Handmade I recently realized that my Mexican driver´s license had expired. Luckily Chapala now has a driver’s license office near Cristiania Park, so I was processed at that facility. Once your paperwork is done and your photo taken you are asked to wait outside in an adjacent patio for your license. The adjacent patio has […]
Verdant View – November 2025 Read More »
The small café grew and grew Eleven years ago, I was walking around my then-new neighborhood in Riberas del Pilar, getting acquainted with the environment, when I happened upon an empty lot with a chain link fence, between San Juan and San Lucas streets on the Carretera. On the chain link fence hung a drawing
Verdant View – October 2025 Read More »
September Is “Bulbing” Out All Over There is a pot right outside of my bedroom door leading to the terraza that blooms every year in December. The flower is a hypnotizing red and its long dark green leaves grow most of the year, awaiting the arrival of their flower. I did not plant the amaryllis.
Verdant View – September 2025 Read More »
It’s In The Details Lake Chapala has always drawn me to her shores. As a child growing up in Guadalajara, I’d visit my “wealthy” cousins at their weekend home in San Juan Cosala on holidays and weekends. I didn’t really know what to expect when my favorite cousin Lalo first invited me to spend the
Verdant View – August 2025 Read More »
The Power Of Trees [Editor’s note: We didn’t have enough space in our June issue, but here it is now.] The wonder of nature is vast. Forest and trees regrow after a fire and trees clean our air. In 2017 Nature Conservancy scientists led a seminal study that found protecting and restoring forest, wetland and
Verdant View – July 2025 Read More »
Water, Or Lack Of In 2024 I was invited to hear Dr. Eduardo Juarez Carrillo, Director of the Institute for Limnologia y Sustentabilidad, of the University of Guadalajara, speak at a gathering hosted by the Friends of Centro Pro-Mexico in San Juan Cosala. The title of the presentation was “Water Crisis of Lake Chapala.” Problem:
Verdant View – June 2025 Read More »
Aperire The etymology behind the word April comes from the Latin word Aprilis, which is derived from aperire. The Romans named the month Aprilis because it “opened” the buds of flowers and leaves. April is the fourth month of the year and is significant for marking the start of spring, renewal, and growth. As a child
Verdant View – April 2025 Read More »
Balance, Harmony, Renewal This year the Spring Equinox (or Vernal Equinox) falls on Thursday, March 20, 2025, and arrives at 3:01 a.m. CST. Traditionally the concepts of renewal, balance, new beginnings are thought of at this time of year. We are moving into the warmth of the light and nature wakes up after winter, allowing
Verdant View – March 2025 Read More »
A Love Affair With Nature As the new year begins, we suddenly find ourselves in February. Traditionally a time to express love, appreciation and to celebrate connections that bring us joy, this year powerful expressions were shared with me, and I would like to share them with you. From my niece Vicki in Sacramento, CA: When
Verdant View – February 2025 Read More »
Hope Springs Eternal Normally I am excited at the prospect of a new year: new calendars, new plans, a new verdant view. For gardeners, we also have a rebirth of our gardens to look forward to. This year seems different. My friends are complaining that they are having to learn new things daily. Their resources
Verdant View – January 2025 Read More »
