There are not many flowers more different from each other than this Heliconia and the Desert Rose in my garden that I snapped the other day while looking for butterflies. The Heliconia is so typical of Costa Rica, found from coast to coast, mainly in tropical lowlands but also other places. While the Desert Rose is a specialty pot plant rather atypical of Costa Rica that I got from my old friend and neighbor Anthony, years ago when he returned to the states. Since he has now died, it is sort of a living memorial to him. It’s rather delicate, requiring morning sun only and not too much water to keep blooming. It’s a faithful favorite for me!
When this first pot below was overflowing with Bougainvillea, I liked it contrasting against the white wall alongside the driveway, but now with Petunias, I decided that I like the “look” better beneath this greenery on my terrace and the taxistas like not having it along the driveway! 🙂
The Petunia Pot moved to the entrance corner of my Terrace.
The other pot I had along the driveway was the Desert Rose and it hasn’t been blooming, so I’m trying a shadier spot along my garden walk, hoping it will bloom better there. Past logic was that with a name like “desert” it would like a lot of sun, and it actually did very well there for a few years, but is not blooming now. If shadier doesn’t work, I’ll try a larger pot next and maybe put it back in the sun. 🙂
The Desert Rose was moved to a corner of garden walkway with more shade or less sun, hoping it will bloom.
And though not new, my BREAKFAST VIEWS are important to me!
My “Breakfast Nook” on the Terrace where I face the other direction from this table. Along with occasional wildlife in the garden, my breakfast view is the surrounding hills of Atenas!
And after breakfast I read the paper in these rocking chairs facing both hills and garden. All part of my joy of being “Retired in Costa Rica!”
My “READING CORNER” on the Terrace with views of hills and garden.
That’s my garden terrace — always creating new views!
The other day I only had a photo of one bloom. Here is what the whole plant in a pot looks like. It is a nice pot plant for the terrace and has been blooming almost constantly during the rainy season. I won’t expect that during the dry season. It likes the morning sun.
Just one bloom on a potted desert rose plant is a joy and mine has been loaded with blooms this year during rainy season and maybe because I moved it to the side of house for morning sun – my gardener’s suggestion! Later I will show a photo of the whole plant with multiple blooms, but somehow the only photo of the total plant is in my January 12, 2018 Post about this particular flower, though it was not as loaded in flowers as it has been recently.
“A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.”
― Walt Whitman
For my gallery of Costa Rica Flowers+ see: FLORA & FOREST
Along wall by windows are a “Crown of Thorns” that blooms constantly year around and I just moved from white pot, as it is growing! Stair-stepping down is my favorite which is a Desert Rose or Adenium Obesum. And the tiny pot is a now small Jade Plant. Desert Rose came from it in my transplantings. There are of course more pot plants on the terrace all the way back! 🙂 Atenas, Costa Rica
Desert Rose or Adenium Obesum It too is growing and I just moved it from that smallest pot above. Atenas, Costa Rica
Desert Rose Blooms This is the most blooms together like this yet in 2 years. For those who knew Anthony, this came from him when he moved to states. For locals: they are available at Vivero Central in La Garita, but not cheap. Atenas, Costa Rica
For those interested in growing this wonderful flowering plant, the most amount of information on growing them is at this excellent website with how-to videos and all:
It is originally from Africa and must have heat and lots of sun. With temps below 65° Fahrenheit you must bring inside. They bloom in the summer or hottest season which it is now in Costa Rica. They need minimal water, mainly in hot season when blooming. It is a nice tropical addition to one’s garden!
For my gallery of Costa Rica Flowers+ see: FLORA & FOREST
