The Two Best Things About Retirement in Costa Rica?

‘Mi casa es su casa’ – ‘My home is your home’ – is a traditional welcome here in Costa Rica, and when given, it is with genuine warmth and sincerity.

A friend took me to visit her neighbours Rafael and Marleny to see their orchid collection when lots were in flower last month. On the day, Felo (as he’s affectionately known) unexpectedly had to go to work and my camera batteries failed so I asked Marleny if I could return to meet Felo and take photos – a warm hug with those welcoming words and I left thrilled at the anticipation of meeting this amazing man.

Felo and Marleny live on a hillside surrounded by woodland where Felo has the perfect environment for growing orchids – trees with moisture retaining bark that epiphytes love, lots of leaf litter for the terrestrials, and a perfect mix of shade, light and exposed trees for plants that like the sun.

Further up the valley, they also get more cloud and humidity on the hillside than we do on more exposed land down here. Felo started collecting orchids some years ago, moved them to this new home ten years ago and has slowly built up his collection, primarily by exchanging plants with other collectors.

Most of these wondrous plants only bloom once a year, but they do tend to flower in ‘spates’, in the hot season or mid to late wet season. Hence, to see 30-40 in flower at one time is a jaw-dropping experience.

Another collector friend came with me and we were like two kids whooping with delight as Felo showed us everything from magnificent large blooms to tiny miniatures which need a magnifying glass to be appreciated.

Few orchids have ‘common names’, only botanical ones which take some remembering. Whenever he faltered, Felo would refer to a small pocket-book where he had lists of all the species to be found in Costa Rica and the elevations at which they live.

With an estimated 1,300 – 1,400 species in the country, and more still being discovered, identification is a huge challenge. What is truly amazing is that Felo doesn’t have a single reference book because they’re inaccessible and expensive; his mountain of knowledge has been acquired from fellow collectors and experience – truly awe-inspiring!

I’ve bought whatever books I’ve seen in ‘Libreria Internacional’ (a chain of book stores in San Jose) or 7th Avenue Books. If any reader wants details, get in touch and I’ll be happy to provide references. Limited as they are, Felo was delighted to enjoy my books for a couple of weeks, and I’m even more chuffed to have found the name of a Miltonia for him – cause for another visit!

Felo gave me some cuttings, including a piece of the Prosthecea above – exquisite, I just can’t believe I’ve got this fabulous plant. (Of course I returned the complement with nice plants too, but not orchids, I’ve nothing he doesn’t have!)

To round off – success, I’ve now got vanilla pods developing! Getting nice and swollen, they’ll take 9 months to mature and ‘cure’ – staggering, no wonder they’re so expensive, the crème brulee might happen at Christmas!

Time for new passions and making new friends. To learn so much from Felo was a joy and a privilege – a very special ‘Mi casa es su casa’ day.

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Written by VIP Member Sheelagh Richards. Sheelagh is originally from Scotland and her husband John who is from Wales are two inveterate British travellers who fell in love with Costa Rica, the beauty of the Talamanca mountain range and the perfect climate of the Rio General valley where they have established a small Bed & Breakfast called Casa de Los Celtas.

You can see more about John and Sheelagh’s very affordable B&B outside San Isidro here and photographs and prices here and you can also see a free online video interview with John & Sheelagh Richards here.

Please contact our Recommended Costa Rica Realtors working in the area: James Drews, Daveed Hollander and John Wieland, by using the simple form below and they’ll send you:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.