nZa3tgP0Q8Yy0xOkmCf7oJhPf1LePS9MeZaeyt0L4IybUWJMrLQ/s400/ag7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138465098043843698" border="0" /></a>I was shopping mainly for plants and for a couple of new shirts and some shorts. I don't have a lot of clothes. So they get worn and washed a lot and only last a year or two. Found a couple of shirts I liked, tropical cotton shirts, and a pair of shorts. All recognizable brands from the US. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaSVu4N_54OEQ2rO2mmZ4pn-fDX03R9IzpdmSAR524AM8gVvzqmFsSxmEohIZTb_3pNe9AZzx6zEz0zrwGSt_1rCuJgwyATnw6tXhrDmEnX73tslJEO1eag14JAH07v6ZZksJAQ/s1600-r/ag6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH3PL6y4RIBBOvAIbDVclcKSEv4NW7xSKDzGhmAGTRTmFYEDhZ57GFVbRchb7IypKnVoJZhuZuWrTO1OMj-euuOqV1w9ytjINRmzWtXhyphenhyphenst3WpTd9tzk0TKFSVtyw2v2zTN-kOw/s400/ag6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138464763036394594" border="0" /></a>But the price has risen because gringo season has started around here. Instead of being 40 pesos a piece, they were 50 pesos each (formerly 3.60us, now 4.50us). Still pretty good.<br /><br />Then I moved on the plaza where there are vendors who come especially for the gringo season. About late November thru late March. I was looking for plants, maybe succulents. And my neighbors from last summer, Juan and Zule.<br /><br />Found two of the three vendors right off. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwQDfjEUfdPttfn1EuJwRVZgMJFD222ZNR7-fIlmNEf4xNoVgHaaUr5EquZU3WPvAORvfH7b6ZE96qWzp5zi_aTu7y_1MU_0xRrnkKUmNFYZ_Wg7vmbC2MlXspLu871ir6jv6lA/s1600-r/ag5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTgMtgraWkPQB9THLMO9ItmMJTzZSf3EVM3YtKi32hUOK27RhPsRN542agRXsEEBJyrOfaRHHWNk-lUeyW2yG2VAhLe2gBK6vEt6YbGfiVMPW5eM9ZooFOCKNBgBblpVbeaQEqg/s400/ag5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138464754446459986" border="0" /></a>My favorite plant seller, a middle-aged woman, was nowhere in sight. She has her own little plant nursery and I really enjoy being around here. But the two guys who buy plants from wholesalers were there. They don't know the names, but they do know the prices. This time they were all 10-12 pesos. 90 cents to 1.10us each.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJegRWgJkCuiH5yn52-Cr2Rh1_XWnn11G_VqOfq1RZOG9GIk6txNOzmFQifIRSid4H5HKe1b4GbcEIdL8kITcWyO6ztChEESNvBjuJ_1gXbNhXuslw1xMRZSInYE_QNdmynbRcw/s1600-r/ag2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZGO69LiT6j0zfN_pFRJ2dncDAVagUJoS81wtD0tdwfeRmbN3g3ZYcAvZCzIu8rdRZNXvLJM8OCToIsNoeLzM-bUlnnpZqctfelsh3c2iG94jsTi33wGxgtYKwa5WJysksAHfyw/s400/ag2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138464737266590770" border="0" /></a>They had the strangest looking succulents I have seen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eCWiVB9BB50S43uRmzhRS3uPdg5tIYZfT8HdO06rFrsYIF5dWYLtn-hBshiWE4ObnO3eIbKorQRqsCb5lmo_DhAQH5ssGxIbK6_4UHvkWuePS_6Nnhu9e6ClY5gdbVKv2H6qLA/s1600-r/ag4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt_02ICIuGjIBnPOBHg9msM0xpzSryhEaP3quxGWylOk4JLPTDyLaBfhVAY3AF67c3KywmlAXvZrccWU_VjbvoVCQR6nXiIjlxKh5jUfD6DBZu3k8f5mIisSwF0fl515vnFZ-Dg/s400/ag4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138464750151492674" border="0" /></a>Peculiar blossoms. Very odd.<br /><br />Finally a nasty mouthed woman, said to her friend, in English, "Those idiots (the vendors) put fake blossoms on those cactus." In a very loud voice. So I put my glasses on, and sure enough, there were fake blossoms.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTw8Nu_uOIloYIW-Ygvrwdgq8gmQKYUuE1ffc6wgIEfW8Jinr8FKT8B6h6bLCVse1FlIdOdHzXGZz1JqpBNbE-yDatoV6BnvN7M1SUHzgd3FRau7OOEayJ8kSLCf6UwBnevotJw/s1600-r/ag1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW223wDVHJV-vuajYin8LGxMTkW_O51Dkst1f_cLm-vAEJ_5PnZr8RDEhyphenhyphentOQR7hWfiJZ0eJeJDmTWPKIr73REvbr0UCACr2kDrOZpgMHdl8nZPgot6F48uosaJD5dQ-OyvUxCg/s400/ag1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138464732971623458" border="0" /></a>After the lovely ladies left, the vendor told me the decorated plants were for Christmas and were very popular.Then we removed the "blossoms" from my plants so he would use them on some other plants.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXwl_qBsPkEfUCuqdZnqsrgNYeDr5UUw9AtY_UxsSbaYQy2AFDkh5h7HDZyMJXieObhWrhcFhvLaYDv9kKG61heleCclvr8yZP_HqxMJ525cjTy1Hq9fZ4oUXO6_-KGT0l1wYWw/s1600-r/az3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6elnsj8iT8NtJTYRMGWxTol5_61OXjjC4chcLmo9HBBrOgy9RGYis_Jgisq4anMSPU9Qnv_LctTJrM3EcSPjqdTcd3N408iqSTlmSPp33whGFDDJ7vS-D2Bsoz4pLFjICC-BrQ/s400/az3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138468074456179874" border="0" /></a>I found Zule and Juan hanging out with their musician and jewelry making friends. They lived downstairs from me for a couple of months this past summer. That was their "vacation". Meaning they sold pineapple "salads" from 10am to 7pm on the beach. From a rolling cart.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Q3UP87v0fvUgKnI9Qdp9s0hTcvR2A8NW4u1OCO7PawPolEkY1KfkWZtYIJkzVN65CqTuDhT-jFRxMQqg4qDSqr1iL7qeI9GNKm_VrgzfoWczhZdb2Uhtsexm1rdwBYmmePSOxg/s1600-r/az1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeeEanUPmDVimPNK3B7zPA-pg_d1TpgWgYnPvU5dBRDuD-60zekeVlsfkIti6fMEBHZr0md7FBflRH5u3ypHlx2E1-r6acbMDPFT4wYJlbuZRmZMXbUxkb7_REkFgLQB53LOY2g/s400/az1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138467979966899330" border="0" /></a>When they are not on vacation, they sell pineapples at a beach closer to home. About 7 miles from Chacala. At the Playa de Naranjo. The beach area was just sold off to the highest bidder and all the restaurants and cuestos (shops in shacks) were bulldozed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUyOXrBa9xTAwJaW1dWh1tGP10X_CcnZYz-ty3d9reIXPB_FVE-vNAC3EDz0PTvMD-_qQS2WYL3o6BIrXvqhAxrEESnaCDZbMVtvCGkn1ag2ieNmxPEH4K77E7N4CSDdyFKik8Q/s1600-r/az2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GjdC5O94Kv_ZSNFwfQuU2NYGV8E7oQL1RiOOvo-vuCSNMCQpstxtEayOFeYUB8yrUFwVLmOeTsLf3ICtTRvK7m92tW7dtUsh6xFzupRsl1rFIN2hbiE2zHZCgZcAedU_fdFWTw/s400/az2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138468065866245266" border="0" /></a>So Zule and Juan are looking for another location. Right now they are back in Chacala on weekends.<br /><br />I looked around for a few other things. Some coloring books and crayons for visiting kids. And some bright colored handtowels, and headed home. was home by 10:15am. Not a bad trip. I got 15 new little succulents,. some of them cacti for 15omx/$15us. No more spending money this month. Th spending spree is over for now.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-63495125892072516902007-11-25T14:54:00.000-07:002007-11-25T15:35:23.571-07:00Planting my New Plants in My Chacala Garden<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGX7rtYJTT_6oWdxqP19jXUCAO-BbfHW6D0XaC13e0t8IvNc8RO9sWVacE-4XjSxcO1DFnPgrLZpns4ZBRqziiDpAXLYYOInNfpz8Lo5gLvNbDsXn1Z9y_Hvgs6uHeMGklBm_aw/s1600-h/aa11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGX7rtYJTT_6oWdxqP19jXUCAO-BbfHW6D0XaC13e0t8IvNc8RO9sWVacE-4XjSxcO1DFnPgrLZpns4ZBRqziiDpAXLYYOInNfpz8Lo5gLvNbDsXn1Z9y_Hvgs6uHeMGklBm_aw/s400/aa11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136908765104530450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Here is one of a about 8 Kalanchoe plants, from last spring. I guess these are blossoms. The little gobules are empty, mostly. A few seem to have seeds.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I woke up this morning, I wasn't the least bit surprised to see another sunny, blue sky, day in Chacala. I got busy doing anything but gardening. Like taking photos of a newly painted house, to send to the homeowner, as requested by the painter. And cooking a big double chicken breast, and a pan of cornbread. And eating up half of everything.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSttRPHfzpk6u81TNRO9b6RiJM8cB39_cD5He5QYOvGHidJG8HyNONefCcSRxfBw9EBTgMyczy-h2RPXwYNRtn1JaURXNJUunYb5VGhY6d9pMd3HD6LviNJjo2aEsDCHXxjNncA/s1600-h/aa1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSttRPHfzpk6u81TNRO9b6RiJM8cB39_cD5He5QYOvGHidJG8HyNONefCcSRxfBw9EBTgMyczy-h2RPXwYNRtn1JaURXNJUunYb5VGhY6d9pMd3HD6LviNJjo2aEsDCHXxjNncA/s400/aa1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136900570306929602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">These photos are the plants I got yesterday, waiting to hit the dirt.</span></span><br /></div>But, finally, by 3pm, the hottest and sunniest time of day, I decided it was time to plant my nurseries purchases from yesterday. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5gvIqIhUO4KrjpCL2V7xzm2xksBnky8f2swlngNL-4Ss2REk1cDQ9DekAzf8G4uqh-jWIzSVtCwg39M5i0imYJKjAr0K5FhhqcKe4sEjkuBgcisNEDMGvq0QnGALTNHwczY94A/s1600-h/aa2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5gvIqIhUO4KrjpCL2V7xzm2xksBnky8f2swlngNL-4Ss2REk1cDQ9DekAzf8G4uqh-jWIzSVtCwg39M5i0imYJKjAr0K5FhhqcKe4sEjkuBgcisNEDMGvq0QnGALTNHwczY94A/s400/aa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136900578896864210" border="0" /></a>It very hot, but not terribly humid. But I worked as fast as I could. I made new planting spots for the Kalanchoes. It turned out by the six pots held 16 plants. So I dug out more little nests in the rocky hillside. I watered the hose every three minutes, hoping to keep the scorpions at bay. They don't like wet, so I made thee whole are very wet. I planted all the little plants, and then planted three of the bougainvilleas.<br /><br />One of the bougainvilleas is tucked into the hillside bed that I never got planted last spring. Then I cleaned off the rest of the bed and added gravel to fill in the holes between the rock. I got the gravel off the paved road. Well., next to the road, where there is a lot of gravel for some reason. And then added some topsoil. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL6Gf51WHgwmwXxveZ2bxia8gNKwYpOj8ZIaAmrrdsJ1rpipjt7YQRZP7eWYjFHx66v_vp2rEvq9AI287t8jfnAJa3qhhcXG6SQeJ_HTVDl8u1a_fwdZelFAIC2zsYaIYvb4bLw/s1600-h/aa4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL6Gf51WHgwmwXxveZ2bxia8gNKwYpOj8ZIaAmrrdsJ1rpipjt7YQRZP7eWYjFHx66v_vp2rEvq9AI287t8jfnAJa3qhhcXG6SQeJ_HTVDl8u1a_fwdZelFAIC2zsYaIYvb4bLw/s400/aa4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136900583191831522" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow (as in "manana", as in "sometime in the future") I will plant the last two bougainvilleas in that bed. They are the long branched variety, and I hope they will covered the hillside with blossoms. That leaves the two Desert Roses. I am planning to harvest a bunch of cuttings off them in a couple of weeks, so I don't know if I will plant them right now, or where. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayvRdwVXAjvKIjXYmM7YyvyGX9SMU4N3-H8hS5Pcs5zOth4tYCaYEA5xP8iWLDCStwApW3CROIjc4aepXk1nuoIi9lUMYw8UCYuPeGUjqW5QhWhjLEzupgJvWUZwotjxQBGE80g/s1600-h/aa6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayvRdwVXAjvKIjXYmM7YyvyGX9SMU4N3-H8hS5Pcs5zOth4tYCaYEA5xP8iWLDCStwApW3CROIjc4aepXk1nuoIi9lUMYw8UCYuPeGUjqW5QhWhjLEzupgJvWUZwotjxQBGE80g/s400/aa6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136900587486798834" border="0" /></a>I am feeling sort of satisfied with the planting stuff. Nothing like having sacks of nice topsoil to inspire me to get to work. I am hoping to go to the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Garden next week, and to a few nurseries in PV, just to look around, and maybe spend what's left of my life savings, ($35us) on plants. Hopefully succulents. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIARUGPMMtI81rYLCr9ARYX9i4S_LwcZlVXHcCm_0KvBIuHeERvU8bjhinN3P_-lCdNOcoVLhdJtD4kSERV1jZcVahuPH15AMU2Nk_SYDHOQ4sssF4Ivtxk8owC5GkhG1Fnkvpg/s1600-h/aa8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIARUGPMMtI81rYLCr9ARYX9i4S_LwcZlVXHcCm_0KvBIuHeERvU8bjhinN3P_-lCdNOcoVLhdJtD4kSERV1jZcVahuPH15AMU2Nk_SYDHOQ4sssF4Ivtxk8owC5GkhG1Fnkvpg/s400/aa8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136900600371700738" border="0" /></a>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-27153753692237337102007-11-24T18:17:00.000-07:002007-11-24T19:23:54.977-07:00Saturday Morning, at the Vivero, Near Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfJKQ2n1bKsD0T8uA37Pi1VWqSyGp81mAOKKTylwBywEV1tO7_-VPIjEc3f5-NuQ-PKwkn_eqXFFhukilVJxch_y5_UGhsU_6sI0swgT7YqvUOz98WUVN60ov_YK4F8uBlQs4xg/s1600-h/ag7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfJKQ2n1bKsD0T8uA37Pi1VWqSyGp81mAOKKTylwBywEV1tO7_-VPIjEc3f5-NuQ-PKwkn_eqXFFhukilVJxch_y5_UGhsU_6sI0swgT7YqvUOz98WUVN60ov_YK4F8uBlQs4xg/s400/ag7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136582008287617874" border="0" /></a>I woke up this morning, to another glorious Chacala day. It ended up the high was in the mid-80'sF. Clear and sunny with a light breeze. Cloudy in the late afternoon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8mu1BkkSCYXY-m3kFIDO8jq4Z486oOoJNVu7D-ELvJXmFeKUdowbXNm5dcb6LZMmw9UTVak7GLurw8TaP4oAFtW3Qb6PgrwsTADp6mptM459dtHvidG8hgv6-UO5PJGNuSBGYA/s1600-h/ag44.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8mu1BkkSCYXY-m3kFIDO8jq4Z486oOoJNVu7D-ELvJXmFeKUdowbXNm5dcb6LZMmw9UTVak7GLurw8TaP4oAFtW3Qb6PgrwsTADp6mptM459dtHvidG8hgv6-UO5PJGNuSBGYA/s400/ag44.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136596770090214306" border="0" /></a>I decided it was a good day for a trip to the plant nurseries, located about 10 miles down the highway from Las Varas. That's the big city (12,000 pop.) where Chacala folks go to medical care, bank, ATM, paint, high school, the dentist, cell phones, long-distance buses, 3rd class buses and so on.<br /><br />I got a ride with a taxi driver who had just dropped someone off in Chacala. He offered to take me to the two nurseries and wait while I chose my plants. For $150mx ($13.50us). since that included hauling 4 burlap sacks of nice soil, I accepted the offer. Taking the collectivo's etc would have been about $60mx ($5.40us), and I couldn't have brought home the dirt. So it seemed like a fair deal.<br /><br />Besides, when I was getting dressed this morning, I found 2 -$ 200 peso bills folded in a tight little square in the pocket of some shorts I had washed last week. I can't imagine me folding money into a little square, so I don't know where it came from. Those bills are about $36US.<br />So I convinced myself it was okay to spend the money. And I did. On plants, dirt and the taxi.<br />The bags of dirt were $75 mx, ($6.25) and the plants were 260mx ($23.40). Plus a tip for the driver. Who kept me company while I selected the plants, and carried them out to the taxi.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu28tlXPsIwAlTJ-yKahRlS_HixNV251b10qAEI17SLWlf14FNL-m3E49DRwRJMK6it3EtlakXH-UiHGljBpkvB5PMQhyphenhyphenQqsqVgxUz-oib5G0bX5MC2uJ0tcM2a7VTsANOR69ZZg/s1600-h/ag22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu28tlXPsIwAlTJ-yKahRlS_HixNV251b10qAEI17SLWlf14FNL-m3E49DRwRJMK6it3EtlakXH-UiHGljBpkvB5PMQhyphenhyphenQqsqVgxUz-oib5G0bX5MC2uJ0tcM2a7VTsANOR69ZZg/s400/ag22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136596765795246994" border="0" /></a>First we went to Benjamin's vivero, just north of a row of fruit stands, on the east side of the highway just north of La Penita. I got 4 vine-type bouganvilleas and one bush type, 2 large Rosas del Desertio/Adenium Obesum/Desert Rose plants, and 6 Kalanchoe plants (in three colors). For about $19us. Actually I got a discount. I heard Benjamin telling the young guy who helped me say "discounto". My guess is I got the Mexican/locals prices. The plants are cheap anyway, but it's nice to get a deal. I took a bunch of photos of the place to have printed up for him, for a little thank you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4bVP8HRBCZuFUZtdEMRwXsA8Wl-F4JObpXFgFRwA9m_6vy4YJj5P9XQAss5OyPCSlt3lVhoapuvNMlAqPrOi0wCR_kmTSrkwMaWDevtsR-GX_no6zwrsdkeLKAvvazzIE6BpIQ/s1600-h/ag33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4bVP8HRBCZuFUZtdEMRwXsA8Wl-F4JObpXFgFRwA9m_6vy4YJj5P9XQAss5OyPCSlt3lVhoapuvNMlAqPrOi0wCR_kmTSrkwMaWDevtsR-GX_no6zwrsdkeLKAvvazzIE6BpIQ/s400/ag33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136596778680148914" border="0" /></a>I actually prefer to go with the nurseries without a taxi guy waiting for me. Because then I can hang around and visit and watch how Benjamin's workers take cuttings, pot, and transplant things. He always has some guys doing that kind of work, and I love sitting there watching them. But when I am hauling dirt, I need some help. I can't seem to load big sacks of dirt into the collectivos very efficiently. Although I have done it before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX00Qa5BYMnSqNslS55m3vWTEj0QWsb06JNqqYJOfmRIIQpGGgXzbHEpgW0FbB9hGMpmL_-CcEhQ6Vhm6oFFMHLCwEF0lu6mobvyqNCsHoh6AiJTsCJ79scaffZCnXaIaKlpPLtQ/s1600-h/ag4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX00Qa5BYMnSqNslS55m3vWTEj0QWsb06JNqqYJOfmRIIQpGGgXzbHEpgW0FbB9hGMpmL_-CcEhQ6Vhm6oFFMHLCwEF0lu6mobvyqNCsHoh6AiJTsCJ79scaffZCnXaIaKlpPLtQ/s400/ag4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136582003992650562" border="0" /></a>Then we went down the road a mile or so to the "Pemex" vivero. "Pemex" is the name for all the gas stations in Mexico. State-owned. And this vivero next door to "Pemex" station on the north side of La Penita.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQKF7idnDvPbSkk-r8qnag_F6XJInCVQmt_uRC5vA0qBwVkzNhTyxWk10M7LFmMPX9yrQRvQ-tssNlY8aLAsyPbLonBuJ8ioKGXwdKhk9DFA_9pR6WVfelQoyEmCuoACsq3TwSw/s1600-h/ag10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQKF7idnDvPbSkk-r8qnag_F6XJInCVQmt_uRC5vA0qBwVkzNhTyxWk10M7LFmMPX9yrQRvQ-tssNlY8aLAsyPbLonBuJ8ioKGXwdKhk9DFA_9pR6WVfelQoyEmCuoACsq3TwSw/s400/ag10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136585706254459778" border="0" /></a>I was hoping for some Portulaca's or some other succulents, but the lady said "Manana" and we laughed and laughed. She always says that, and they are never there on any of the mananas in the last year or so.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpRioM8Z-fXAtn6yMitGAFwDWYWs5aXfff4QlWd4U2F6usqjLx6OVhNjyNxuDyRCQPoHVOrRsOYhjmQLRgQr2ohsINlmUtF4_NtMH8y1HcuVY62oVbKv5Pmv-XE_2uYwbX_V3UQ/s1600-h/ag9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpRioM8Z-fXAtn6yMitGAFwDWYWs5aXfff4QlWd4U2F6usqjLx6OVhNjyNxuDyRCQPoHVOrRsOYhjmQLRgQr2ohsINlmUtF4_NtMH8y1HcuVY62oVbKv5Pmv-XE_2uYwbX_V3UQ/s400/ag9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136582016877552482" border="0" /></a>They did have these Kalanchoes. 25 pesos instead of the 12 pesos I paid at Benjamin's. Slightly bigger, but otherwise the same colors, etc. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm29ZzsNI037WdD2-zpFmHUejAJh5n8oKBIGSv4leIA15rHUhNvWYPTX0QFhHeshhxXyhLvWzzJ0dx8VcRBiwmcPYCtktaBa7t_JtOaXO2DogxZmorj_v6t3lDlaoD4MsjkN7qGg/s1600-h/ag11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm29ZzsNI037WdD2-zpFmHUejAJh5n8oKBIGSv4leIA15rHUhNvWYPTX0QFhHeshhxXyhLvWzzJ0dx8VcRBiwmcPYCtktaBa7t_JtOaXO2DogxZmorj_v6t3lDlaoD4MsjkN7qGg/s400/ag11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136585697664525170" border="0" /></a>The woman on the right, the red hat, is the main customer service person at this nursery. And she's really fun to walk around the place with. She sometimes looks for some really ugly, half dead plant and offers it to me for a bargain price. Like 1 peso off. It's a joke. And she has given me cuttings from some plants. So that's nice.<br /><br />We headed home. The taxi guy played a great CD and sang along with it. He was a much better singer than the CD singer. When we got back to Chacala, we put the plants on the stairway up to the garden at home. Along with the sacks of dirt.<br /><br />Nice trip. Quick and easy. No waiting by the side of the highway for a taxi-van to come by. Some of the drivers have no interest in picking up a woman with 13 (some very large) plants surrounding her. Especially thorny bouganvilleas. Whatever.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-38286121510869242852007-11-20T07:39:00.000-07:002007-11-23T12:15:51.957-07:00Chacala: Tree Roots Entwined in Rock Columns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN6jzGimff0wJcQbpS8KfCAfz3QbiLKl6e-J4ihh0f0fF2WD4Iwr6yQAQWJu-X_Dk2MPFkgUdcb-S0GI2gAbSiQb86G3wpP4p2h8LuiC0-KwGRnPdp17Fw48LBL5Y8F8Tw8otwg/s1600-h/cc5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN6jzGimff0wJcQbpS8KfCAfz3QbiLKl6e-J4ihh0f0fF2WD4Iwr6yQAQWJu-X_Dk2MPFkgUdcb-S0GI2gAbSiQb86G3wpP4p2h8LuiC0-KwGRnPdp17Fw48LBL5Y8F8Tw8otwg/s400/cc5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939290671080130" border="0" /></a>For a short time Chacala was one of the earliest port on the central Pacific coast of Mexico to be used for unloading freight from ships arriving from Spain and the East. The freight was hauled to the Guadalajara area. And the ores and agricultural products being shipped back to Spain were hauled back to Chacala. Or on to Vera Cruz. It is a very protected little cove and a safe harbor for boats.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjxfZ9ya50HyRBte7fkkUE1nckhUYdQQsUwiLrwXrLGlpRhHjfhVAFEJ73ekfe0_hbEeBFs7HFZDuXpvxBRFPTGrGhvglKpss1f31SyCy1zTYCDR_gs3FunI35iJc_RMQsvj01w/s1600-h/Pmuelloclearclose192.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjxfZ9ya50HyRBte7fkkUE1nckhUYdQQsUwiLrwXrLGlpRhHjfhVAFEJ73ekfe0_hbEeBFs7HFZDuXpvxBRFPTGrGhvglKpss1f31SyCy1zTYCDR_gs3FunI35iJc_RMQsvj01w/s400/Pmuelloclearclose192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939960685978386" border="0" /></a>Quickly, however, the ships began landing at San Blas, and later in Mazatlan. Both were closer to Guadalajara and had less mountainous routes.<br /><br />There are a couple of structures in Chacala from those days. I think in the late 1500's or early 1600's, but I am not sure of that.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AsUJA1f2EgZyvbblukM7hsOQrJBxEhGEbH7OMs5tORfYyWYAP2KauLgPYanLeb2uu4k2h9UZawGl7mThUcMSEqV39o28d3Rd5UZtAhvejyVH6ljOG_ifBg9YdnMBHksmn4h9rw/s1600-h/dinghy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AsUJA1f2EgZyvbblukM7hsOQrJBxEhGEbH7OMs5tORfYyWYAP2KauLgPYanLeb2uu4k2h9UZawGl7mThUcMSEqV39o28d3Rd5UZtAhvejyVH6ljOG_ifBg9YdnMBHksmn4h9rw/s400/dinghy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939947801076482" border="0" /></a>There is a tobacco barn, which has been modernized repeatedly over the years, right above the dingy beach, and the little fishing boat docking area.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW0Z32jSU4Q0p_H2H1IW8TzmbGXnSDrac0dxrRX_8fgKGZNrx7RG5lbLRufbrKrlXxx1Q_2QQrpDVOpU2JkQLZNrKJs2iF2EcH-vW6HEuBmBjDykehLvc4oebkKLcJIuhAd2HFg/s1600-h/cc7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW0Z32jSU4Q0p_H2H1IW8TzmbGXnSDrac0dxrRX_8fgKGZNrx7RG5lbLRufbrKrlXxx1Q_2QQrpDVOpU2JkQLZNrKJs2iF2EcH-vW6HEuBmBjDykehLvc4oebkKLcJIuhAd2HFg/s400/cc7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939303555982034" border="0" /></a>Then next to that building are a set of stone columns from the same period (or earlier).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1vrVAUxLUQEyJ1uKB0gXpjYU2b8nCGXLpSrIwZl2m0sDzIV939NVfTOKmqmVvOubsu193RlGx0nCIxwrIUXPKXbIvl6_HM-YzxXc9hsEL05sPsts35BEzJlqGyNiuBGMmh7vvA/s1600-h/colums2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1vrVAUxLUQEyJ1uKB0gXpjYU2b8nCGXLpSrIwZl2m0sDzIV939NVfTOKmqmVvOubsu193RlGx0nCIxwrIUXPKXbIvl6_HM-YzxXc9hsEL05sPsts35BEzJlqGyNiuBGMmh7vvA/s400/colums2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939934916174562" border="0" /></a> Recently the owner had a lovely building constructed on the site. The structure leaves the columns mostly untouched, surrounding a lovely open patio.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP3_cwvZE-Ku6TE8qZjO9Fjm8fAq9vS24E2qyTTTX6CAUmALaNj9_M3UqlPQ-_Jpy5N2OaecTy21_yLouYgqVIa9plGRAInqTP89Z2FUUwV-4ttf_A_3gpxjLWyRf130-rn9qXg/s1600-h/coums1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP3_cwvZE-Ku6TE8qZjO9Fjm8fAq9vS24E2qyTTTX6CAUmALaNj9_M3UqlPQ-_Jpy5N2OaecTy21_yLouYgqVIa9plGRAInqTP89Z2FUUwV-4ttf_A_3gpxjLWyRf130-rn9qXg/s400/coums1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939943506109170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3UYl9q3H_DXcEgAXLnKDsIMm3SMosDy_a8AaAr12fUF7WO4JDtdxH6dugfn2lSdyzh-Azldkzb4rNZszsDtZNSOAInUoJAEdOzw6xD0KITwhutzvQlCijY_TeK9IHhyz3lYu4w/s1600-h/cc4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3UYl9q3H_DXcEgAXLnKDsIMm3SMosDy_a8AaAr12fUF7WO4JDtdxH6dugfn2lSdyzh-Azldkzb4rNZszsDtZNSOAInUoJAEdOzw6xD0KITwhutzvQlCijY_TeK9IHhyz3lYu4w/s400/cc4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939286376112818" border="0" /></a>These photos of tree roots entwined in the rocks columns always catch visitors' eyes. They are very striking and unusual.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGi6XVN2ODL1JxR59X3CwQaJadApEnR0vNf_ZqSthqNj0BaSGHUpD4M20CtBJ6v5owKjk59qWwzZuZlkTpFKvdkEKgSWk__05ZygOPxurRGFGqtqsBhd1417MX34fuotXNBGvrg/s1600-h/cc1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGi6XVN2ODL1JxR59X3CwQaJadApEnR0vNf_ZqSthqNj0BaSGHUpD4M20CtBJ6v5owKjk59qWwzZuZlkTpFKvdkEKgSWk__05ZygOPxurRGFGqtqsBhd1417MX34fuotXNBGvrg/s400/cc1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939260606309010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n2BmdGMmQoT_Hv3QevSBsfGadjdLpiQPqDbP70PyuCUU_tQN3GfHUpFzPpy5hTJGMi7PZ4QrU0I2T4gCbzhUcE-VY3oyi81BPXPCSXJFfPe5Zl-Fyu4fMm6oFq2L_C6uktWJ5Q/s1600-h/cc2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n2BmdGMmQoT_Hv3QevSBsfGadjdLpiQPqDbP70PyuCUU_tQN3GfHUpFzPpy5hTJGMi7PZ4QrU0I2T4gCbzhUcE-VY3oyi81BPXPCSXJFfPe5Zl-Fyu4fMm6oFq2L_C6uktWJ5Q/s400/cc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134939269196243618" border="0" /></a>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-48695791380489035412007-11-17T07:23:00.001-07:002007-11-17T08:13:51.303-07:00Aurora's Garden in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ8f1vQdlNUeFea8SRRW_URT3jKehT3YG4KJ95MrHSBHIv0oufUyEHANqe8_op2gI5ebsxas1I5psluCptevG-okDLDxk1R6YVihO26mc6FtEYfO1nNXYltZuEMnKmr11Ms44nA/s1600-h/aa5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ8f1vQdlNUeFea8SRRW_URT3jKehT3YG4KJ95MrHSBHIv0oufUyEHANqe8_op2gI5ebsxas1I5psluCptevG-okDLDxk1R6YVihO26mc6FtEYfO1nNXYltZuEMnKmr11Ms44nA/s400/aa5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133815881845269010" border="0" /></a>Aurora is my next-door neighbor in Chacala. She was my first landlady, and is wonderful friend. This is a photo of one of her rentals, the one over her home.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvn260HW0w2h6gNrMdsmTPz0TJJ8MPoSNmQbhp1TA1d4Ng_zzCEMdt0bOlLgIfr5HtYVw3x9wBoV5vC0xOjCpMNtTlUTFLJM2UeLDLekaFqr4i0gThcwjF_B9IH_NItsVymTKKg/s1600-h/aa2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvn260HW0w2h6gNrMdsmTPz0TJJ8MPoSNmQbhp1TA1d4Ng_zzCEMdt0bOlLgIfr5HtYVw3x9wBoV5vC0xOjCpMNtTlUTFLJM2UeLDLekaFqr4i0gThcwjF_B9IH_NItsVymTKKg/s400/aa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133815856075465202" border="0" /></a>She and her wonderful husband, Beto, (above) have three kids, ages 13,15, and 20. All doing very well.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHNgUJLtlRTI1Q3o7ZMRIPcSyOxnE96a3feO7DYzkqW7co_OkQE-7ImngZ5T7Uo7oNdc2NVUnrpv05x11_VYgVV9oo9kn20_hvWmrdPuvnXk1KJ_EPPkHweFNkvP4Z4Ti9I9O4A/s1600-h/aa8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHNgUJLtlRTI1Q3o7ZMRIPcSyOxnE96a3feO7DYzkqW7co_OkQE-7ImngZ5T7Uo7oNdc2NVUnrpv05x11_VYgVV9oo9kn20_hvWmrdPuvnXk1KJ_EPPkHweFNkvP4Z4Ti9I9O4A/s400/aa8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133816663529316914" border="0" /></a> Aurora has 4 very popular and affordable rental units, three built with an interest-free construction loan from Chacala's <a href="http://www.techosdemexico.com/">Techos de Mexico</a> program. The fourth unit was built with a high intersst personal loan.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldXySi0ENejvP8k8qtrRXX9pFVYK0G1_zz2tMpMlONx6YghoiVlBsPOoMjzAHCN9FAhQ2Khloa7LYIIKoF5VRXZL70KeuP9lXnmLvqH8DWZSQX0qdyaJRz33nGZkx522TvUVYaw/s1600-h/aa6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldXySi0ENejvP8k8qtrRXX9pFVYK0G1_zz2tMpMlONx6YghoiVlBsPOoMjzAHCN9FAhQ2Khloa7LYIIKoF5VRXZL70KeuP9lXnmLvqH8DWZSQX0qdyaJRz33nGZkx522TvUVYaw/s400/aa6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133816659234349602" border="0" /></a>In the past three years Aurora and Beto's garden has really taken off. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvHtWIBazBz6Wf4nsXCRxGjdm4fQqzxUfdFg0ayh7t8GuiHEQzNGDFJXQBGh89bBQe6ciAOi93FpWQDpDN62KWWEKNbaB-lgkg6t-zb5yhRXOd1FTbTJlEKRWCY-sECp-n4T_JQ/s1600-h/aa3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvHtWIBazBz6Wf4nsXCRxGjdm4fQqzxUfdFg0ayh7t8GuiHEQzNGDFJXQBGh89bBQe6ciAOi93FpWQDpDN62KWWEKNbaB-lgkg6t-zb5yhRXOd1FTbTJlEKRWCY-sECp-n4T_JQ/s400/aa3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133815868960367106" border="0" /></a>It's very beautiful on the patios, and in front on the rental units.These house plants are about 20 feet long and tall. Lush and lovely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlvw55jYB9girjUWx_OlARCCo3qhWuJNpcGQpAoYy96CowugfOBnIVCeqm5DXHAMFsxSih3iJ65qogczStX_ftJQjL1c-9ThYJxaOGGQ_93lJJm4Hw5AAXBaK2yUoLTbBdrw1Kg/s1600-h/aa1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlvw55jYB9girjUWx_OlARCCo3qhWuJNpcGQpAoYy96CowugfOBnIVCeqm5DXHAMFsxSih3iJ65qogczStX_ftJQjL1c-9ThYJxaOGGQ_93lJJm4Hw5AAXBaK2yUoLTbBdrw1Kg/s400/aa1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133815834600628706" border="0" /></a>The rental units have patios, and kitchens, and are only a little more than a block to the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvSMW4rIznye4NRv9CVp9G9imiw0nao9QIdNY0LQMSPHpQIweaGlM68mhvBtEJpmPEZcKcf140xBJDsF2k38CXtOOPBQfCVoB9M13CqGwGOvnVZXHAMr73Q7AA840zvhDukmHZw/s1600-h/aa11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvSMW4rIznye4NRv9CVp9G9imiw0nao9QIdNY0LQMSPHpQIweaGlM68mhvBtEJpmPEZcKcf140xBJDsF2k38CXtOOPBQfCVoB9M13CqGwGOvnVZXHAMr73Q7AA840zvhDukmHZw/s400/aa11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133816667824284226" border="0" /></a>Aurora and I were walking on the south end of the beach one day and found some sprouted coconuts. We filled are arms with them and trudged home. Those palms are growing around the place now. And at my place too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjfDEC6kqgE4sxXQguu4E0heCjrV9e1aciwwozsMrPzshbeRF0vZpXOu-XV8Rxm7TSsxAk-HqhFgWdrUj2-K9LFCDDmjcEWFShqmtIBBadvfNOd3_1A2N0z6EGMiXu8KM3gNgSQ/s1600-h/aa33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjfDEC6kqgE4sxXQguu4E0heCjrV9e1aciwwozsMrPzshbeRF0vZpXOu-XV8Rxm7TSsxAk-HqhFgWdrUj2-K9LFCDDmjcEWFShqmtIBBadvfNOd3_1A2N0z6EGMiXu8KM3gNgSQ/s400/aa33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133816680709186146" border="0" /></a>I love to watch how Aurora and Beto take care of their plants. The first time I saw Beto hack a lovely, 12 foot high, bougainvillea back to the ground I was appalled. And three weeks later it was blooming again. I have learned alot from Aurora and Beta, about many facets of life of Chacala.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-57647004094657042452007-11-15T03:38:00.000-07:002007-11-18T07:19:18.443-07:00Garden Blogging in Latin America, and ChacalaWhen I first started blogging I had just one blog, <a href="http://mylifeinchacala.blogspot.com/">My Life in Chacala</a>. A few months later I added a <a href="http://chacalabudgetrentals.blogspot.com/">Chacala Vacation Rentals</a> blog, and then finally, after a year or so, I added this blog.<br /><br />At the time I wasn't aware of very many other bloggers-in-English writing from Mexico or Latin America..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQNdhdU2HciExoBVAML1o6pnWz0blBkmDfxFphqBepuehGl0cDrLft5tCy6r4mwOPWcHu4ENrki3ohToYVf-yC4WNJ1hF6v5b-9vQ2jDvDF95CSUtQa3lLneUryRLAbzZMycX/s1600-h/flor3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQNdhdU2HciExoBVAML1o6pnWz0blBkmDfxFphqBepuehGl0cDrLft5tCy6r4mwOPWcHu4ENrki3ohToYVf-yC4WNJ1hF6v5b-9vQ2jDvDF95CSUtQa3lLneUryRLAbzZMycX/s400/flor3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132791227182103666" border="0" /></a>There may have been more, but the search vehicles weren't very helpful. Even the Google Blog Search, (original version) wasn't very helpful. But I was curious about other people's experiences in Mexico, and always was on the alert for gringas, or gringos. Especially for gardeners blogging in Latin America.<br /><br />My impression is that blogging about gardening hasn't really taken off down here, in Mexico, or in Central America. At least not compared to expat "my adventure in xxxxx" type blogs, which have really burst on the scene in the last couple of years.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfBba_IdsCn9LwInRh4Cc8FY6X6U9DHHTeNDH8HA6vLTTDvDFq144hTgQW9_Ce_x80waAPpsHqS0D1cXcThrJCcekLYuqraWhDocALk-43hGCK0R2S0IpBz6fvcfsZcpUZF7h/s1600-h/flor8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfBba_IdsCn9LwInRh4Cc8FY6X6U9DHHTeNDH8HA6vLTTDvDFq144hTgQW9_Ce_x80waAPpsHqS0D1cXcThrJCcekLYuqraWhDocALk-43hGCK0R2S0IpBz6fvcfsZcpUZF7h/s400/flor8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795285926198466" border="0" /></a>I remember when <a href="http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com/">La Gringa</a> and I first noticed each other's blogs. It was much fun to find a fellow blogger. A blogger friend. Particularly someone who gardened in an unfamiliar climate. In her case it was in La Cieba Honduras.<br /><br />And I found <a href="http://ntsavanna.wordpress.con/">Neo-tropical Savanna</a>, http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/, in Panama, and another blogger gardening friend.<br /><br />And since then there have been lots and lots of blogs from people moving to Mexico. And a few gardener type bloggers in Latin America. <a href="http://cabopulm.blogspot.com/">Diane's blog</a> about gardening in Baja was one of the first I found. Her photographs of cacti just knocked me out. Really lovely.<br />(http://cabopulmo.blogspot.com)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DMfqydDX43Wk6OpOKS6wKetUDsPjCm1aqaEFZzHs899z2Ys2DsHJqwRqsm4KvQtXyazgx3udU77raY5E0KgILJhvu_EP3El_NMOVfzx9JYTofv7S3AN0MyonfZ6i7qyqGB6F/s1600-h/flor5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DMfqydDX43Wk6OpOKS6wKetUDsPjCm1aqaEFZzHs899z2Ys2DsHJqwRqsm4KvQtXyazgx3udU77raY5E0KgILJhvu_EP3El_NMOVfzx9JYTofv7S3AN0MyonfZ6i7qyqGB6F/s400/flor5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132791240067005586" border="0" /></a>And I started finding more English language Mexico blogs, and a few Spanish language blogs and websites. And I especially looked for websites by photographers. Very inspiring. <a href="http://www.larpman.com/">Larpman</a> was one. And there are lots more.<br /><br />I love having an internet connection at home. Now I have time to do all kinds of esoteric things on the computer. Like storing photos off my computer, and studying photography websites, late into the night. Sorting garden and blossom, tree and shrub and other garden photos into some kind of order.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPi61vs7af5pLWS1-FPQMvhyphenhyphenefMsleJVnHdKUKEXEpJTD3UNAa6BRhHsxdMuUvix4Yfosp7VnconQUobPZWljWwRMnPtYdxsaStg4nWbAVpePyOVYhv1i3ckDh6mggxUWaAm5/s1600-h/flor1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPi61vs7af5pLWS1-FPQMvhyphenhyphenefMsleJVnHdKUKEXEpJTD3UNAa6BRhHsxdMuUvix4Yfosp7VnconQUobPZWljWwRMnPtYdxsaStg4nWbAVpePyOVYhv1i3ckDh6mggxUWaAm5/s400/flor1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795827092077778" border="0" /></a>But the most fun has been sorting thru all the Bookmarks/Favorites I have been marking for the last year. Cleaning up the Garden websites and garden blogs. Re-visiting them and deciding whether or not to keep them on listed on my computer.<br /><br />I deleted many that didn't interest me on second glance. And saved some pretty interesting websites. And blogs. A lot of the gardening blogs in English are for zone 2-7 gardeners, which usually are irrelevant for me. My first choice is reading about plants that do well here, in Zone 11. But I also enjoy the garden issues type blogs like Garden Rant and The Blogging Nurseryman. I know there are other also, but I am too tired right now.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UyICz_cWsPRXD8vE3YIJEeX2gqDQSqMHXvhSk1xzfjcIGNgmnpydSbJKz1JQvz3hyEa3x4CT4AKcrM14bKbxyLoyC7F78EVy8YTokLwplCv2cwIfOJ6foNE181c6LTUb8ERs/s1600-h/flor2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UyICz_cWsPRXD8vE3YIJEeX2gqDQSqMHXvhSk1xzfjcIGNgmnpydSbJKz1JQvz3hyEa3x4CT4AKcrM14bKbxyLoyC7F78EVy8YTokLwplCv2cwIfOJ6foNE181c6LTUb8ERs/s400/flor2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795861451816162" border="0" /></a>I love reading the posts where some one has just had an eye-opening experience, an awakening, about their new life. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdg8lghI3YTb_TI2m36iY4gXeQbIZqP1CUE8AJ_hWcD83flrjs_RYsGnTcAJ9R_FneTt3K1hQqrFuzh3jyyoP9tl_UPdxeqRv7p8Y_9Bbgn8OcBfWphIMVa8RN-RoZ6x4vz9l/s1600-h/flor6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdg8lghI3YTb_TI2m36iY4gXeQbIZqP1CUE8AJ_hWcD83flrjs_RYsGnTcAJ9R_FneTt3K1hQqrFuzh3jyyoP9tl_UPdxeqRv7p8Y_9Bbgn8OcBfWphIMVa8RN-RoZ6x4vz9l/s400/flor6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795238681558178" border="0" /></a>And my very favorite thing to read is about a gardener's small moment of personal, spiritual awakening. Someone having a new moment of awareness of some wonderful facet of their new life. Or a moment of being almost overwhelmed by the beauty of the natural world around them. The satisfaction of successfully negotiating a new hurdle in their new life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSQrsdZVhctFlTPySH1UI8ZXtSue2g4taxnZCeqoDw7pomAYMsFoDR3ZTS-1BIhTYaaqXUg1NrMnUGUwsbOtxoUUPAAO7YuJI5o8StPvrPT-bgp0k2xpwL-MIZmiVFNrdU_Mp/s1600-h/flor7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSQrsdZVhctFlTPySH1UI8ZXtSue2g4taxnZCeqoDw7pomAYMsFoDR3ZTS-1BIhTYaaqXUg1NrMnUGUwsbOtxoUUPAAO7YuJI5o8StPvrPT-bgp0k2xpwL-MIZmiVFNrdU_Mp/s400/flor7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795251566460082" border="0" /></a>I started out this post thinking I would offer specific examples of various blogs where the author touched my heart. That sounds too much like doing research. But those little moments of connection and heart-felt recognition make my day. Reading someone else's story about how much there is to learn in this world, and how hard things are to learn sometimes, feels sort of reassuring to me. Keeps me going back to some blogs, again and again.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCnasrkaVSzB-a5pDX1XfC99ZWqIcjdoee8Pkda9g17COn1yhvsvourfOln98Qpm8JzSEXZcatmanSIoazVwpZbbYzsFYHh-8R6Ayc5f5i0HloM-JSLjAyokr2BGcTz0INPES/s1600-h/flor4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCnasrkaVSzB-a5pDX1XfC99ZWqIcjdoee8Pkda9g17COn1yhvsvourfOln98Qpm8JzSEXZcatmanSIoazVwpZbbYzsFYHh-8R6Ayc5f5i0HloM-JSLjAyokr2BGcTz0INPES/s400/flor4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795908696456450" border="0" /></a>And, of course, wonderful photos catch my eye too.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-81916057097934417032007-11-15T01:54:00.000-07:002007-11-15T06:46:18.803-07:00Palms Over Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuWww5Gc31szaVsMA5ZQ3C6lqWB4-pPNauX-HWxHkHJAXvopXLuQ0QLMM-J__Df4NdEIpwIkkhR9ueIPBwuQmJpR8msGG1Jxaye1aLWwdBvFDxG1dxtzFfBcTNoUzdF-xMe1jpA/s1600-h/coco3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuWww5Gc31szaVsMA5ZQ3C6lqWB4-pPNauX-HWxHkHJAXvopXLuQ0QLMM-J__Df4NdEIpwIkkhR9ueIPBwuQmJpR8msGG1Jxaye1aLWwdBvFDxG1dxtzFfBcTNoUzdF-xMe1jpA/s400/coco3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132776195150686802" border="0" /></a>If I think of the one plant that really stands out in the Chacala landscape, it would be the Palm. They are everywhere, and they are used for everything. Except toilet paper, probably.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA_d7l64JQSx-neI0LZ86cCnUtdSaSFSIagcSH2j90uiD9aXuNQJJG4qmR2cqy0a42t41s9-yS8Luzp-sAAoq9Y-dTBJrrnn9XAcIfrEw048DcoBVTflcC6iwDPJh4MvPwxM0rQ/s1600-h/coco1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA_d7l64JQSx-neI0LZ86cCnUtdSaSFSIagcSH2j90uiD9aXuNQJJG4qmR2cqy0a42t41s9-yS8Luzp-sAAoq9Y-dTBJrrnn9XAcIfrEw048DcoBVTflcC6iwDPJh4MvPwxM0rQ/s400/coco1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132776177970817602" border="0" /></a> You can eat it, drink the mild, build your house with it, make clothing and mats, and palapa roofs, Whatever you ant you can probably make it out of some part of the Palm.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cnwdpTxDjSyGJzrO7kk72dfGMgSLDMIUHXE51Ox1hW210ENhHjzpc1F136LcQ8xyikMbCifpXDiy6-3vymfLWWqJ4BLlragmoRajlBdtqRtIbXSnNlXRbA3h1NemkOhSOdTv/s1600-h/palms8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cnwdpTxDjSyGJzrO7kk72dfGMgSLDMIUHXE51Ox1hW210ENhHjzpc1F136LcQ8xyikMbCifpXDiy6-3vymfLWWqJ4BLlragmoRajlBdtqRtIbXSnNlXRbA3h1NemkOhSOdTv/s400/palms8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132697811643415586" border="0" /></a>Fishing nets are woven on ropes stretched from palm to palm. The fronds provide shade to work under, and a place to anchor the ropes. Hammocks are hung from palm trunks. They provide shade for RV's, and even a coconut or two if you are quick enough to catch a falling coconut.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWCZVIjhUvNw5F2IKdOqdOPlZO2JaUdOM1hrqS94llsKbiHS630wj10-9feeSHgqEd-o3-W_fC-41E4pZ2Uy4MeXGu94WCVp5mlS8YiL9NcvSTx9OBNpEZXjvvv7aQs5_0ahW/s1600-h/palms7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWCZVIjhUvNw5F2IKdOqdOPlZO2JaUdOM1hrqS94llsKbiHS630wj10-9feeSHgqEd-o3-W_fC-41E4pZ2Uy4MeXGu94WCVp5mlS8YiL9NcvSTx9OBNpEZXjvvv7aQs5_0ahW/s400/palms7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132697833118252082" border="0" /></a> They provide shade everywhere in Chacala. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUzYbIqReRaxvd-nsDDYjlfBvJ7M-Q7intnV78afsWs7AWwl_o0iZu-3zCyM7P8fFx7gQt61tGEYlG_k5k-yzUTmH_KGlN2P7cdq6rUvQtlXQ2rog7FMBF0pRetpOUSvhsfDI/s1600-h/palm12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUzYbIqReRaxvd-nsDDYjlfBvJ7M-Q7intnV78afsWs7AWwl_o0iZu-3zCyM7P8fFx7gQt61tGEYlG_k5k-yzUTmH_KGlN2P7cdq6rUvQtlXQ2rog7FMBF0pRetpOUSvhsfDI/s400/palm12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132692743582006034" border="0" /></a>They shade paths.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlIGkFCLc-JWcDPIndFujvnnPdGOTYAykwDTOudbvR_k3uTkIH02G9tXCPRwCyqmCTpuirqfrxUFdkizbWX3T0l0hmnMDLa2DqjmpPA9jhbC_vcCyJoRk_ybDhYfjHi-7CSGs/s1600-h/palms6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlIGkFCLc-JWcDPIndFujvnnPdGOTYAykwDTOudbvR_k3uTkIH02G9tXCPRwCyqmCTpuirqfrxUFdkizbWX3T0l0hmnMDLa2DqjmpPA9jhbC_vcCyJoRk_ybDhYfjHi-7CSGs/s400/palms6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132697858888055874" border="0" /></a>And are used to cover the roofs for restaurants.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrw4Qd2WBBWMPF6-Bt92xqfE5RbjKaSuKgYuPg3ayS-oH4meBSToBkEZgwtM4UiZntJrUOK-yWDG590RXpyM95EQU4pRAdtsqPNffHuYbuH1Xb-DM4NQZcKZtE7rUvCro0b1i/s1600-h/palms2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrw4Qd2WBBWMPF6-Bt92xqfE5RbjKaSuKgYuPg3ayS-oH4meBSToBkEZgwtM4UiZntJrUOK-yWDG590RXpyM95EQU4pRAdtsqPNffHuYbuH1Xb-DM4NQZcKZtE7rUvCro0b1i/s400/palms2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132695797303753634" border="0" /></a>And palapa roofs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUgGeeUy10VtOIqsWntW7hDGSyF_dsR_GUwjho2OODr2BGJJgviIUrSrB_WrZyBUpCuKZ5ehEH8vD2tBg69xr1ZDu0KIilVe_u7N4uMRhXubUgLgkva87_FfRlYI-WwrQWdde/s1600-h/palm8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUgGeeUy10VtOIqsWntW7hDGSyF_dsR_GUwjho2OODr2BGJJgviIUrSrB_WrZyBUpCuKZ5ehEH8vD2tBg69xr1ZDu0KIilVe_u7N4uMRhXubUgLgkva87_FfRlYI-WwrQWdde/s400/palm8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132692657682660066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA3XTxkU73bvAOwbSLDXh8iZSwNds4O1WHdYn9x-Yd95nA5rdYtcv9gsK0Xfu9nOX4kbkr5NgTHwUifHTHlnyoCu2sfnqV5R575KRF-RDo_NoEHfuueXrxrogITI7tLFJDUdE/s1600-h/palm10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA3XTxkU73bvAOwbSLDXh8iZSwNds4O1WHdYn9x-Yd95nA5rdYtcv9gsK0Xfu9nOX4kbkr5NgTHwUifHTHlnyoCu2sfnqV5R575KRF-RDo_NoEHfuueXrxrogITI7tLFJDUdE/s400/palm10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132692709222267634" border="0" /></a>They provide fruit to eat. There are many different kinds of palms. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3f0w0jKZsUIWAKzCEFTyv0I1ap7d2vcnQ7g5Y7UHHXRnyOK4W3Ek5AnrVm1lKkXu-VNEvEgSNzStZZ7CZeAfEqn2q7pUcXigdgqzO8qJBWj0ThLeY7cZ0FwDFPNB1Wq5mBgi/s1600-h/palm14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3f0w0jKZsUIWAKzCEFTyv0I1ap7d2vcnQ7g5Y7UHHXRnyOK4W3Ek5AnrVm1lKkXu-VNEvEgSNzStZZ7CZeAfEqn2q7pUcXigdgqzO8qJBWj0ThLeY7cZ0FwDFPNB1Wq5mBgi/s400/palm14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132695762944015234" border="0" /></a>Men climb up the tall palms to clear the coconuts.The rope you see isn't a safety line. It's to tie around the clump of coconuts. Then the guy on the ground slowly lowers the clump so the coconuts don't get cracked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qpd84jTO7oyLPTnAddBsj41b5OZi5g2wErj4YSH0JKphSzXdA51G36pl_KZBFljGP71Skuh3d50ExTYiCs5D6eC7My4VxPRhugYrTOUMhpya9GRSHQ_XKNuZWo_p_aGAPPtA/s1600-h/palms3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qpd84jTO7oyLPTnAddBsj41b5OZi5g2wErj4YSH0JKphSzXdA51G36pl_KZBFljGP71Skuh3d50ExTYiCs5D6eC7My4VxPRhugYrTOUMhpya9GRSHQ_XKNuZWo_p_aGAPPtA/s400/palms3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132695801598720946" border="0" /></a>Many local people have little coconut plantations. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf3yReuTl1HSsKFMtJNUw9BmUvH7UCZ_38HY-CnO-XUa3_8y-Ua9GXBZNw2cvz_K-8HGp0cQAsLsHm_ukn7mTnnI7JHxyMrbOYZFznvklGfsv5vrG0qUS8haquSQPRzqeNMWt/s1600-h/palms4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf3yReuTl1HSsKFMtJNUw9BmUvH7UCZ_38HY-CnO-XUa3_8y-Ua9GXBZNw2cvz_K-8HGp0cQAsLsHm_ukn7mTnnI7JHxyMrbOYZFznvklGfsv5vrG0qUS8haquSQPRzqeNMWt/s400/palms4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132695814483622850" border="0" /></a>They find sprouted coconuts here and there around town. And the keep then damp while they grow big enough to be transplanted. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqULz2iBp0-Lon1f23XYEw8Hs7OqlI9gb7qeBqBdZWkHm_s55K-iQ2npAPftxhvM3f8KgniU-ux5uingfoUZSILTbg6XlPML__6y6Sgpx84Cj0LMNGbmUW-Dm5m2mVCFaOZ86/s1600-h/palm11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqULz2iBp0-Lon1f23XYEw8Hs7OqlI9gb7qeBqBdZWkHm_s55K-iQ2npAPftxhvM3f8KgniU-ux5uingfoUZSILTbg6XlPML__6y6Sgpx84Cj0LMNGbmUW-Dm5m2mVCFaOZ86/s400/palm11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132692722107169538" border="0" /></a>These plants are used along the beach, to hold the sand, provide shade, mark boundaries, and to replace aging palms.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ06ZCsqW_T2V9a0ggdIE9oXZMZ1ycjnSy9osdKEDKFUpJiUfBvEiLG8KGDg7LqHlkJH3scq6EGsSxOkhU7-kprQXqebwvkp2rG8k78Th-QbdZBoNJoTi0SE-SB_QMnkhTbx9P/s1600-h/palms9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ06ZCsqW_T2V9a0ggdIE9oXZMZ1ycjnSy9osdKEDKFUpJiUfBvEiLG8KGDg7LqHlkJH3scq6EGsSxOkhU7-kprQXqebwvkp2rG8k78Th-QbdZBoNJoTi0SE-SB_QMnkhTbx9P/s400/palms9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132697811643415570" border="0" /></a> And probably for other things I know nothing about.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IBnQqHU6snz8XtzpbdFXBHoifGweinSt58nz30zfRbmEoKiW4iGoAwV1r7BpULxcrkuppgMGsgkpyAf_0t-wtMsuBsLAjUxZzqFfJqbsK83Rx7NH-PwzJyXcbE8AOnil7caz/s1600-h/palm13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IBnQqHU6snz8XtzpbdFXBHoifGweinSt58nz30zfRbmEoKiW4iGoAwV1r7BpULxcrkuppgMGsgkpyAf_0t-wtMsuBsLAjUxZzqFfJqbsK83Rx7NH-PwzJyXcbE8AOnil7caz/s400/palm13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132692760761875234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivdDENLDv2gVjpYEljXSFqpoq6x8hhHrqx4jkU84mY74azP42jBkDffdrc1d4j1npB1MjIqXTtSPgg-lIiwGiWbC49HvI7WYJndZlz2vRG7V86TtvVthUQTAlk6-kmg8FHb-7/s1600-h/palms1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivdDENLDv2gVjpYEljXSFqpoq6x8hhHrqx4jkU84mY74azP42jBkDffdrc1d4j1npB1MjIqXTtSPgg-lIiwGiWbC49HvI7WYJndZlz2vRG7V86TtvVthUQTAlk6-kmg8FHb-7/s400/palms1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132695771533949842" border="0" /></a>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-7285356640351898812007-11-13T07:58:00.000-07:002007-11-13T15:40:35.862-07:00Gardening with Magazines<div style="text-align: center;">This post's title, "Gardening with Magazines", refers to reading gardening magazines, not mulching with them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3HL7znqzY4PdSDGURmlZ98z4Tu78wv8RoE3lqpy5dPGR1lJsnlQRiXxU_o_kELNPPKa9ZbwQBR_q_o6hCz-JagXSNKQpu21DRJnvnCPinTWOwMotaKb2kE1I4w9-oLpnXfje5w/s1600-h/garden1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3HL7znqzY4PdSDGURmlZ98z4Tu78wv8RoE3lqpy5dPGR1lJsnlQRiXxU_o_kELNPPKa9ZbwQBR_q_o6hCz-JagXSNKQpu21DRJnvnCPinTWOwMotaKb2kE1I4w9-oLpnXfje5w/s400/garden1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132364236852651426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">San Miguel de Allende</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I just read one of the more interesting garden blogs, <a href="http://www.gardenrant.com/">Garden Rant</a>, this morning. I love using Google Reader. Reading the new posts is almost like reading the morning paper. Which doesn't exist here in Chacala, at least in English or in Spanish.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-McRFGEoKjleEV7K3z357mgFZq9dDgnPaGgviz4ywf3p2nemQ9erM58YMxVcY10xxCS7eUPFGp_qMA5LvNseeJw4YO9M_0vJvQFM2df5K-H5gPuZo1ECHQNrZPWjdAUK1GJyqXw/s1600-h/garden2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-McRFGEoKjleEV7K3z357mgFZq9dDgnPaGgviz4ywf3p2nemQ9erM58YMxVcY10xxCS7eUPFGp_qMA5LvNseeJw4YO9M_0vJvQFM2df5K-H5gPuZo1ECHQNrZPWjdAUK1GJyqXw/s400/garden2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132364236852651410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">an Miguel de Allend</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">e</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The topic of the new Garden Rant post was a review of Horticulture magazine, which was never ever one of my "must read" gardening magazines. But the review got me day dreaming about my favorite gardening magazines. I don't know if they even exist another more.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-sn8YOnVM3MN7pJGI7yK5JfTBpKexI-f9PpfmF70tcZHaI3l2VqQttOeRnxo2hqpc8wt3BfCOxtDaM6tQlikQgAyuT-H-iP_X8oNzkkACJzJUhbIyNL62Ptb0UvDC2Quq_bNFg/s1600-h/garden3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-sn8YOnVM3MN7pJGI7yK5JfTBpKexI-f9PpfmF70tcZHaI3l2VqQttOeRnxo2hqpc8wt3BfCOxtDaM6tQlikQgAyuT-H-iP_X8oNzkkACJzJUhbIyNL62Ptb0UvDC2Quq_bNFg/s400/garden3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132366010674144690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">San Miguel de Allend</span></span>e<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gardens Illustrated, Pacific Horticultural, Garden Design, Fine Gardening. I can't even remember the other titles. But I loved the English and French gardening magazines. Even if they were mostly irrelevant to my life and garden.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvclGslIoRt2rgEFafBgBQ7ZTWhcbz0godsEYuuhDjpEV0iFw9OSySoGUcWfFpfodYxdUTRX8ZCCPGXavLLxNPYpuH_mkpudbZhBpdgvuFGgeBTz9rLyq8x4QoaSdKC1hHo2z8g/s1600-h/garden4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvclGslIoRt2rgEFafBgBQ7ZTWhcbz0godsEYuuhDjpEV0iFw9OSySoGUcWfFpfodYxdUTRX8ZCCPGXavLLxNPYpuH_mkpudbZhBpdgvuFGgeBTz9rLyq8x4QoaSdKC1hHo2z8g/s400/garden4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132366019264079298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">San Juan de Las Lagos</span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">My first garden was planting a peach pit in my mom's back yard. I started (vegetable and fruit) gardening in New Hamphire, and then Eastern Washington in the 60's. I relied totally on Organic Gardening and the Rodale books.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwluOcK1NWpupvX53NrCd2vxOpyGIdDc3haEGBOUtVs6hMrHJ_sI8GM5kn_I3mQj6ROz8KSbZXGD9AdB6SI__JixMiPzQYPFoJxnK6vnJbciXKk82kBTi5oGlcTXRruqt5s_4UQ/s1600-h/garden7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwluOcK1NWpupvX53NrCd2vxOpyGIdDc3haEGBOUtVs6hMrHJ_sI8GM5kn_I3mQj6ROz8KSbZXGD9AdB6SI__JixMiPzQYPFoJxnK6vnJbciXKk82kBTi5oGlcTXRruqt5s_4UQ/s400/garden7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132366040738915826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Oaxaca</span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The only garden magazines I have found in P.V. or Guadalajara have been magazines from Spain. Which apparently has no tropical areas, because the garden plant selections look just like the typical garden in the U.S.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvfLXU7mNR4mNpOTBbm8lBSjNZRnS9zjnQVy3-QLYuPzxNNheoVFBQtgn1Q9F20pB5SZ8ajucVwFBLUFjBtp7qdSviGMcKstDX9tf6HbqfwkYoudeNFaFNtkfCbY1Gwl8dYot2g/s1600-h/garden+9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvfLXU7mNR4mNpOTBbm8lBSjNZRnS9zjnQVy3-QLYuPzxNNheoVFBQtgn1Q9F20pB5SZ8ajucVwFBLUFjBtp7qdSviGMcKstDX9tf6HbqfwkYoudeNFaFNtkfCbY1Gwl8dYot2g/s400/garden+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132364228262716802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> Oaxaca</span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">It was hard for me, a former, and still struggling magazine addict, to go cold turkey, especially from gardening magazines. Last winter Sherry Merciari, of Merciari (garden) Designs, in Oakland, CA, brought me some old Garden Design magazines. I spent the three days lost in the photos and articles. And I still re-read them regularly.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27luo0RPU_5QRzvexLWfy6xRnLhVtBDdTk9hMBxlAu9t04TLjj5tKJflH4X2WYzwyKc0JjiP4N5uFfeCBmqc10crVoZ3FbhsBqRogSWKfG4gVHqMNOkdFAtd47amU15sv1OkEhg/s1600-h/garden6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27luo0RPU_5QRzvexLWfy6xRnLhVtBDdTk9hMBxlAu9t04TLjj5tKJflH4X2WYzwyKc0JjiP4N5uFfeCBmqc10crVoZ3FbhsBqRogSWKfG4gVHqMNOkdFAtd47amU15sv1OkEhg/s400/garden6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132366032148981218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Oaxaca</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDT4CqahyphenhyphenqjKCrtPLHcB3khwJEyVxSd_7OBxjuoRfdlGeJg8c4aWzr5dUN2Yg8SchT7SQCZFyDI-QpT7Q5YK7PZZt_tUPK4DgihVrZDJMtnNUH7Fizyn8FoCZze6DtqW5T4_rTw/s1600-h/garden8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDT4CqahyphenhyphenqjKCrtPLHcB3khwJEyVxSd_7OBxjuoRfdlGeJg8c4aWzr5dUN2Yg8SchT7SQCZFyDI-QpT7Q5YK7PZZt_tUPK4DgihVrZDJMtnNUH7Fizyn8FoCZze6DtqW5T4_rTw/s400/garden8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132368892597200402" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-19136791118172900012007-11-10T06:36:00.000-07:002007-11-10T08:00:59.507-07:00Learning to Garden in a Semi-Tropical Climate<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLJC0Bwp9KZcDrw510HPWKNhwDfQCSxaJ98gim_czFnp7oi9_Ohwr9pZ_Wn7i5RDObAqf3oIhf6HFVPx0Qv0Z0snkxlQ1EDSx2bDAnUuUx9fiDc7PDJBaYJD0qZ1n2ThFLnTKUQ/s1600-h/b1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLJC0Bwp9KZcDrw510HPWKNhwDfQCSxaJ98gim_czFnp7oi9_Ohwr9pZ_Wn7i5RDObAqf3oIhf6HFVPx0Qv0Z0snkxlQ1EDSx2bDAnUuUx9fiDc7PDJBaYJD0qZ1n2ThFLnTKUQ/s400/b1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131209406046102706" border="0" /></a>As a gardener craving information about how to garden in Chacala Mexico, I was interested to read a Post on one of the gardening blogs about annoying and useless beginner gardening books.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wac8uI8xzLoD-YEsvCtFqmU1IQD3-gHYc8_ASOZiF2sb2RGDgESh04jy8lUlUljoA2GU1MgULtj-okHXLJHj1SosH-SpWjzjdjJAkMrGteSy1VwEUMfcNonIfxhLXf-O2XV3xA/s1600-h/ChacalaAerialPhoto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wac8uI8xzLoD-YEsvCtFqmU1IQD3-gHYc8_ASOZiF2sb2RGDgESh04jy8lUlUljoA2GU1MgULtj-okHXLJHj1SosH-SpWjzjdjJAkMrGteSy1VwEUMfcNonIfxhLXf-O2XV3xA/s400/ChacalaAerialPhoto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131211888537199922" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">My garden in located just off the main road in Chacala,<br /> It's the thick white line in the upper center of this photo. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> It's about a block, uphill, from the beach</span><br /></div>Well, I have had the opposite experience learning to garden in the semi-tropical area, right on the Pacific ocean. I had gardened for almost 40 years in Zone 5, which eventually was re-named a Zone 6 area, in honor of global warming, I guess.<br /><br />Chacala is at Latitude 22N, and the temperature highs are generally mid-90's and the lows have not been below 62F degree since I arrived here four years ago. That's a big change from -20's and +104. Different insects, plant diseases, soils, and plants. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkyYgA9wF3G6uymoBpAENkliLgUJMALxd7768dxpPV-3L4WbuOULbdXyr-NiJ_xvUxOvfnQAJ-w8fpiwdrxbhExS9Wb8uMYgVqkAoV3iph-z9XyME8ltpfoBveDNBK7TPyv-8-g/s1600-h/bb2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkyYgA9wF3G6uymoBpAENkliLgUJMALxd7768dxpPV-3L4WbuOULbdXyr-NiJ_xvUxOvfnQAJ-w8fpiwdrxbhExS9Wb8uMYgVqkAoV3iph-z9XyME8ltpfoBveDNBK7TPyv-8-g/s400/bb2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131211875652298002" border="0" /></a>Here the idea is to protect many plants from the sun. It's just too intense for many plants. And the three/four month rainy season means nightly rainfalls, often drenching downpours for three or four hours.<br /><br />Learning about how to garden here was mostly via word of mouth. Most of the local women garden in buckets and other containers. I think that's mostly because until the past year, it was difficult to get extra water for ornamental plants. And it's easier to keep the soil in container damp.<br /><br />Very few plants are deliberately grown from seed here. Almost everything can be grown from a cuttings or via self-seeding. You know you at not in Washington anymore when fence posts sprout into trees in three or four months. And some plants grow a foot or more a day.<br /><br />I started looking for information about when the growing season starts, and the names of plants, and how to propagate them, almost as soon as I arrived here in Mexico. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLXrMtWUl0dTPPlWIbDRnP7A4QKV7o-F1HNiza68wlZI4g_pw-Z0zeVoqOAw3H6w5JJMluzqeUNWbUMglkmVIlMqEU8UcOAt1sYgY_pRnW-b9aZWyVt4bkB3GrQG-Kfi-jyQ5YQ/s1600-h/b5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLXrMtWUl0dTPPlWIbDRnP7A4QKV7o-F1HNiza68wlZI4g_pw-Z0zeVoqOAw3H6w5JJMluzqeUNWbUMglkmVIlMqEU8UcOAt1sYgY_pRnW-b9aZWyVt4bkB3GrQG-Kfi-jyQ5YQ/s400/b5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131209444700808418" border="0" /></a>I moved to Mexico with two suitcases and a backpack, so space was at a premium. I brought my favorite trowel and small pruners, and some flower seeds. That was it. Aside from two gardening books (out of three hundred) with me. The books were "Tropical Gardening" from David Bar-Zvi at the Fairchild Tropical Garden, in Miami, and the oddly named book "Cacti and Succulents" by Hans Hecht.<br /><br />After I had been here for a couple of years a non-gardener produced a book of popular plants in the Puerto Vallarta area (two hours south of here, same climate). The photos were a big help, with English and Latin names of shrubs, plants, and trees. But the author omitted the Spanish names. Which made it difficult to talk with my neighbors and nursery staff about plants.<br /><br />But I did learn the names of many of the local plants, in all three languages. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out when to start planting things (like in April in zone 5, harvesting in September or earlier usually). I finally figured out most farming begins at the end of the rainy season. But not necessarily. With a year-around growing climate, there can be multiple planting of some crops. Not during the heavy rain times though: mainly August and September.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uUF5URY-tS2506MVGii_LJ8AH23MSF864uLc5XfzrsunakfYaVncujcsRK16zcFRyxSxO-2iu7sS33rskSy7i23OPcxjhlgpj4_y7E_U_iDx6n_jKbSWITPvXjnWhyphenhyphenBDxRXhzg/s1600-h/b3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uUF5URY-tS2506MVGii_LJ8AH23MSF864uLc5XfzrsunakfYaVncujcsRK16zcFRyxSxO-2iu7sS33rskSy7i23OPcxjhlgpj4_y7E_U_iDx6n_jKbSWITPvXjnWhyphenhyphenBDxRXhzg/s400/b3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131209418931004626" border="0" /></a>I often looked (and still look) on the internet for information about gardening here. But most of the Spanish language books and magazines here are actually from Spain. Not for Mexico or Central America. And I found a few blogger friends who are serious about gardening in tropical climates. Mainly in Southern Florida, the Caribbeans, Panama, and Honduras.<br /><br />I would have loved to find a basic primer on gardening here, and haven't found one yet. I look on Amazon and gardening literature websites, but haven't found anything useful. I would love to find something like the Rodale organic gardening books. I studied them religiously in the early 60's. Those two volumes were like my bibles. Particularly the sections on building healthy soils.<br /><br />I learned so much from those books. Having grown up in Los Angeles I didn't recognize many of the plants in my new Eastern Washington home. And those books, and the Organic Gardening magazine, where treasures to me. Like garden gold. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4l5OIIU1ih110nfSYk6oOpH4kmnsMOAt55aW0JWag1POO0PEigfvqAI8Uqy5KWDHGQm7TuJhaVdN_et7E5BBvWDPHHKW_OchDAM5LTSPqJfw5n0aG6df5tV7EW2L-4RdUJf8reQ/s1600-h/b6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4l5OIIU1ih110nfSYk6oOpH4kmnsMOAt55aW0JWag1POO0PEigfvqAI8Uqy5KWDHGQm7TuJhaVdN_et7E5BBvWDPHHKW_OchDAM5LTSPqJfw5n0aG6df5tV7EW2L-4RdUJf8reQ/s400/b6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131209466175644914" border="0" /></a>The more I can speak adequate Spanish, and can understand what people tell me, the more I am learning about gardening here. I have friends at the two closest plant nurseries, who give me lots of advice. Benjamin in particular. He grows lots of tropicals from cuttings and seeds for sale to big landscaping pros. So I can hang around and watch how his workers take care of the plants, and how they water, and what plants get how much sun.<br /><br />I guess I am learning a lot about gardening here, but not in the ways I am used to learning. Not from books, but from talking to other people who grow plants. And from internet forums, and other gardeners blogs. It's a slow process though. And I lose plants all the time. Most from too much sun or too much rain. Or the machete of my landlady's aberrant husband. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvofUFFBRx359CZdgcAnpzstQwk8YjcT1nlh-YsvdDvWZaZsddsc1PIaE3j-AI9aupl_m0QZ5cBOzQsJQ7VuATILDe147U0k3oE2u1-NH6aVjcDqxE1wdjbVd84ZZD77Eo3Nqqg/s1600-h/b2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvofUFFBRx359CZdgcAnpzstQwk8YjcT1nlh-YsvdDvWZaZsddsc1PIaE3j-AI9aupl_m0QZ5cBOzQsJQ7VuATILDe147U0k3oE2u1-NH6aVjcDqxE1wdjbVd84ZZD77Eo3Nqqg/s400/b2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131209410341070018" border="0" /></a>But I would love to have a "Basics of Tropical Gardening" book, even if it had some nonsense like double-digging in it. Especially if it had details about plant propagation in this climate. Most of my old Zone 5 techniques work here. It's very humid and lots of plants will grow not matter what you do to them.<br /><br />I just re-read this post. I want to clarify that I learned a lot from my gardening friends in Zone 5. Especially from neighbors, gardening club friends, and classes. But it's different learning from neighbors in a different language, and without appropriate gardening books to read.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2WiI9pDloAW6awZlM63OyH8v5OvQb7K9cDV4KtM5YPpJNuEJEybqCk4ZmfH5_mP-ptk_vDHHkB_-cjcJaOqwEVk7KAvWkwjKDMu9KMoz7KxetQW4XSXemPeDqY57icClB4Taxw/s1600-h/bb1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2WiI9pDloAW6awZlM63OyH8v5OvQb7K9cDV4KtM5YPpJNuEJEybqCk4ZmfH5_mP-ptk_vDHHkB_-cjcJaOqwEVk7KAvWkwjKDMu9KMoz7KxetQW4XSXemPeDqY57icClB4Taxw/s400/bb1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131211871357330690" border="0" /></a>And it's hard to ask questions sometimes. Because local women here can't imagine a five or six month growing season. Or snow on the ground for months. Or where you want more sun, not less. Actually some of the local men have worked in California and Oregon. Some as garden work es or in nurseries. But most they learned to butcher-prune plants and how to spray poison chemicals on plants without gloves or masks. So those guys are usually not much help.<br /><br />Mostly I have to work hard to think of how to ask the right question. And listen hard to understand the answer.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-61449965907191087972007-11-02T17:13:00.001-07:002007-11-03T07:30:13.591-07:00Machetes Gone Wild, in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnmKkUHu0jWuUzMpb9KLMGvONTx4jOXaCCEE_VT6mDNv4qTv-X3WBWdW9wBrsPhjTC7BB5wMMrjj9vmyfjGsHlAJNuChL9uezyYfFlUIbiRezcGiwWIO2uSA4d_nq2Mdkie2_aw/s1600-h/at4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnmKkUHu0jWuUzMpb9KLMGvONTx4jOXaCCEE_VT6mDNv4qTv-X3WBWdW9wBrsPhjTC7BB5wMMrjj9vmyfjGsHlAJNuChL9uezyYfFlUIbiRezcGiwWIO2uSA4d_nq2Mdkie2_aw/s400/at4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128404152855310210" border="0" /></a>This afternoon, after it started to cool off, I walked around town, doing some errands.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3oR1pX5ZXiO-3F0SivAwwRhHp3B6alLgjf85FIX1O0gu34Lwo1lCFEFyaCuAHNfI48PYnrxpEW1sJKIZ0IF6QjKuFOf61UIGh_Hh13_j3TAsNGQ-3X2CxzIwUu4czxbyg-CWZg/s1600-h/alexis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3oR1pX5ZXiO-3F0SivAwwRhHp3B6alLgjf85FIX1O0gu34Lwo1lCFEFyaCuAHNfI48PYnrxpEW1sJKIZ0IF6QjKuFOf61UIGh_Hh13_j3TAsNGQ-3X2CxzIwUu4czxbyg-CWZg/s400/alexis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128406094180528114" border="0" /></a>I almost always have my camera with me, and today I was especially glad of that. Lot's of kids wanted to pose for me. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkruOy81CrBwVHRo-Qrc6opxLKA9d4_vqZAq_K1QmgZA70ddCPJNU1a5IfTuh9lKZL-lsvTYv8EL3msBBJCQHfH4lKov606sCCgHqeEARnmuMx6-VcGIABzTwH15ADERXq2J75zw/s1600-h/claudia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkruOy81CrBwVHRo-Qrc6opxLKA9d4_vqZAq_K1QmgZA70ddCPJNU1a5IfTuh9lKZL-lsvTYv8EL3msBBJCQHfH4lKov606sCCgHqeEARnmuMx6-VcGIABzTwH15ADERXq2J75zw/s400/claudia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128406102770462722" border="0" /></a>But then I started noticing the trees. I think the lovely trees are part of what makes Chacala Chacala. They provide shade and comfort. And they are so beautiful. All kinds of things are hung from trees. Hammocks, street decorations, posters, fishing nets being mended, swings, and so on. And palms give us cocos, palm fronds, lumber. And lovely shade.Trees shade the Bibliotecha were every one can use the computers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kYXGNPrznK0jyiJJogN1liILcMvMNjuGB6k3NSp3oYEP3fFn5K6ib15j0UNePegPTrJQjVAvFbQtrKEoAJhpBQe_rSYV3cxmXh2hmjUvjPN0Ynu3R7yeaVO4Uo3ETHhfuzZrwg/s1600-h/at11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kYXGNPrznK0jyiJJogN1liILcMvMNjuGB6k3NSp3oYEP3fFn5K6ib15j0UNePegPTrJQjVAvFbQtrKEoAJhpBQe_rSYV3cxmXh2hmjUvjPN0Ynu3R7yeaVO4Uo3ETHhfuzZrwg/s400/at11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128405187942428642" border="0" /></a>Sometimes trees are just the backdrops for other plants. In Gracia's garden this little cluster of shade plants caught my eye.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXQ_BZCqmYPoU3y3j9zPQBv0iL7o3LU2TTYe-OK30ZDCWIsXdnsquAyTVybd6lYj4vGKrL9ihmLZ98AMnHYltyLiLK-eksOn6A1agksSmNEmXHKkXazB7ZiJXtZphjDZJzdz4xw/s1600-h/at10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXQ_BZCqmYPoU3y3j9zPQBv0iL7o3LU2TTYe-OK30ZDCWIsXdnsquAyTVybd6lYj4vGKrL9ihmLZ98AMnHYltyLiLK-eksOn6A1agksSmNEmXHKkXazB7ZiJXtZphjDZJzdz4xw/s400/at10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128405179352494034" border="0" /></a>Or trees can just be something a plant can climb on, like at Inez and Isreal's place.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQk7omGDj_m_pAfCq5NB55yFZzgsN_-b4sYOAadgT3H8xpouk9g_FtEksDDSGLXZ21sxy4VYQpsPA9q6UcrWcqfb9Ud6XlNzQGExyDZdLNrx6r6HYaNLblL9LC3To7rjFnIypEA/s1600-h/at9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQk7omGDj_m_pAfCq5NB55yFZzgsN_-b4sYOAadgT3H8xpouk9g_FtEksDDSGLXZ21sxy4VYQpsPA9q6UcrWcqfb9Ud6XlNzQGExyDZdLNrx6r6HYaNLblL9LC3To7rjFnIypEA/s400/at9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128405127812886450" border="0" /></a> The saddest thing I saw today was a tree butchered to make a bigger view for some tree killer. It happened this summer, in the new gated development just north of Chacala, a whole bunch a beautiful, mature trees were destroyed to order to put in new lots and road. So ugly. So sad.<br /><br />And then today, as I was doing my errand, walking along the Malecon, the dirt path connecting the beach and the muelle (fishing dock), I saw this pile of brush.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPEp2F_22d7EQgi54-9sEickfuymZCZVcCvdQ2BsmDMGBSIO1-YeiVtJd1_d8U_LEfHdfKen39vSJtf9k2RHdSyIqOTF6Ma22egpLe1t853FpmVLaaPnW_Pyz42ukllSgGY-qvw/s1600-h/at2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPEp2F_22d7EQgi54-9sEickfuymZCZVcCvdQ2BsmDMGBSIO1-YeiVtJd1_d8U_LEfHdfKen39vSJtf9k2RHdSyIqOTF6Ma22egpLe1t853FpmVLaaPnW_Pyz42ukllSgGY-qvw/s400/at2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128404139970408290" border="0" /></a>And looked up. I couldn't believe it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3a9EnxnWi60YtiIVZH3QsDi8gWY0q4jjIgGpVDTNd9jFpMvKv_ukRuB0RVBU8OYF1nqcucdRKGmGJALWXNv9nVbCd4UJnYsHEHhNgWUj7NEX8I8V8sX2MhEwdk7S97LMEhGBfw/s1600-h/at1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3a9EnxnWi60YtiIVZH3QsDi8gWY0q4jjIgGpVDTNd9jFpMvKv_ukRuB0RVBU8OYF1nqcucdRKGmGJALWXNv9nVbCd4UJnYsHEHhNgWUj7NEX8I8V8sX2MhEwdk7S97LMEhGBfw/s400/at1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128404131380473682" border="0" /></a>The same lame-brains with too many machetes were at work again. It looked like the same guys who chopped down two big trees last year. in order to made a bigger view were back at work this week. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVP_t5ipX2dua7lFmV0qwoNGjDyQTnEsnpW_BZJij6jJDRwT4KTEiu26cU3hXN3fowxD1A6obMzohGZLYO0jlwpQO_NaCWUKhDFU8t6IHjJnEwkjD_km6QXWh5MnbkMrU9urJmw/s1600-h/at7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVP_t5ipX2dua7lFmV0qwoNGjDyQTnEsnpW_BZJij6jJDRwT4KTEiu26cU3hXN3fowxD1A6obMzohGZLYO0jlwpQO_NaCWUKhDFU8t6IHjJnEwkjD_km6QXWh5MnbkMrU9urJmw/s400/at7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128405102043082658" border="0" /></a>Another tree, butchered and sacrificed for a sake of another few feet of view. It's possible to prune a tree without destroying it's appearance. Although you would never know it, looking at these photos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXWZASKbP19LbXB9zGLys-2gucej3fuLuS8qi5sOY2sViKqo8yycnOMLyam1PvkM3YH796D58mao5EMb_I_j3I9vkv-cWHp1LCanU-TKxV44b84N08KDmTCNzsMzeKNDlka2GTQ/s1600-h/at5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXWZASKbP19LbXB9zGLys-2gucej3fuLuS8qi5sOY2sViKqo8yycnOMLyam1PvkM3YH796D58mao5EMb_I_j3I9vkv-cWHp1LCanU-TKxV44b84N08KDmTCNzsMzeKNDlka2GTQ/s400/at5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128404161445244818" border="0" /></a>Further along the Malecon I saw a young couple meandering along, enjoying the view, the shade and each other, I hope.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP-LD62bTc-mTWDn_hhNfQeFqLiPrzkdx-U7XC39Lo9mgF1qIoMVInh-xIUdL3TnRuta8UYcp3oxU5snRzbFeA2RIluvtvmD4mFq9rK0uPbnJpa-zO_6Cut0nOeIVnLZYSnkWaw/s1600-h/at3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP-LD62bTc-mTWDn_hhNfQeFqLiPrzkdx-U7XC39Lo9mgF1qIoMVInh-xIUdL3TnRuta8UYcp3oxU5snRzbFeA2RIluvtvmD4mFq9rK0uPbnJpa-zO_6Cut0nOeIVnLZYSnkWaw/s400/at3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128404144265375602" border="0" /></a>And then, further along the Malecon, I admired some more lovely trees. Shade is so important around here. The highs in Chacala are still in the low 90's and you can't walk without with spots of shade stand in.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNSQNcSA214IYLDtkEIqxOoLUNjb1QoRIu-W8hCpx3gQEzaJSP7VSj2QYAUmysBTRlR-3JuD5PsXXz4jM32VZYSBCZoNOj10k_Mxh4IxL6ymnpNjy_HKXd2uxBV1FlCQtJVP_5Q/s1600-h/at8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNSQNcSA214IYLDtkEIqxOoLUNjb1QoRIu-W8hCpx3gQEzaJSP7VSj2QYAUmysBTRlR-3JuD5PsXXz4jM32VZYSBCZoNOj10k_Mxh4IxL6ymnpNjy_HKXd2uxBV1FlCQtJVP_5Q/s400/at8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128405136402821058" border="0" /></a>Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-9636869488196186182007-11-01T20:20:00.001-07:002007-11-03T07:58:37.269-07:00Mystery Succulent in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6slPzjq4nictWA7Yc5XceOwwFPhJ8v0AAv5X54UvNvLbHm9C1Pgl2m7aOTOpT2JjSm0fwGVCBB6d86dU7sM2suGEvN5hpZ6jfJlADOe6EPc_wJQzEUMO4WNram9zrlpfzfk2gw/s1600-h/aap8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6slPzjq4nictWA7Yc5XceOwwFPhJ8v0AAv5X54UvNvLbHm9C1Pgl2m7aOTOpT2JjSm0fwGVCBB6d86dU7sM2suGEvN5hpZ6jfJlADOe6EPc_wJQzEUMO4WNram9zrlpfzfk2gw/s400/aap8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128079552111980290" border="0" /></a>I got some starts from a succulent from a Chacala neighbor a couple of years ago.Now I have hundreds of them By accident.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeyfXHqRFWR69QDynZ25fY2mlVJFUCe0W9lRsNZzlSj3ddW-zZJyV7UwysrEnrYiq7Hq4lciiXIjaRBvliUtZmiEeqKQDLFzMJXyjb0lMpdVJrjqre5jr5NOTIF7D98MuNL0J1g/s1600-h/aap6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeyfXHqRFWR69QDynZ25fY2mlVJFUCe0W9lRsNZzlSj3ddW-zZJyV7UwysrEnrYiq7Hq4lciiXIjaRBvliUtZmiEeqKQDLFzMJXyjb0lMpdVJrjqre5jr5NOTIF7D98MuNL0J1g/s400/aap6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128078396765777634" border="0" /></a>I don't know what it's called, and my best sources of info on succulents, Sherry, and her son Freddie, from Merciari Designs in Oakland CA, weren't sure either. Or I wasn't listening when they told me the name. Or I forgot. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn62tJ0mh508HikcVMH1w9lcBJo2ZxC5KmsC0HUs2Ne_uzNNuiNiEC5LM4dqttQGl_f-Yjengy04S-VtsTKZz_Ob8CuKqZ4MyEsD8vL9qCxuqFiVLhC1pIyqsYK_kusibAAE6nw/s1600-h/aap9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn62tJ0mh508HikcVMH1w9lcBJo2ZxC5KmsC0HUs2Ne_uzNNuiNiEC5LM4dqttQGl_f-Yjengy04S-VtsTKZz_Ob8CuKqZ4MyEsD8vL9qCxuqFiVLhC1pIyqsYK_kusibAAE6nw/s400/aap9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128079556406947602" border="0" /></a>Sherry, and her daughter Nicole come to Chacala alot. And Freddie came last year. The results of their gardening and rock wall projects are all over Chacala. At my place, Aurora's, and even rock work on some construction projects around town. They are wonderful people. I am so glad they are coming back this year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBhgm8qBiWSFRmcs0wadUEGN6i0-j6gFzF4DmJfmAHrqV51g26sOC2aOCOA0thiYbR5-MhtQXaEjpjc0KVADQgUyn5xXjDzj1Z-pAR3grt2GSdit9nIbAt7x4Nt_zYV6yKdoXUA/s1600-h/aap10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBhgm8qBiWSFRmcs0wadUEGN6i0-j6gFzF4DmJfmAHrqV51g26sOC2aOCOA0thiYbR5-MhtQXaEjpjc0KVADQgUyn5xXjDzj1Z-pAR3grt2GSdit9nIbAt7x4Nt_zYV6yKdoXUA/s400/aap10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128079560701914914" border="0" /></a>Anywa, this is the most prolific, self-propagating plant I know. Not that I know alot about this kind of plant, whatever it is. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEATJeiPv-jKsZqSyzqoqSwj5qeBJzcKdOmS0SlHt3kzoL9zWr_cuyZEYUrGf3wso4D8VpAc9hUlWLpd-Fprrt8I8NTho4VvfzmZYzhAhuusKtCN2u0s6o4D_OUNBU_wy6XoR0w/s1600-h/aap2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEATJeiPv-jKsZqSyzqoqSwj5qeBJzcKdOmS0SlHt3kzoL9zWr_cuyZEYUrGf3wso4D8VpAc9hUlWLpd-Fprrt8I8NTho4VvfzmZYzhAhuusKtCN2u0s6o4D_OUNBU_wy6XoR0w/s400/aap2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128078383880875698" border="0" /></a>Anytime a leaf touches dirt, it starts a new plants.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjkzVTEQ-dg-7ruquhdrzePesj0qru3iySHKpno17R1wKDSYLlEQEtD4qP0B4tsv4TcfRQ5M1-vNAREAxKr1ZrXy8J5BYljFl-su_yp0KOeKPAbPgey4H_1otsshH82SEuS5pUA/s1600-h/aap1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjkzVTEQ-dg-7ruquhdrzePesj0qru3iySHKpno17R1wKDSYLlEQEtD4qP0B4tsv4TcfRQ5M1-vNAREAxKr1ZrXy8J5BYljFl-su_yp0KOeKPAbPgey4H_1otsshH82SEuS5pUA/s400/aap1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128078366701006498" border="0" /></a>Lots and lots of new plants.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwdxX-ExVc8nIVVPM5fEU1iRkRKFvVo_hQpFmct2hF6QmjRAb_qKXZ3E9-ZKa9ht9My-GQy1B0C8WULBXFJkxBeMPE1jOitntSTDowxdfb_b9ZVqIdHRXfCfAoM3LhLayeE0P4w/s1600-h/aap5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwdxX-ExVc8nIVVPM5fEU1iRkRKFvVo_hQpFmct2hF6QmjRAb_qKXZ3E9-ZKa9ht9My-GQy1B0C8WULBXFJkxBeMPE1jOitntSTDowxdfb_b9ZVqIdHRXfCfAoM3LhLayeE0P4w/s400/aap5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128078392470810322" border="0" /></a>And today, all of a sudden these plants in my "garden" are going to seed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_ZKnRtAgJx9ZVHlIVZd6IwxUz4Kt0wkQqSw9Y7j4t6ktbqRuJdxN5l-ary9A0QsnlLTQBTTUrllYS6jVYenDrPFQ0GicQYstZ6G1yegSo70criwRKmFXSrdkeXUva_lQ5wqX5Q/s1600-h/aap7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_ZKnRtAgJx9ZVHlIVZd6IwxUz4Kt0wkQqSw9Y7j4t6ktbqRuJdxN5l-ary9A0QsnlLTQBTTUrllYS6jVYenDrPFQ0GicQYstZ6G1yegSo70criwRKmFXSrdkeXUva_lQ5wqX5Q/s400/aap7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128079543522045682" border="0" /></a>Or blossoming. I don't know how it works with this plants.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ3lgo2eVOGYWtUYJP1ktMXjFV7yoB96iLQiwB-cd65VgARZEKB7D29YeflHLG-LiRIA_ACVzLB6OYrJwiTydUGLxcDzVy8akmdgkGo5eKWj9Okzr-6jI9izb9F5_6AqYa5nJBQ/s1600-h/aap3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ3lgo2eVOGYWtUYJP1ktMXjFV7yoB96iLQiwB-cd65VgARZEKB7D29YeflHLG-LiRIA_ACVzLB6OYrJwiTydUGLxcDzVy8akmdgkGo5eKWj9Okzr-6jI9izb9F5_6AqYa5nJBQ/s400/aap3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128078388175843010" border="0" /></a>I think they will have noticiable blossoms.<br /><br />I guess I will know in a few days. I can't wait. But I guess I will have to.,Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-91093771583726352182007-10-31T21:30:00.000-07:002007-10-31T21:31:03.572-07:00Dead of the Dead, in ChacalaI don't think I had ever heard much about the"Day of the Dead" until I came to Chacala. It's not celebrated here as a tourist event or some kind of spectacle event, like in Patzcuaro and other Mexican towns.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLFemshvsU_V_iwpMJs1rq3J4tfQEeTWh-fpyp0I5IX3WP2pcTsR-ElLKeQLjSuXO7J52JPEHtDTVpWBA0EnEjfpbSQ_YVfuBcXp_Hs3-jCaUeUKVVQ2NmZzUmTIv3DaRm9t5/s1600-h/dd7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLFemshvsU_V_iwpMJs1rq3J4tfQEeTWh-fpyp0I5IX3WP2pcTsR-ElLKeQLjSuXO7J52JPEHtDTVpWBA0EnEjfpbSQ_YVfuBcXp_Hs3-jCaUeUKVVQ2NmZzUmTIv3DaRm9t5/s400/dd7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127719612982982018" border="0" /></a> As far as I have noticed in four years, it's just the two days when families remember the children (on the 1st) and the adults in their families who have died (on the second).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59eEYupCPHqG5IOm0GSFxMrD3ZW-DN8Oxpqd2NBhrss7k_OrR7n05KF2JmtTdi0iA_uzXfs36Ej97J3BD3jD9dmkHox8Z2LB0rHZxCq1GTNZT7xsfFpwe59N9fjUGxbYxqanc/s1600-h/dd1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59eEYupCPHqG5IOm0GSFxMrD3ZW-DN8Oxpqd2NBhrss7k_OrR7n05KF2JmtTdi0iA_uzXfs36Ej97J3BD3jD9dmkHox8Z2LB0rHZxCq1GTNZT7xsfFpwe59N9fjUGxbYxqanc/s400/dd1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127718814119064786" border="0" /></a>Mainly they bring flowers to the cemetery where their family members are buried. Sometimes they are flowers they grew themselves, or bought in Las Varas, or from a truck.<br /><br />More often the are huge bouquets of artificial flowers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii68lz_g314qpjd9HxiW8OnpJItfAO6ZTmpXQ0-ObaCEWR7gXku3sULfxVJVT5Xh3WV8FFfxS67rzJ_DVLmjdmIuEESbIQOksf9v7EQes-J3YLfp0FDdx-j7IW75QsgbOG_DOA/s1600-h/dd4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii68lz_g314qpjd9HxiW8OnpJItfAO6ZTmpXQ0-ObaCEWR7gXku3sULfxVJVT5Xh3WV8FFfxS67rzJ_DVLmjdmIuEESbIQOksf9v7EQes-J3YLfp0FDdx-j7IW75QsgbOG_DOA/s400/dd4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127718822708999426" border="0" /></a>Some are in loose bunches.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5m8N_tW6OtdHEU-eLh0klc5Z7cajeZHImmTM96RsFH7eyFp2Y3D7nIuphL9dxXGJ-c-Vn2EpT7GLbqU50EVUcrbh_0PI7nL_Km5lrjJvxX2c-nF89kiaXlpWZPVWkL5-LodxH/s1600-h/dd8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5m8N_tW6OtdHEU-eLh0klc5Z7cajeZHImmTM96RsFH7eyFp2Y3D7nIuphL9dxXGJ-c-Vn2EpT7GLbqU50EVUcrbh_0PI7nL_Km5lrjJvxX2c-nF89kiaXlpWZPVWkL5-LodxH/s400/dd8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127719617277949330" border="0" /></a>Others are made especially for leaving at the cemetery. The flowers on mounted on circles made of styrofoam discs with green paper backing. Wrapped in plastic so they will stay "fresh" longer.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT5enEFZr4Hk-jWg0Bn6HktRYdMP6nBbzv3hxEXqhB-H2YIlss8O9MDg2-CexX9b4UPXfivFx0VEkvFAS-J4WJVvzVNRzZiMhztgaab6cS6LmXafjpC5lkVIKjZLNjTxBcITu/s1600-h/dd3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT5enEFZr4Hk-jWg0Bn6HktRYdMP6nBbzv3hxEXqhB-H2YIlss8O9MDg2-CexX9b4UPXfivFx0VEkvFAS-J4WJVvzVNRzZiMhztgaab6cS6LmXafjpC5lkVIKjZLNjTxBcITu/s400/dd3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127718822708999410" border="0" /></a>This year I will really miss Palila, Maria, who died earlier this year. One of her many money making talents was making the circular wreathes for local people to buy for their Day of the Dead visits to the cemetery.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjoq-hy2P26q01m7pvEUh0N1unY7FU22iPh4VrxbEuq2SAlkSpZ11SRIQcjib8VdyoQzjyupfRAzsKZyMOWzCvGsazgBAtP6IXdQiY-2fq7gTsp1rBTM4FjY7jsfhFdVAgMj0/s1600-h/dd5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjoq-hy2P26q01m7pvEUh0N1unY7FU22iPh4VrxbEuq2SAlkSpZ11SRIQcjib8VdyoQzjyupfRAzsKZyMOWzCvGsazgBAtP6IXdQiY-2fq7gTsp1rBTM4FjY7jsfhFdVAgMj0/s400/dd5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127718827003966738" border="0" /></a> I liked to watch her working, and to support her efforts. I saw Butcho, her husband, this morning, to make sure he has what he needs for whatever he wants to do on Friday. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxZyrm5GqSZIAe8-n-5x-Yshay4YUpIUgmaXAeL2qA4A0UtdqwULQuMKgCxS5PkHwTZijMOG_Vmoo4MuG-s9JzIUsBjZ2-Zli8uVdY4XzAL7sNk9EpQj6XvYJF_5DJGC88CQS/s1600-h/dd2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxZyrm5GqSZIAe8-n-5x-Yshay4YUpIUgmaXAeL2qA4A0UtdqwULQuMKgCxS5PkHwTZijMOG_Vmoo4MuG-s9JzIUsBjZ2-Zli8uVdY4XzAL7sNk9EpQj6XvYJF_5DJGC88CQS/s400/dd2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127718818414032098" border="0" /></a>It's almost 9:20pm as I write this. And the giant trucks hauling lovely topsoil from a mango orchard to the gated development are still going up and down the road. Speeding and vomiting exhaust fumes and noise. Been at it for days again. Huge loads. Very annoying.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWlY-P5Wxmp5MxNpTDFaGfQtfGGf2OOHmnPqRKoepezQnBu-TNB82bHjrnDGMaI6p9AIyivS2eOB3OxrOisxQ7z7TaCZlW_EYaX5plKq_2mHJWQmqsVr4OCC9p-vOsCMHbyKq/s1600-h/dd6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWlY-P5Wxmp5MxNpTDFaGfQtfGGf2OOHmnPqRKoepezQnBu-TNB82bHjrnDGMaI6p9AIyivS2eOB3OxrOisxQ7z7TaCZlW_EYaX5plKq_2mHJWQmqsVr4OCC9p-vOsCMHbyKq/s400/dd6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127719608688014706" border="0" /></a>And seeing the mango orchard being destroyed so that rich people can have decorative foliage growing in the lovely topsoil. Planting plants for decorations, instead the food that dirt was used for previously. It's the ugliest sight, the orchard being dug away by huge machines. Killing lovely mango trees to get dirt to grow plants for decoration, inside of food for people to eat.<br /><br />Whatever floats your boat, I guess.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-56303488473677007682007-10-30T04:43:00.000-07:002007-10-29T14:06:49.094-07:00Portulacas Love Chacala, and Vice-Versa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJQq84k-nDSDzxZYDMdTr5C8FBfDMdxGlJ3DS-pdkmgdZj-l8OU8xi8q6dyPd4W2NlNZr3sdWgbl9hXhzmGjUeJ4ZvA6_LRDWljpGXwwqSZO8O8RmJJah8wxKll5BJA8oHWmyTw/s1600-h/agtport1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJQq84k-nDSDzxZYDMdTr5C8FBfDMdxGlJ3DS-pdkmgdZj-l8OU8xi8q6dyPd4W2NlNZr3sdWgbl9hXhzmGjUeJ4ZvA6_LRDWljpGXwwqSZO8O8RmJJah8wxKll5BJA8oHWmyTw/s400/agtport1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126475957352541746" border="0" /></a>One of my favorite things about gardening in Chacala is that I can grow succulents year-round here. Some of them go semi-dormant during the rainy season. Like my favorite, Adenium Obesum. But they live thru the rain and start blossoming as soon as it stops.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKMTJu47rK14VeN1pIE3sEoeC89psKBLT0vgWFuKhoxJSAHPI1B4TT_7YWw2paVVA6UCqKON9U-3LiwobBHyrNtmm8qv-GCLA5_ZeTwX5J5CJO2YtK4Rb2Vb8n3pTpLU95HNFHQ/s1600-h/agtdesertrose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKMTJu47rK14VeN1pIE3sEoeC89psKBLT0vgWFuKhoxJSAHPI1B4TT_7YWw2paVVA6UCqKON9U-3LiwobBHyrNtmm8qv-GCLA5_ZeTwX5J5CJO2YtK4Rb2Vb8n3pTpLU95HNFHQ/s400/agtdesertrose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126477585145146978" border="0" /></a>I have always loved Portulacas, ever since the very first time I saw one. In one of the greenhouses at Manito Park, in Spokane WA. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA-rNvyR0Fk_ugUMQf9nSIKqOex2MTcxtoNZM81M5jyqoesirVn793z_tFAiLywCzfJSOE97_437xFCuvzqEMImbvZYxSshyHXqjBbqZfRyqKAZ3z_OBjXHAqCL4Vqc72YyT-Eg/s1600-h/agtport2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA-rNvyR0Fk_ugUMQf9nSIKqOex2MTcxtoNZM81M5jyqoesirVn793z_tFAiLywCzfJSOE97_437xFCuvzqEMImbvZYxSshyHXqjBbqZfRyqKAZ3z_OBjXHAqCL4Vqc72YyT-Eg/s400/agtport2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126475974532410946" border="0" /></a>I love to able to grow them year around here in Chacala. Or, maybe I should say, I love it that I get to admire Portulacas growing year-around in Chacala. That's because I have almost nothing to do with how well they grow here.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4vAd1LmMGhd6MuCaug1-MvkNe2PDUtukfl-Tg7W2-f4Sh3xgoy_KEi5pZMMlOHmmukT8C6TrFCvNCfQq9GuCIg27blX2NEcOQ6U-z1Q-tPEC-qnZRjg2baUPdftbMHgINGPHSA/s1600-h/agtport3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4vAd1LmMGhd6MuCaug1-MvkNe2PDUtukfl-Tg7W2-f4Sh3xgoy_KEi5pZMMlOHmmukT8C6TrFCvNCfQq9GuCIg27blX2NEcOQ6U-z1Q-tPEC-qnZRjg2baUPdftbMHgINGPHSA/s400/agtport3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126475991712280146" border="0" /></a>Local ladies come by for pieces, cuttings, of the plant all the time. If they see a new color blossom, it's time for a new cutting. I love it. It's so nice to have something to share. And they just stick the pieces in a pot and ingnore them. They almost aways take.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-48480236660686864582007-10-30T02:53:00.000-07:002007-10-29T14:06:20.423-07:00Bouganvilleas Gone Wild, in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEXJ6h6d3jpQvm2Yhvb0GawnQECkz4UF3YFtAmzCXGb2-Zh_kzbtHjck2xWS_NBtG-EBlt90wJrreiXIbEFFXXyTzlxMkRgC6REwXxqdbQTmt2GGwmkNSl7-abrN-2BWKqT-CiQ/s1600-h/agt1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEXJ6h6d3jpQvm2Yhvb0GawnQECkz4UF3YFtAmzCXGb2-Zh_kzbtHjck2xWS_NBtG-EBlt90wJrreiXIbEFFXXyTzlxMkRgC6REwXxqdbQTmt2GGwmkNSl7-abrN-2BWKqT-CiQ/s400/agt1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126478603052396146" border="0" /></a>I planted this Bouganvillea late last March I think. It was a one-gallon plant. 1.80US.<br />It's now about 10 feet tall, and growing about six inches a day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPAngoThs5nh-yisOwPcxEr-tNCygqsuKT6VRlstb7RvT6d9KGpATTSShYLqzApvkRJjXIxy2TgonAd8uH9d1x3CVEhxObO5YOFIKjKH51bkaOXn8EmDSDLyuN4egUl1SaFBvdg/s1600-h/agtbougvine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPAngoThs5nh-yisOwPcxEr-tNCygqsuKT6VRlstb7RvT6d9KGpATTSShYLqzApvkRJjXIxy2TgonAd8uH9d1x3CVEhxObO5YOFIKjKH51bkaOXn8EmDSDLyuN4egUl1SaFBvdg/s400/agtbougvine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126478680361807506" border="0" /></a>And it has it's first blossoms. I never really noticed bouganvilleas until starting living here. I know they grow in Los Angeles, where was a child. And they plant them at most resorts in Mexico. Huatulco north. So I know I have seen the vines/plants, and adminred them. But I don't thing I ralized I could actually grow them until I had lived here for awhile.<br /><br />I didn't have a clue about how tough they are, and how fast growing. You can whack the plant down to a three foot stub with a machete, and a month later it's heaving for the roof again.<br />Lovely plants, with big sharp thorns. At least the plants around here have big thorns.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-86935888349202926642007-10-29T23:52:00.000-07:002007-10-28T18:45:20.111-07:00Quick Trip Thru My Chacala Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUHjiKVIHMplXOHhDWW9dfdeG5a2f-ZIstLfLIylSubitDxLnpnFF2OmR3_y09vxInHd_klAOQSPfIOx4ZMUIHeGY0aGXU5wBG-nxl0Kkg3eWV5GdcvpZfVcGTXI-Rx2N88pV-Q/s1600-h/flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUHjiKVIHMplXOHhDWW9dfdeG5a2f-ZIstLfLIylSubitDxLnpnFF2OmR3_y09vxInHd_klAOQSPfIOx4ZMUIHeGY0aGXU5wBG-nxl0Kkg3eWV5GdcvpZfVcGTXI-Rx2N88pV-Q/s400/flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126474449819020834" border="0" /></a>The stores in Chacala, and all over Mexico, are filled with hand-made flowers this week. Families are preparing for the two Days of the Dead. One to honor adults and the other two honor children. They make wreaths from these flowers. And take them to the cemetery, or set them in a place of honor at home.<br /><br />Chacala, and all of Mexico, returned to Standard time this morning. It was lovely to wake up at 6:20am and to find the sun shining in the window onto my pillow.<br /><br />I got downstairs, to my garden space, awhile later. We haven't had any rain for a couple of weeks, and everything is blossoming out. I don't expect rain again until late June. Of course, you never know about rain. The humidity has dropped too.<br /><br />It's a sunny, breezy, lovely Sunday morning. And I am happy with my garden.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoAcVDKdD9IpuPNUrO0d5CnJp2N6ihhHi7OCKmLLYXHWsgvwdbuaoNo_80remsawVd9h-c1EaZpyGYkkhFshIqMFctdsirUdscBaetz85bBe2GA11I1NQ_Ux_SNRvM_06yt61Mg/s1600-h/agtarch1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoAcVDKdD9IpuPNUrO0d5CnJp2N6ihhHi7OCKmLLYXHWsgvwdbuaoNo_80remsawVd9h-c1EaZpyGYkkhFshIqMFctdsirUdscBaetz85bBe2GA11I1NQ_Ux_SNRvM_06yt61Mg/s400/agtarch1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126465370258156962" border="0" /></a>My landlady came up this morning. She knew I had some large pieces of oilcloth I wasn't using and she needed them for something. She told me she was buying paint for the house this week. We talked over colors, but it's really her decision. And since I don't have total control of the color choice, I don't much care. Fresh paint will be nice though.<br /><br />The little archway I formed over the sidewalk is growing quickly. About three months ago I tied two tall morning glory tree stalks together over the sidewalk. And then twisted and tied vines onto the arch. One from each side. The right side is a jasmine vine, and the left side is a fast growing vine with small purple, trumpet shaped blossoms. I don't know what it's called, and it's not in my books. When in blossoms again, I'll take a photo. Someone will know what it is.<br /><br />It's hard to see the jasmine because the Ixora, with the red blossoms is in front. On the right.<br /><br />I love living upstairs. The view is great, and I usually get a nice breeze. But I have to go down the stairs (which are behind the house) to garden. And sometimes that's annoying. I don't want to have pots of plants on my patio, because they seem to draw scorpions. They like being under the pottery pots. I think.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxFoUCC6SIuV2j1npNiEb37qujeq4GuHYoeau2g8cWFHtyJjFc0GWXUgqKQoPYVz_SD9juk7tvugEh_R2ADv7095aJcfMuhBV1e1D-P47C2qaOjC6vpYeFW_-dT7RWCpnQRZIqg/s1600-h/agtpepper1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxFoUCC6SIuV2j1npNiEb37qujeq4GuHYoeau2g8cWFHtyJjFc0GWXUgqKQoPYVz_SD9juk7tvugEh_R2ADv7095aJcfMuhBV1e1D-P47C2qaOjC6vpYeFW_-dT7RWCpnQRZIqg/s400/agtpepper1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126473668134972914" border="0" /></a>The pepper plants continue to produce. People pop some off most days, and the peppers keep on coming.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW44tTDT2jLb-6sbphpIZ2_dwxJwGvFLpL6s8b1kBYSltZggSE1eIEp46shY3-KSoj0ZjIS3MyV2tbgrtQ7XdUQNgV2Z3QT4HXrReHbX_UFJ3hEJItd8UeZAYTAjX-5pk0SwQaA/s1600-h/agtpepper2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW44tTDT2jLb-6sbphpIZ2_dwxJwGvFLpL6s8b1kBYSltZggSE1eIEp46shY3-KSoj0ZjIS3MyV2tbgrtQ7XdUQNgV2Z3QT4HXrReHbX_UFJ3hEJItd8UeZAYTAjX-5pk0SwQaA/s400/agtpepper2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126473685314842114" border="0" /></a>And the yellow Lantana bush is growing really quickly.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVqM5SNV40wBCmnVwjOGAbm2NSNpmGIwdg8FbTHESMxRtjXfL4HJUCY_CiWK43ZfUqxVx5937yAZH4DiheHYn3T8J2zQVVh_5XUzk7H_fhpDTZtmUrOctHxy0gIX55GTXxu_PjA/s1600-h/agtlantana1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVqM5SNV40wBCmnVwjOGAbm2NSNpmGIwdg8FbTHESMxRtjXfL4HJUCY_CiWK43ZfUqxVx5937yAZH4DiheHYn3T8J2zQVVh_5XUzk7H_fhpDTZtmUrOctHxy0gIX55GTXxu_PjA/s400/agtlantana1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126473706789678610" border="0" /></a>It's been in the ground since April. Started out in a gallon can, and now it's about 3x6 feet, maybe bigger.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-1283467365348214182007-10-28T12:11:00.000-07:002007-10-28T12:22:30.171-07:00Papaya Trees in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K4kZ8jeHDx7K8fPRNocTABVzHhvVxTLgHcJpGu-eM68It0rzZDLU-6Q3wGgS5BWLK4dUKnnye5m9FPXtXk65EaZNq6CrU9fL9a0LdqYyfIFVpYexMebPxbUBLyTvCprbU8tMeA/s1600-h/agtpap1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K4kZ8jeHDx7K8fPRNocTABVzHhvVxTLgHcJpGu-eM68It0rzZDLU-6Q3wGgS5BWLK4dUKnnye5m9FPXtXk65EaZNq6CrU9fL9a0LdqYyfIFVpYexMebPxbUBLyTvCprbU8tMeA/s400/agtpap1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126466740352724418" border="0" /></a>The two papaya trees in front of the house where I live are growing really quickly. They bear fruit year around in Chacala, and all over in this part of Mexico. I don't know if that's normal or not. Mangoes only bear fruit May and June around here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUe_lU4tDCS4ylWV9YPjn4JT2U3QitDZn01LwCpZZGtJTTGyQSV4Lyv-kdc6CR8M7tJS1WLTSdJBC-YbNagZmaC2-xSjP71F7rVejTjU23QZR1gzMWsF_HD-VJy1OK9yQPtPlxQ/s1600-h/agtpap2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUe_lU4tDCS4ylWV9YPjn4JT2U3QitDZn01LwCpZZGtJTTGyQSV4Lyv-kdc6CR8M7tJS1WLTSdJBC-YbNagZmaC2-xSjP71F7rVejTjU23QZR1gzMWsF_HD-VJy1OK9yQPtPlxQ/s400/agtpap2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126466744647691730" border="0" /></a>These two papaya trees grew from seeds threw in the dirt in front of the house. I don't know how the fruit tastes because I have never tasted one. I like the blossoms on the tree trunk, but I don't really care for papaya. Strange after-taste.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7Rwb7nzVgpSPCS09aBSA9yzXUgqqoFt_rPY3Yid8gcNtuN2sv3uLY7s8f45n-gtL_-IdITTwxMPVPfZkUmUneUa-aDUYi-fPEk5EaQvRN5WJWMe-i4QjNjxEiRv_8cJRk3mv9Q/s1600-h/agtpap4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7Rwb7nzVgpSPCS09aBSA9yzXUgqqoFt_rPY3Yid8gcNtuN2sv3uLY7s8f45n-gtL_-IdITTwxMPVPfZkUmUneUa-aDUYi-fPEk5EaQvRN5WJWMe-i4QjNjxEiRv_8cJRk3mv9Q/s400/agtpap4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126466753237626338" border="0" /></a>The larger tree was about chest high, a bearing fruit, a year ago. Now it's about 14 feet tall. Amazing. From my patio I can see the lines of the trees in fruit orchards on the hills just south of Chacala. The trees are mostly Guayaba or Mango. The part of Mexico, on the Pacific coast, a few hours north of Puerto Vallarta is agricultural country. Fruits of all kinds. Vegetables. Corn. Tobacco, Cattle, pigs, turkeys, etc etc etc.<br /><br />It's nice living in farming country.Lots of good food.Andeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297615.post-85154803844854596272007-10-26T20:48:00.000-06:002007-10-26T20:58:35.278-06:00Mundo en Flor, Flowers of Oaxaca<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SCzzQqO2uh7_Y78PWKMtjkEsqiSRNoaUnoukb0HbXHMCb96ocbX0z6461MdunVcUQwHJb1G20SvjlCvM7qVaN_FZaGXCrvDJ-tvCCeQ23WW2iaa91SW7-m58LI9Vszp8Pi6JXQ/s1600-h/IMG_3153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SCzzQqO2uh7_Y78PWKMtjkEsqiSRNoaUnoukb0HbXHMCb96ocbX0z6461MdunVcUQwHJb1G20SvjlCvM7qVaN_FZaGXCrvDJ-tvCCeQ23WW2iaa91SW7-m58LI9Vszp8Pi6JXQ/s400/IMG_3153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125845245700091266" border="0" /></a>These cacti are just ordinary photos that I took this summer at the Oaxaca Ethno-botanical Garden.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsjNn2Uh6mvyKKzTI-WMGGEsdwKLizbx83tIMhbT-dfzurdZ2MUkBLInN1Hy79YrlCQfv-R_-7SmLsEIy5287Fhvp9hk06QZTVA7FtSklY4CrOcfooI9Cqb-GRJuyos-si-oZ3g/s1600-h/IMG_3151.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsjNn2Uh6mvyKKzTI-WMGGEsdwKLizbx83tIMhbT-dfzurdZ2MUkBLInN1Hy79YrlCQfv-R_-7SmLsEIy5287Fhvp9hk06QZTVA7FtSklY4CrOcfooI9Cqb-GRJuyos-si-oZ3g/s400/IMG_3151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125845237110156658" border="0" /></a>If you want to see some really good photos of plants in Oaxaca, go to<br /><br /><a href="http://web.mac.com/lauriemoody/Site/mundo_en_flor.html">Mundo en Flor</a>.<br /><br />This is a wonderful collection of beautiful photos of the blossoms and vegetation around Oaxaca, Mexico.<br /><br />With identification of each plant.<br /><br />The photos are wonderful and a great resource.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvjuAkVMGiYv4PaRbbQU-sZqqm_lMXKwAMvZOjGAVRK09WfWl30WL-Hjk8DxRskBMBX1UTWW9JjEVztU4JLwTdysyGB-CAuio65mB7oepmHz_udgmayHaf1b0DlTxJ8ZP7VJNrw/s1600-h/IMG_3163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvjuAkVMGiYv4PaRbbQU-sZqqm_lMXKwAMvZOjGAVRK09WfWl30WL-Hjk8DxRskBMBX1UTWW9JjEVztU4JLwTdysyGB-CAuio65mB7oepmHz_udgmayHaf1b0DlTxJ8ZP7VJNrw/s400/IMG_3163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125845245700091282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />http://web.mac.com/lauriemoody/Site/mundo_en_flor.htmlAndeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413966510659683865noreply@blogger.com0