Entrance Garden - Guatemala

While spending a few weeks in Guatemala during March and April, I took the opportunity to do a little “landscaping” at a friend’s new home where I was living.  The owner knew the place needed a little fixing up and he said to make it as close to zero maintenance as possible, with that in mind I came up with the following.  You can see the space as a “before, during, and after” project.

 The first view a visitor see - not good!

 The look as you approach the home.

Not too welcoming - I think you would agree.

It is very simple.  It cleans up the unwelcoming look that existed at the main entrance of the home.  It is pretty much zero care.  The homeowner likes it – and that is what counts.

 Getting the things together that will be needed

 Removing the grass was really difficult.

Very different than the grass where I live.

 Positioning Plants

A plastic sheet was  placed under the white stones

to help prevent weed growth.

The area gets the right amount of daily sunshine so the plantings should thrive and grow rather well.  In time the three clay planters will fill out and flow onto the white rock at the base.

 The tall plant on the right is Izote.

It is the national flower of El Salvador.

It is used as an ornamental, an edible, and used to manufacture textile.

Some of the plants started to bloom within days of being planted.  The colors add that little extra “pop” to the simple arrangement.

So this is how I spend my Winter vacation.  May go back and do more in the future.  I like the challenge of making it as close to zero maintenance as possible.  It is much different from the gardens I care for at Gardens at Waters East.  That being the case it was a good experience giving variety to my “garden life”.

Here is the final view - - -  

small area, outlined with brick, and pretty much ZERO care.

Your comments are always welcome.