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Posts Tagged ‘gardens’

Here and there May flowers

Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on May 5, 2021| 4 Comments »

Flowers of May there and here…

Flor de mayo (aka, plumeria, frangipani) on the terrace in Oaxaca
Sixty-five year old camellia planted by my grandfather on the Mill Valley patio

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Art of a garden

Posted in Agriculture, Creativity, Culture, Flora, Gardens, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 12, 2019| 4 Comments »

Who knew that there was an amazing garden, built on a former garbage dump, and open to the public in Xoxocotlán? Not me, until a friend mentioned it and invited me on a field trip to visit.

Thus, a few days ago, I found myself at Vives Verdes — a delightful labor of love — a marriage of plants, recycling, art, education, and the environment.

Nine years ago architect, Francisco Martínez began a project of landscaping a healing, artistic, and environmental garden — not only utilizing plants, but also converting found objects into planters and whimsical art.

Vives Verdes incorporates more than 200 species and 2000 plants — mostly from Oaxaca, but also from other arid climates throughout the world.

A water catchment system utilizing paths, beds, and ponds irrigate the garden and no chemicals are used.

Vives Verde is open to the public and school groups. It is located in the Las Culturas neighborhood of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca.

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April flowers

Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 6, 2019| 2 Comments »

Tonight, the clocks in most of Mexico spring ahead.

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However, the flowers are on their own time and the Flor de Mayo (aka, Plumeria, Frangipani) have already begun to bloom.

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Cactus flowers

Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged , , , , , , on October 9, 2018| 13 Comments »

Yesterday morning…

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Cleistocactus

There are days when light and shadows paint the garden and I sigh at Mother Nature’s artistry.

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May flowers

Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 10, 2018| 4 Comments »

Plumeria (aka, Frangipani, Flor de mayo) currently bringing their fragrance to the Casita Colibrí terrace…

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As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers — even if it’s still April!

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Flora & fauna

Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 4, 2017| 4 Comments »

… from my rooftop garden in the city.

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Opuntia – April 2017

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Lizard on the terraza – June 2017

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A feathered friend watching from a distance – June 2017

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Hibiscus flower this morning – June 2017

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Beneath the sheltering leaves

Posted in Agriculture, Flora, Food, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on May 2, 2017| 4 Comments »

Cooking with Juana…  Mangos ripening just out of reach.

Sunlight filtering through the leaves of the granada (pomegranate) tree.

A pomelo (grapefruit) waiting to drop.

There is something to be said for outdoor kitchens.

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Orchid enchantment

Posted in Flora, Gardens, People, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2014| 7 Comments »

Yesterday, I walked through an enchanted garden…

Along with about 25+ other people from the Oaxaca Garden Club, I made my way to an orchid garden in San Andrés Huayapam.

What a treasure the privately funded, Orquideario “La Encantada” is!  For owner/gardener/collector, Octavio Gabriel, it is a 40+ year old passion and labor of love — and it shows.

The earthen pathways lead one up and down, through dappled light, along the slopes of a babbling brook.  The orquideario is sanctuary to about 1,200 species of orchids, along with companion epiphytes, ferns, bromeliads, and even a bamboo forest.

Orquideario “La Encantada” is located at the end of a dirt road off to the right, about 1 km beyond the presas (reservoirs), towards the village of San Andrés Huayapam.

The 100 pesos admission fee helps finance the orquideario.  I plan to return!  Octavio Gabriel’s book, Algunas Orquideas de Oaxaca is available to purchase for 350 pesos.

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