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.

Gardening in the Lake Chapala, Ajijic, Mexico Area

We have year round flowers and flowering shrubs and trees flowering in every color of the rainbow to delgiht even the most discerning of gardeners. Also the Mango, Avacado, Lime, Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit and many other fruit trees are in every garden.

For example Ficus Benjamin which is tricky to grow up north abounds here in Ajijic/Lake Chapala and people have hedges and arbors of them.  

Noche Buenas or Poinsiettas are magnificent.  We are used to seeing them only at Christmas in pots but they are trees here and Navidad is the most beautiful of seasons because of them.

Bouganvillea cascade over stone walls and in February the Jacarandas are in full bloom carpeting the ground with their fragrant purple petals.

Gardenias grow beautifully here along with Geraniums, Birds of Paradise, Begonias, all forms of lilies including the famous Calla Lily. Rose bushes are heavy with sweet smelling blooms growing happily in the sun.  Every type of plant and flower grace our gardens and streets every day of the year in this most temperate of climates

There are two garden clubs locally.  One is the Garden Guild and the other is the Garden Club.  Both associations meet regularly to share ideas, compete and to arrange flowers for different events and everyone is welcome.

So if you have a green thumb or dream of having a green thumb you can create a garden here in Ajijic/Lake Chapala to make the eyes grow fat.  (A Jamaican expression to denote great beauty.)