Recently Ann and I needed to make a quick trip to Yelapa to make some decisions about the re-roofing of Casa Estrella. We were staying in Casa Bamboo and I had just put up a new string of little lights along the front deck. Ann commented that one of the globes had an extra design on it. Upon closer inspection, we found a little gecko had decided this was the perfect place to hang out and catch flying insects passing by. I love the little surprises that being in Yelapa gives me.
Recently one of our guests returned to EL Jardin with a huge suitcase filled with supplies and medications for the animals of Yelapa. Monica writes this:
I recently returned from a trip to Yelapa to try and help out the dogs and cats I met on my first
visit in October. When I was last at El Jardin, I was fortunate enough to build a great friendship
with Chrissi and Bruce. They have been unwavering in their support of my goals in Yelapa and
have helped out in every way possible. So, with a suitcase full of supplies and a big plans, I
landed on the beach with the well-being of the local animals in mind and a plan to do something
to improve their lives.
While my original goal of a spay and neuter clinic did not come to fruition, I did meet a couple
of amazing ladies that I am sure will help me make that a reality in the near future. Dana is an
incredible woman that is already doing much to help the pets in Yelapa. She and I headed up
the Rio to hand out flea and tick prevention and shave some dogs. It was such an education for
me in what I can do to help out the most. These dogs need tick prevention in a big way! Erlichia
is a tick borne disease that can have devastating effects including kidney failure and neurologic
symptoms. It can be treated, but is becoming resistant to the usual antibiotics. Prevention is
best!
I also met Kendra who is an integral part of the community. I am sure with her knowledge of
how things work in Yelapa, she can give me great information in how to accomplish all of my
lofty goals. I am very excited to return with another suitcase full of medication and get to work!
For more pictures, go to: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103546386389076625581/albums/6014972282453776113?cfem=1&sort=1&authkey=CN2GrLC8m6aGGg
This year’s Art Week, lead by Sierra Briano, was a wonderful success as usual. With 5 women in attendance, they worked on projects ranging from Tin Embossing to Tee Shirt painting. Mayra, from Brisas Cafe, was their live model one day in a traditional Mexican dress. Peg, our artist/birder, kept us informed as to what birds we had around and what calls each made. A great time was had by all. If you would like to sign up for next years Art Week , click this link The dates are February 22-March 1, 2015
Growing pineapples here at El Jardin is so much dang fun. First, you are taking something that most people throw away, planting it in the ground and later that same year it will bear the cutest little baby pineapple you have ever seen. Pineapples are the most economically significant plant in the Bromeliaceae family. And we are so blesed to know what to do with them. So here is how we do it…when someone buys a pineapple in town I ask for the leafy top part. I take any extra fruit bits off and strip off the first several layers of small leaves at the base. Then I set it out in the garden to “heal” or dry out for a day. If you plant them before they are healed you have an extra concern of pests getting into the fresh parts. Once healed, I just dig a nice little shallow hole in “Pineapple Plantation” and plant it. It sometimes will take a year before we get a new pineapple , but when they finally arrive it’s a time of wonder and awe…
plus they are very pretty.
We are excited to have Nicole Oakland here at El Jardin and Casas Santa Cruz for the winter season (December through February)! Check out her bio below…
Nicole Oakland moved to Portland, Oregon in 1997 after getting a liberal arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology in Texas. After working in the museum world for years, she decided to pursue her interest in the natural health world by studying massage at East West College of the Healing Arts in 2002. Upon graduating, she started practicing massage at a top chiropractic clinic, where she quickly gained knowledge and experience in working with patients with acute, chronic, and serious injuries. She continued her work there for over 10 years, seeing many patients in the process and becoming a highly requested therapist. She also has first hand experience healing from injuries with the help of massage therapy. As well as her work at the chiropractic clinic, she worked in conjunction with acupuncturists, Chinese medicine doctors and Naturopaths in her own practice for 10 years before leaving Portland to travel the world. She has been to 25 countries in two years and is addicted to the life of the traveler. She receives massage every where she goes, has studied with seasoned teachers, and exchanges information with fellow therapists. She has also studied herbal medicine for many years and feels blessed to have learned from some very special healers. She is excited to share her skills in Yelapa at El Jardin. You can book appointments at El Jardin (call 209-5284 or stop by).
Prices are as follows:
If USD are not available to you, pesos will be accepted.
As neighbors, friends and guests of El Jardin “pop-in” for a quick afternoon visit as customary in Yelapa, they tend to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ as they observe the lush tropical garden at the four-casa, 14 person retreat.
That’s because the heavy summer rains have facilitated the fast growth of more than 75 plant and flower varieties –from Allamanda to Water Lilies; thus helping El Jardin (The Garden) live up to its name.
Chrissi, co-owner and resident horticulturist at El Jardin “start” many of the species from cuttings taken from around the village and then propagate or multiply them. She said she choose the cultivars based on what she likes and what she thinks will be pretty.
This season she’s excited about the ginger, namely the white ginger, that has been cultivated on the property. Her plans are to plant the perennial at the entrance of every casa at El Jardin to capture the garden fragrance.
Juanita, the local Spanish teacher, stops by El Jardin after an afternoon swim at The Point. She appreciates the pink and red variety and excitedly cuts from the pink blossoms. As she plucks away at starts she explains why she loves them, “Just stick them in a pot and they grow like crazy.”
According to Chrissi, that’s the mantra for getting things to grow at El Jardin as well.
Every once in a while, I am shocked from whatever task I’m working on by a screechy, clucky, very LOUD clatter. My first thought is “the train has arrived”, but alas, there are no trains in Yelapa… but there are Chachalaca birds in Yelapa. Chachalacas are large chicken like birds that remind me of a large pheasant but not as colorful. However, what they may lack in pigment, they make up in character and of course, sound. They tend to hang out in the trees around our place, but I often see them hopping about chasing whatever tasty treat they have their eyes on at the moment. Right now I think that might be each other. They will forage up in the trees and yesterday I saw one hanging upside down, pecking away at what I hope was some wood devouring insect. This photo is courtesy of the internet, as I have not been able to get one of these birds to sit still long enough to take it’s picture. They tend to be the most vocal in the mornings and evenings often changing the mood of that first relaxing cup of coffee. They make me laugh with their loud boisterous cha cha la ca calls and hip hop bouncing. Yet another wonderful plus for being in Yelapa.
Those of you who know Yelapa and were fortunate enough to know Isabel Jordan, know that usually a party of some kind naturally formed around her. Tonight is a full moon and as I walked past Playa Isabel with the brilliant reflection bouncing off the water I couldn’t help but remember many a full moon night when we would hear Izzy give a wild tongue wagging call that would bring any within hearing distance to come skinny dip under the lunar sparkle. As I was smiling at those memories, I couldn’t help but run up the steps at casa Isabel and search for Beverly to join me for a late night full moon tribute to Isabel . Both of us have a pretty full October schedule of rushing to get all the chores of readying the casas for the November season to start. But tonight, for that window of time, we bared all, relaxed, floated, laughed and remembered our friend, Isabel.
Autumn in Yelapa… I LOVE this time of year in Yelapa, however, if you know me, I say that about ALL the seasons in Yelapa. I come down every October to get the casas ready for the high season which begins in November. No matter how hard our summer caretakers work at keeping the place together, there is still a lot that needs to be done before we open the casas to guests. The summer rains act as Miracle Grow on all of the plants around us. Tiny sprouts that we started as small cuttings the year before have become giants in need of taming. I seldom go anyway without a pair of garden clippers and bag in my pocket, just in case I find the perfect plant to take a nip from. This is the perfect time for transplanting, even knowing that next year at this time I will be trimming it back. The picture shown is Ginger planted from starts last year. The sometimes torrential downpours of the summer bring numerous situations that need to be remedied, paint needs to be touched up, laundry needs to be refreshed, cupboards cleaned, supplies brought in…it’s not “Spring Cleaning” around here, it’s always “Fall Cleaning” But even with all the work that needs to be done, there is an unsurpassed beauty. The hills are so green I sometimes wonder if I’m wearing tinted lenses. The quiet cool of the morning is a tonic for my soul and the warm ocean in the afternoon, a refreshment on my still unpracticed muscles. The fireflies are still out blinking their little night lights in search of a mate and a long winters rest and the incredible butterflies that emerge during the summer are still flitting about merrily. Ah, the morning sky pinkens as the sun starts it’s way up over the river. My day begins…another cupboard to clean, another beautiful Yelapa day to enjoy.
Linda Wolf lead a powerful Women’s Circle retreat with 9 dedicated women joining her this last week. Time was spent in healing dialog, joyful dancing and great feasting. Linda has been leading these retreats for 9 years in Yelapa and we are thrilled that she is sharing her time in Yelapa at El Jardin. Next years’ retreat is being planned for April 25-May 2
