Wednesday, October 28, 2009

My “Casita” – The Outside

It has been a few weeks that I have promised to take photos of my new residence, the reason being that I was hoping to show a completed project. It is still a work in progress. So, without more ado, here is what I have so far.

The exterior driveway is very long, bordered on both sides by “llamarada”, a quick-growing vine with bright orange flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Stone wall and long driveway

When I moved in, the wall was covered with flowers. The gardener, who is more of a painter than a gardener, ruthlessly cut off most of them with a machete. Fortunately, the plant will not die, just hold off growing as many flowers until the spring.

The entrance is fronted by a brick patio with, on the left, an old mesquite tree and bougainvillea that I hope to see blooming in the spring, provided that a winter frost doesn’t kill them. For now, they only show foliage. Hmmm, Queenie ENJOYS the place so much that in retrospect, I realize how hard it has been for her to adapt to the desert. Hot and dry during the day, it turned quite cold at night once the sun was down.

Front patio and entrance door

Here’s a quickie about the climate in Tequisquiapan. The town of about 50,000 people is at 5,600 feet of elevation. It is surrounded by green mountains, a delightful sight, but an impediment to the early rays of the sun. The days are for the most part sunny and warm but can be chilly by the early hours of the morning. I will have to get a gas heater for the winter.

To the right of the front patio is a grassy area of which Queenie is quite fond. She alternately roasts her hide, then goes for the shade of the covered utility-laundry room.

More photos to come on a later post.

No comments:

Custom Search