One of things I have always enjoyed about this time of year is seeking out the perfect Nochebuenas (Poinsettias) to adorn our homes and gardens.

This year I heard about a nursery that I had previously not been to. It is on San Jose in San Antonio Tlayacapan just down from the carretera and, in fact, you can see it from the highway on the left hand side going down to the lake. San Jose is the first traffic light past the libramiente just before Superlake.

I knew exactly what I wanted and anyone who has lived here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala for a little while knows that we are not always successful in accomplishing everything on our “to do” lists in one trip.

That is why I was so happy with this new nursery that had come highly recommended. To begin with it is larger than any nursery we are used to and there seems to be acres of wonderful plants, flowers, trees, pots and everyone conceivable type, color and size of Nochebuenas. They vary in price depending on size and I was able to purchase the 10 medium sized and one huge red poinsettia that I was looking for. I also bought a very nice dark green glazed pot for the large poinsettia and was very happy with the price.

The service was terrific and my purchases were loaded into my car by a very nice man who was very eager to make sure I was happy and had found everything I wanted.

I will definitely return to this nursery probably this week-end as I just noticed one of my gardenias is looking a little sad and we all need to look our best for the Holidays.

This nursery has a very nice selection of pots in all sizes and colors both natural cantera and glazed.

Prices for their Nochebuenas start at $18.00 pesos per pot and go up to $300.00 pesos and their pots (masetas) run about $100.00 – $200.00 pesos each. Very reasonable prices, very good fresh products and great selection are what this nursery offers.

Feliz Navidad y Ano Nuevo a todos!

Here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala we pretty much all have gardeners which is a lovely luxury. However, in some cases our gardeners do not always do exactly what we might wish them to do especially in the pruning, dead heading and removal of weeds (malas herbas) areas.

Also if we want to replace or buy new plants it means a trip to the vivero (plant store) and filling up our cards with said purchases.

I have been looking for someone who was truly a landscape gardener who would come to my house every few months to clean up everything and replace plants and prune trees and get everything ship shape for fall.

I have found that person and his name is Jesus Godoy Angel. His company specializes in elaborate design and remodeling of gardens, terraces and pruning and maintenance of trees.

Jesus speaks English and can be reached at (376) 762-1195 or on his cell at 045 331 269 1502. The email address is: godoy_jjesus@hotmail.com

Jesus will come to your house to give you an estimate of a full day’s work which will run about $1,500.00 pesos depending on the size of your property. He brings a staff of 4 and they have all of their own equipment and cleanup beautifully from their work and haul everything unwanted away in their truck.

Once this has been accomplished, and all the malas herbas are gone and your trees are free of nasty bits that sap their energy and your plants are healthy and lush and your lawn mown and edged and your hedge pruned into submission, your own gardener can then maintain the order and beauty of your newly refurbished garden.

We live in paradise in Ajijic, Lake Chapala and we have flowers and flowering trees all year long and it is wonderful to have someone to maximize the beauty of our gardens and terraces to come to our homes.

In Canada I had a lovely Polish woman 1 day a week, who was with me for 17 years, for a cost of $80.00 (this, of course, was 15 years ago).

I also employed a gardening service in the summer months for a fee of $ 120.00 per month.

Here I have Viki, who has been with us since we arrived 15 years ago, for 3 hours a day 5 days a week for a cost of $750.00 pesos per week.

We also have a gardener, Viki’s father-in-law, three days a week for 2 hours at a cost of $250.00 pesos per week.

One can pay their maids and gardeners a lot less in Ajijic, Lake Chapala but bear in mind both of our people have been with us for 15 years and even with the minimal yearly raises the price has gone up.

Viki first came to us when she was 18 and had been trained at La Nueva Posada. She required no training from me and went about her business of keeping our home clean and sparkling from the getgo. She also spoke no English so this was a wonderful way for me to start learning Spanish to be able to communicate with her.

She is married now with 2 daughters and her entire courtship took place in our outdoor laundry room where she spent 2 days a week ironing. The gardener’s son helped his father and love bloomed. We were invited to her wedding and were seated at the head table and treated like royalty. My father, who was visiting, was also included in the festivities.

Viki is very much a member of our family and has watched our two children grow up and always asks about them when they are away from Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

She has a sunny disposition and is always smiling and is a delight to have around. She does anything asked of her cheerfully and I can not imagine what I would do without her.

When we are away she and her family move into our house to look after our dogs and make sure everything is OK.

I feel very fortunate to have had the same person for all this time and I love her and her family. Her mother works for a friend/client of my husband’s and her sister-in-law works for Collins Real Estate. When we need extra help for a party or to have a property ready for inspection other members of her family are happily pressed into service.

Our gardener, Victoriano, requires a little more instruction as to how we like our property maintained. For some reason the Mexicans are loathe to deadhead flowers and remove weeds (malas herbas) from potted plants. Over the years with patience and persistence we have struck an amiable relationship. He is also a great handyman which is vital to me as my husband and son cannot change a light bulb without profanity.

A lot of people also have drivers, cooks, security guards, etc. Also loving help for children and older relatives is available here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

As Navidad (Christmas) is rapidly approaching I thought I would mention the giving of Alginaldos (combination Christmas and holiday pay) to your staff. One is required to give 15 days pay to each staff member before the 16th of December. This is only a minimum guideline and if you wish you give more that is, of course, up to you.

For those people who become involved with their help they will find the rewards of associations with the warm Mexican people most satisfying.

The New Malecon in Ajijic

The malecon in Chapala has been completed for several months now, and the town has had several large events since. One of the events I attended was a flight show. Hundreds of people were gathered along the malecon and sitting on the beaches with their families watching men jump out of planes, helicopters doing loopty loops, and pilots flying inches from the surface of the water. It was a beautiful sunny day, everyone was enjoying picnics, children were playing in the water, teenagers were laughing with their friends, and couples were cuddled up on the beach together. It was very nice to see the townspeople out and about again now that there is a nice place to spend time with their families on the weekends.

For those of you who have lived here as many years as I have, I am sure you remember the Ajijic Park down by the lake. For many years it was left behind. The tables and benches were rundown, the grass had become mostly dirt, the swing sets were broken, and everything was dirty and unkempt. The Ajijic park, once the hot spot for young and old alike had become a ghost town.

Last year when we received our heavy rains we so desperately needed the park was left partly underwater along with most of the roads along the lakeshore. Now that the lake has gone back down a bit, I assume the government took this opportunity to build an even better malecon, and maybe even a new park.

The malecon along the lakeshore in Ajijic is almost complete now, and the area is busier than ever. Over the past month or so there have been small events held there every weekend, and it seems the lake is becoming the hot spot all over again…As it should be. Lake Chapala is the greatest attraction to Ajijic and its surrounding towns, and it’s about time we appreciate it again. Events now held on the malecon range anywhere from small local bands performing in the new arena, to huge cultural fairs. I have also been told that there are new basketball courts along the San Antonio malecon, and possibly more on the way.

Although we all know there are many things that need to be fixed in our town, the holes in the streets for example, and the traffic amongst other things. Finally the government has made a great decision. Reconstructing the malecons has brought life back to the Ajijic, Lake Chapala area.

Gardening in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

Every spring I would contact my contract gardener who would come to the house and we would discuss planting the various geraniums on our back deck and pick the color for the impatiens for our half barrel in front of the house.

My indoor plants barely survived and my Benjamin Fichus was very sad and temperamental to say the least. If I looked at it the wrong way it would turn yellow and all the leaves would promptly fall off.

You can imagine my surprise, then, when moving to Ajijic to find Benjamin Fichus growing in gay profusion everywhere as hedges and archways. It was healthy and happy and hard to keep under control. I also never knew that Poinsettias were, in fact trees and not just potted plants. Navidad is a most beautiful season as all of Ajijic is lush with these crimson wonders.

Here everyone has a full or part time gardener as our growing season is now year round.
Most gardeners, however, are good at maintenance but one needs to know something about the different options for your garden. Deadheading, for some reason, is taboo to the Mexicans and is an ongoing source of heated discussion.

There are many very good viveros (garden supply stores) in Ajijic and my favorite is Vivero del Lago across from the Plaza Bugambilias. Karina speaks fluent English and her selection is vast. She also has a wonderful selection of masetas (pots).

Everything grows beautifully here. I have roses in front of my house and in the back garden. I also love the fragrances of gardenias and jasmine. I grow gardenias in pots and evidently uric acid is very good for their health. I do not feel I know my gardener well enough, however, to ask him to supply this service.

Most viveros will be very helpful in helping you plant or revamp your garden with suggestions as to what grows best how and where.

If, however, you would like more help there are two gardening associations available for membership.

The first is the Lake Chapala Garden Club founded in 1977. These people are responsible for the Ajijic Plaza Project started in 2006. They can be contacted at www.lakechapalagardenclub.com There are monthly meetings and everyone is welcome.
Their members and meetings explore the many species and practices unique to our area of Mexico.

Also there is The Lakeside Garden Guild which seems to focus more on design. The highlight of the 2008 fall season was their Flores del Mundo (Floral Design Show) which was held in Chapala’s historic railway station November 14th, 2008. This association can be reached at: www. lakesidegardenguild.org

Here in Ajijic beautiful gardens are the norm and they provide great pleasure to even those who are not endowed with proverbial green thumbs.