Gardening in Costa Rica – Farewell big bucks! Hello new garden…

In just three weeks, we transformed the old vegetable garden – which you can see in the photographs above – into our new flower garden which you can see in the photo below.

What a challenge – transforming a net-covered veggie plot into a new sitting area and flower garden, 180 square meters on a steep slope with an 8’+ drop in level.

Having taken down the net, we saw the full force of tropical rain as the top soil went sailing down the lawn! Sticky red clay, it was a compacted sodden mess by the time the guys started digging.

There are two choices: do this kind of work in the dry season and cook your workers, or do it in the wet season, put up with the ‘rained off’ stop and start routine, but be able to get plants in and settled before the rains stop.

So the guys got digging and the trucks started rolling in with concrete blocks, river stone, soil and gravel – each heavy load churning up the grassy drive… groan… the drivers were having to ‘race at it’ to get through the mud!

First we had to build two semi-circular rebar reinforced block retainer walls to create three levels and hold back the weight of soil. They were then faced with river stone – on a blank canvas, they looked enormous – ‘over-engineered’ sprang to mind!

Next came the rain water ditches – Rio Grandes! – the one below creates a good solid barrier next to the grassy bank and a sheer drop into the wooded valley that runs down the side of the garden.

Expert friend Lilliam came to give us advice on planting… and somehow that developed into a rapid action plan – within two hours, the first truck of plants arrived and 24 hours later, two of her lads had the first 150 plants all done and dusted!

So far we have gingers, heliconias, arthurium, iris, lilies, ground bromeliads/agaves, terrestrial orchids, lots of flowering shrubs, and leafy stuff in the shade – and there’s still space for more!

Best of all, at the top level we now have a lovely sitting area where we can enjoy a beer and watching it all grow, and where guests can enjoy great bird-watching in the woodland.

All in – a chunk over US$4,000, but a difficult job and fantastic value. Since we got set up, we’ve been guarding the reserves pretty carefully, but I hit the OH NO! BIG “SIX-O” last month so this splash out is a celebration of the pension arriving.

We’re delighted with the results, worth every dollar and we’ll be cracking a bottle to celebrate at the weekend!

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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 a free online video interview with John & Sheelagh Richards here.

You can see more about John and Sheelagh’s very affordable B&B outside San Isidro here and photographs and prices 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.