pups in the calle

On this street I often come across these same 3 dogs curled up for their afternoon nap. In fact, I don't know if I've ever seen them up and roaming around! It is one of the few quiet streets where a dog can actually sleep unmolested. It is the back road to San Ju Yu, the boat launch. This next is the vinery growing on the walls here, bouganvillea and orange trumpet vine (Pyrostegia venusta). This shot doesn't do it justice because I was taught to not put pink and orange together but it totally works. I'll try again tomorrow for a better shot if it is cloudy the colors will translate better.
This is a shot of Brazilian Red Cloak or Red Justicia (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys) in full show these days mostly in the fancy gardens around town here in Panajachel. It is grand to see these plants familiar to me as potted plants growing as shrubs and trees in the ground. I get clues about their care by observing them in a more natural habitat. Okay a garden isn't totally natural but it is a step closer.

I'll end with a photo taken after a large boat landed at Santa Cruz with many people heading up to the town's central square for some celebration. If you can note many of the women in their beautiful huipils (hand woven blouses) and cortes (skirts). And of course Abuela with his jazzy straw hat and the ubiquitous tuk tuk!

Chuwa'k chik!

Post Valentines, Phew

At long last a new post, having gone into a paralyzed depression and now back out the other side. Coming back to January in Maine was painful, snow, ice, wind, and that pesky work! The pansies are now transplanted and growing happily. We have been having great weather and they will be in bud and bloom in 4 weeks.


Meanwhile taking cuttings and getting all the rooting going resulted in this scrumptious collection of flowering abutilon:
That is a bowl of Abutilon: dark red is Nabob, Big Pink & Apricot Belle.

Cuttings on the bench at present, all the Pelargoniums, Lavenders, Abutilons, all of the fuchsia and many of the tropicals:
So far, very happy. Critters are under control and the sun has been adding just enough during the day to keep things growing.


We got a big snowstorm the other day and it was lovely and thankfully the worst of it has already melted away. I can feel OK about it now that spring is in sight, my hands and shoulders however were not too impressed. That's what happens when you get out of shape. No snow to shovel most of January and February keeps mama happy. This was the lovely version, a white frosting on everything and then enough breeze to dislodge it before it takes the electrical wires down! These are the things we think about here.

I will have to indulge in a dog photo opportunity because they have been so darn cute lately. These are the sunbathers at lunch time.

did I mention Valentines? No? Well, lets just say if you have ever been thinking of splitting up with your spouse, don't do it on Valentines day because it makes all the subsequent valentines days kinda suck for the one that got ditched. just saying. And that's why I prefer dogs!