Gardening

We wanted to brighten up the yard by adding a few more plants. As it happened, friends of ours, Dan and Linda, were thinning out their garden and donated a whole bunch of beautiful plants to us.

I happened to ask how they grew banana plants. We now have two plants to find out for ourselves. Apparently, all you have to do is dig a small hole, stick the plant (about a foot tall) into it, water it a bit and wait. Apparently, when we come back next fall, we will be able to eat the fruit.

Because of this, I have been digging holes and planting like a madman. They gave us so much stuff that I had trouble finding places to put it. I’m concerned about the soil as it seems to be mostly sand and small gravel. I was told to dig and plant so that’s what I did. I had to take the attitude that if it comes up, it does and if it doesn’t, too bad.

When I first planted them, most were very droopy and sad looking but after a few days some were showing signs of recovery so I live in hope.

I started to relax and then they said they had a lime tree for us. I had to dig a good sized hole which was fairly easy once I had watered the ground a bit. The soil is still very sandy and gravely so I had to do something about that.

Dan and Linda told us of a place just outside of Barra where we could get some peat moss. We found the place fine and after some language problems found what we were looking for. It wasn’t peat moss as we know it. I think it was more likely coconut husks which will work just as well. We also bought an aloe vera plant with several babies. The whole thing cost 100 pesos, about $7 CDN.

When we went to get the lime tree they also had a lot of good garden soil for us so I got a couple of five gallon buckets of that too.

Digging up the tree was a bit of an ordeal as it is covered with very nasty thorns. Luckily, the roots weren’t too deep, so Dan and I had it out and into the back of the car in no-time. I got nailed by a few thorns and as usual had to give blood to the cause.

When we got home I found that the hole I dug was just right, so I put some of the peat moss, good soil, some of the sandy soil, the tree in and watered the heck out of it. It looks great just where Rosalie said where to put it. She’s quite proud of herself because of her location planning. I bet she’s even telling her friends that she dug the hole as well.