Category: Places

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Anthony’s Gardens

On the hill behind my neighbor’s house he has this very full, lush garden that is more than camera shows!
Anthony has spent a lot of time and money making this full hillside garden next door.

And by his front door this nice garden in front of my house.

Anthony is a good neighbor for many reasons and his gardens are certainly one of those! Together we keep our landlord’s property looking good and we both use the same gardener to keep our yards up. If you live in Atenas, it is J&C Gardens or contact me to get the phone number or email address. We think they are very good.

Yes, this is the Anthony who made the garden-art clay bird in my garden though he does not have anything similar in his garden yet. He will eventually.

And there is my under construction FLORA & FORESTS photo gallery if interested.

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Different View of Banded Skipper

Banded Skipper (Same one as two days ago)
Inside my house, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

The one I posted two days ago (repeated below) that was on my living room screen is this same one above I believe. I found this one on the floor below the screen today. Many butterflies have short lives like that. But this view makes him look a lot different with the orange and white back wings showing. The white bars across the upper wings still make him like a banded skipper, but none in the books match nor any online. It is frustrating to not be able to label him! So maybe a new species?

Banded Skipper (I think)
Inside my house, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

I lightened or brightened this second photo which was a dark as the first right out of camera. But you can see the markings are the same on his upper wings.

See my photo gallery of Costa Rica BUTTERFLIES

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Dead Leaf Insect?

Unknown Insect
On my bedroom wall, Atenas, Costa Rica

Unknown Insect
On my bedroom wall, Atenas, Costa Rica
NOTE: this side view w/ something like a tail?
And curl like a dead leaf. Inch and a half long maybe.
2 inches?

There are several “dead leaf” insects in the books & online, even butterflies & moths, but I could not find one like this guy! Am I discovering new species?  🙂  Truly a land of discovery here!

As usual, I just went to bed without worrying about him and he was gone the next morning! Either a meal for one of my geckos or left the house, hid somewhere else in the house or died like many insects do every night.

See my OTHER INSECTS photo gallery

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Banded Skipper

Banded Skipper Butterfly (Possibly Chisos or Spiked)
Inside my house, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica
What is throwing me on ID is the 6 spots on each side – None in book with 6!
They all have 0-3. And none indicate orange bulb on antennae.

And see my Photo Gallery for BUTTERFLIES in Costa Rica with 54 species!

Or my newest photo book My First 50 Butterflies in Costa Rica  you can preview online free!

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Kitchen Window Jungle

What I see when standing at the kitchen sink looking out the window.
My home, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

There are prettier spots in my garden, but this is how it is at this spot this week. It is all constantly changing and further to the right is the prettiest now with a lot of Red Gingers blooming. 

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Dinner Guest

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Inside on my kitchen window screen, Roca Verde
Atenas, Costa Rica

I had Anthony over for dinner (with “to go” dinners from Chef Dan I’ll tell you about later). As we were about to sit down for dinner and TV News this little guy flew in and landed on the kitchen window. I partially opened the screen expecting him to fly out but that kind of trapped him between glass and screen. So after dinner I helped him get loose and he flew out the sliding class doors that are always open and where he flew in.

My photo gallery of BIRDS has hundreds of species of birds now.

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Rainy Season Garden

Rain Makes the Garden Grow! Thicker & More Lush!
Note that I replaced my Lantanas flowering border with red caladiums which will get fuller soon.
The other taller plants shaded the Lantanas and they require sun to thrive and bloom. New color in the shade!
The Maraca or Shampoo Ginger plant
has multiplied and grown very tall with
several blooms.
Heliconia
Across from the door I added a row of 20 of the small Heliconias with
little bright red & orange flowers that will bloom constantly
year-around when they mature. They help the “tropical look.”
One of the little Helconia up close,
like adding little jewels to my garden!

I’m always trying to improve my garden and during the rainy season is the time for new plants as the rain helps them to take root and thrive. Life in the tropics just keeps getting better!  🙂

¡PURA VIDA!

More flower photos in my FLORA & FORESTS GALLERY which is still under construction. 

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Masked Tityra Approaches My House!

But that is not as bad as it might sound! He’s not a bandit but a bird! And a nice one!

Masked Tityra
My Home Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Masked Tityra
My Home Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Maybe he is wearing a mask early for Halloween. No? This is the first I’ve seen in my garden, but I did see one at the Rio Chirripó Retreat near Chirripó National Park.

And my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY include many more!

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Water Truck Saves the Day!

Municipal Water Truck Goes Down Every Street Every Day
when the public water system is “down”
Here it is across the street from La Carreta Restaurant.
Those palm trees are at the Central Catholic Church at the Central Park.

Our public water comes from the same source as Grecia’s over a mountain or two from Atenas. It is pumped through large water mains (big pipes) through the mountains, over rivers and deep canyons to Atenas. Sometimes the water main breaks or something stops the flow. This time, for more than week now they have supposedly been trying to fix a broken pipe that goes over a canyon on a little bridge that was broken when a huge tree fell during a thunder storm. It has become a real problem for some homes and businesses that must have water – well – all must have! And most are asking “Why is it taking so long?” One article said they are waiting on parts to arrive from overseas.

Fortunately my housing development has wells and our own water system. And we are helping the neighbors outside the development with a water tap near our gate on the main road from town. And I have let a friend living in Atenas Central who comes over to my house and takes a shower when needed. Friends help each other.

Even in developing countries we depend on water! And the water truck is like a pied piper with a crowd constantly with it. It is beginning to remind me of Africa around here! We were regularly without water in The Gambia and I always kept large bottles of water “just in case.” You adapt! 🙂

Newspaper articles today (Thursday 6 October):



It is actually more of an infrastructure problem in Costa Rica everywhere but Guanacaste, the very dry northwest portion of the country. There is plenty of water elsewhere in Costa Rica but you have to get it to the people in drinkable condition! And I write this while it is pouring down rain outside!  🙂   And I am fortunate to live where there is really good well water with our own well on property! In nearly 2 years I have never been without water here, though I was for a short time once while in the apartments. 
But even if we sometimes have water problems at least one realtor here is expecting many Americans to move here based on the November 8 election outcome! 

Well, if you are a Trump supporter, I hope you find another country to move to! I will not personally welcome you to Costa Rica!

My Costa Rica Photo Gallery:  Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA