These colorful and strange-looking flowers are the gift of a climber plant known locally as Tumbergias (tunbergia misurense is the scientific name). Tumbergias are quite popular in the gardens of La Antigua Guatemala. Tumbergias are also very popular with bees and bumblebees and the why is very obvious once you seen the amount of nectar these plant produces. If you visit the restaurant inside Vivero La Escalonia you can appreciate a ceiling made with tumbergias in one section of the restaurant.

Éstas coloridas y extrañas flores son el regalo de una planta trepadora conocida localmente como Tumbergias (“tunbergia misurense” es el nombre científico). Tumbergias son muy populares en los jardines de La Antigua Guatemala. Las tumbergias también son populares con las abejas y los colibríes y es obvio después las cantidades de néctar que la planta produce. El restaurante dentro del Vivero La Escalonia tiene como techo natural tumbergias por si les gustaría apreciar tan coloridas flores.

This sign is posted inside El Calvario Church, in the garden to right where the Esquisúchil tree was planted in 1657 by the Holy Saint Hermano Pedro de San José de Betancourt, Central America’s only Saint. The Esquisúchil tree has aromatic flowers and it is believed to have curative powers. This specific tree at El Calvario Church was declared Cultural Patrimony of the Nation in 2004 (Source: Prensa Libre). Last but not least is its exquisite architecture and mustard-yellow color. Here are the technical specifications of the Esquishuchil tree.

We are so lucky in La Antigua Guatemala that almost every day of the year we can dine in the garden. The weather and temperatures conditions through out the year in Guatemala allow for outside dining. Of course, unless you rent an apartment or house in La Antigua Guatemala, the closest you can come to experience of the dining in the garden is if you visit the cafe at Vivero La Escalonia or Sabe Rico restaurant.

I am sure there are other restaurants with dining areas in the garden; can you share with us any other names?

This is the technical data sign in front of the Esquisuchil Tree or Tree of Santo Hermano Pedro. Come back tomorrow for a picture of the tree and the historic and background information on this rare specimen.

A simple shot to commemorate the sunshine, the purple, the ever-present spring and to revive the Guateflora series. This photo was taken at my favorite green house: Vivero La Escalonia.

I wish everyone an easy starting week!

P.S. I forgot to mention that we went over 700 entries six days ago; Today’s photo is the 706 consecutive page posted at La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo. No wonder I’m so tired.

Hiedras (Ivies/Hederas helix & H. canariensis) are very popular as well as all kinds of trepadoras (climbing) or cubresuelos (ground-creeping) siempreverdes (evergreen) plants in La Antigua Guatemala. Hiedras and trepadoras are found in many antigüeño homes covering the gardens’ walls. The picture above is not very good, but this is the only one I had in my photo archives at the moment to show you ivy plant (I promise I will take more sample shots of climbing and ground-creeping plants). This hiedra shot was taken as a continuation of the Burger King’s fountain shot; which by the way has all kinds Guateflora plants growing on the walls of the búcaro fountain. Right above the Burger King’s fountain the ivy plant begins to cover the wall and it goes all the way to the second floor wall.

To compensate you for this horrible picture, I am sharing a link sent to me by my dear friend and commentator of LAGDP, Manolo, to a slide show of Vivero La Escalonia (La . Manolo took this photos back in August when he visited La Antigua Guatemala. Enjoy!

The Guateflora category takes its name on a wonderful compilation book by the name of Guate Flora: Plantas ornamentales más utilizadas en jardí­nes guatemaltecos (Guate Flora: Ornamental Plants Most Often Used in Guatemalan Gardens). The books compiles more than 400 photos of the plants most often used in Guatemalan gardens along with technical description about the plants’ categories, and how to grow them. Many of the photographs in the book were taken from gardens in private homes, hotels, restaurants, parks, green houses, mini-malls or on the streets around La Antigua Guatemala; this fact is what prompted me to try to take shots of the ornamental plants as I encounter them in my comings-and-goings.

Post cards request update: Four new post cards were found in my post office box on Monday. We received one from Downtown Minneapolis sent on October 1; another from Historic Romeo, Michigan sent on October 3; one more from Owego, New York mailed on October 2; and the last one from Grand Junction, Colorado. The four post cards arrived in GuateCity “La Nueva” on October 9 and it took almost a week to get to “La Antigua”. It is incredible that is takes almost the same time to travel the thousands of miles to get to Guatemala City as it takes to travel the 30 miles that separates La Antigua Guatemala from the capital; no wonder my bills are always late. By the way, my wife and I are enjoying your post cards very much, especially the many different stamps. Please keep them coming! If you don’t know what I am talking about, please do read the entry Postscript.

You know you are in a Guatemalan home the moment you see the Colas de Quetzal (nephorlepsis spp.) or Quetzal’s tails (ferns) hanging in the corridors. The Colas de Quetzal bracken has to be one of the favorite ornamental plants used in the Guatemalan home. Some of these ferns or brackens are native to Guatemala, but they are considered cosmopolitan because they can grow anywhere. Colas de Quetzal can grown in hanging baskets, pots or in the ground, but they need some shadow to maintain the evergreen colors. The above photo of Colas de Quetzal was taken at Vivero La Escalonia (5a av. sur final), a very popular nursery in La Antigua Guatemala. Vivero La Escalonia is a great place to have breakfast or lunch.

The Guateflora category takes its name on a wonderful compilation book by the name of Guate Flora: Plantas ornamentales más utilizadas en jardí­nes guatemaltecos (Guate Flora: Ornamental Plants Most Often Used in Guatemalan Gardens). The books compiles more than 400 photos of the plants most often used in Guatemalan gardens along with technical description about the plants’ categories, and how to grow them. Many of the photographs in the book were taken from gardens in private homes, hotels, restaurants, parks, green houses, mini-malls or on the streets around La Antigua Guatemala; this fact is what prompted me to try to take shots of the ornamental plants as I encounter them in my comings-and-goings.

Gerberas (gerbera jamesonii) are a very popular flowers in the gardens of La Antigua Guatemala. Gerberas are found in yellow, white, red (like the picture above), orange, purple and pink. Gerberas grow in temperate-cold climate and give their beautiful flowers throughout the year. This particular shot was taken at the nursery Vivero La Escalonia in the south part of La Antigua (5a av. sur final). (source for technical information: Guate Flora)

With this entry we will begin a series of flowers and plants that are available around La Antigua Guatemala. This series will not be in consecutive order so you will have to browse the Guateflora category or search for Guateflora: in the search form on the sidebar.

The Guateflora category takes its name on a wonderful compilation book by the name of Guate Flora: Plantas ornamentales más utilizadas en jardí­nes guatemaltecos (Guate Flora: Ornamental Plants Most Often Used in Guatemalan Gardens). The books compiles more than 400 photos of the plants most often used in Guatemalan gardens along with technical description about the plants’ categories, and how to grow them. Many of the photographs in the book were taken from gardens in private homes, hotels, restaurants, parks, green houses, mini-malls or on the streets around La Antigua Guatemala; this fact is what prompted me to try to take shots of the ornamental plants as I encounter them in my comings-and-goings.

Please, would let me know that you think of this new series?