Ladera Resort, Everyday Working

We each do our jobs 12 days until Ladera Reopens so much to do, so much has been done.

Another Amazing Week

This is what has been happening the past few days. 

No Work Today

Preview of Paradise

Ladera's Annual Closure

One Of The Many Pool Renovations

A Toothbrush Is Used To Clean The Cracks & Crevices

Wow there is so much going on I hardly know where to begin.  32 suites many of them multi-level, multi-room, with splash pools, bathrooms kitchenettes, 15 acres, greenhouses, storage buildings, spa, fitness center, restaurant, bar and infinity pool all being meticulously scrutinized by a team of A personalities.   Dedicated craftsman, trade workers, service workers, gardeners even accountants leave no stone unturned as we build, buff and polish our way to Ladera perfection.  Once a year closure takes place at Ladera Resort in St. Lucia and it just boggles the mind to see the amount of work that is being done.

Stripping And Staining All Exterior Wood Surfaces Is A Huge Annual Job

In addition to the yearly maintenance construction of the much anticipated Paradise Ridge suites is gearing up for December completion. These spectacular new rooms  afford both an ocean view and jungle view at the same time as you can see through each unit.  The construction supervisor Eustace, (Tace) is producing an architectural and engineering marvel especially once you understand the difficulty of the daunting task of building in the Caribbean and on this particular challenging site.  With  experience guiding him he follows the barest of blueprints as he picks his way across the ridge erecting structures few others could manage.  I will feature the Paradise Ridge villas soon.

New Flatwork Replaces Old Stepping Stones In Front Of Reception

While some Ladera employees enjoy vacation during closure many continue to work often at tasks that are not their regular jobs.  Outside workers from many of the trades are also employed for everything from flatwork to painting to gardening.  The coordinated effort is amazing.  Two years ago I came down to work after hurricane Tomas hit St. Lucia and was surprised by the effort of the staff, now I realize they transform the place yearly, constantly upgrading and improving.

Ray And Kerran Trimming The Ocean Side

I hope I can keep up with the energetic staff.  Today, Sunday I have the afternoon to chill and enjoy my view with a room for tomorrow begins the long work week.  We are carefully monitoring a storm brewing in the Caribbean which if it comes will force us to work inside on the many interior gardens and potted plants.

How About This For A Cozy Place To Chill On A Sunday Afternoon, My Room X3

I will be here for thirty days and will have the opportunity to document the fruits of the labor and love that is poured into keeping Ladera one of the most beautiful places on earth.  With jackhammers pounding, weed whackers whirling, paint brushes twirling, carvers chiseling and cutlasses slicing all things are made to look new and fresh getting ready for high tourist season this winter.

Boniface Carves A Support Post At The Pavillion

St. Lucia Videos

Here is a great link to several videos featuring St. Lucia, Ladera Resort and some of the talented people who inhabit this island.  This should give you a pretty good feel for where I am at and why I love it so much.  Enjoy.



http://www.youtube.com/user/tomscott3/videos

Greetings From Ladera

After two days of travel I have arrived at Ladera Resort in St. Lucia, West Indies with many hugs and greetings from my Caribbean family, it is good to be here and I am anxious to begin work in the morning.  This evening I sat down with the owners of the resort and mapped our strategies and priorities of the next few days.  I am so pleased to find that Holly will be here for the first half of my stay, another woman cohort and sounding board.  I will be at Ladera for a month working with the garden crew enhancing, refining, adding and subtracting plants, working in paradise.  I need to put my tropical plant brain back into action, it usually takes a couple of days for me to switch from zone 5 planting to zone 12.

Nearly all of my projects were completed when I left Indiana with the exception of some paver sealing that required perfect weather conditions and my personal attention.  By the time I get back home we will only have about 6 weeks of season left and I have some plant installations that I have put off because of the extreme heat this summer, they will make good fall projects.

The stone walls on Lake James are finished and are exceptional.  The concept of using the repeating pattern of large blue stone matches perfectly with the poured, stamped concrete patio.  It is a bit unusual seeing the hardscape installed before the house but it was extremely practical.  The contractor has dug out for the foundation while Ryan finished up the last bit of the walls.  In the photo you can see how he is dwarfed by the depth of the walk out basement.

Bruce P is completing the sidewalk in this photo that finishes up the job for our old pal Sue.  The patio was done just in time for her out of town company and she really likes the look of the pavers over the old wooden deck.

Much of our work is on the lakes but we do get to town once in awhile.  This ranch house renovation went smooth.  We kept two of the original crab trees per the customers request, I gave Jamie some pruning lessons as shaped them and opened the centers, they look so much better.

Stone Walls, Swinging Boys, Stoops & Stairs

One week from today I will be in St. Lucia working once again at Ladera Resort consequently these last two weeks have been extremely busy as I attempt to get everything accomplished before my departure.  Yesterday I smashed my finger with a rock on the hand that is already swollen and bruised from another work injury I now realize how much I use my left index finger when typing.  In addition I got my ankle ran over when I was helping Jessica push a wheelbarrow full of dirt up hill.  Bruised and bloodied I was jolted from bed by one of my dogs, Finn who apparently ate something that did not agree with him and has spent the last three hours vomiting, the first load right next to the bed, good thing I love my dogs.

Last year I bought some water lilies on clearance at the end of the season and this pink one has been blooming for almost two weeks, the yellow lily was beautiful as well.  When visiting Brazil a few years ago I saw the giant water lily pads, the leaves are so big and strong you can set a small child on the leaves.

This Allan Block porch and paver job is one Bruce designed for an old friend of ours.  We removed the old wooden deck last week and hope to have the new patio completed for company this week end.  The steps are finished and will be flanked by a hand rail.  It should be a huge transformation.

The Lake James job is in the final stages we ran a bit behind last week as we had to work around the pier installation.  The snap cut staircase, bluestone custom stoop and rock walls with the large blue accent stones really tie everything together.  Hopefully today will be our final day as they are starting the basement dig out.  The customers are really liking the way things look and many of the neighbors have stopped by to marvel at Ryan's dry stacked glacial fieldstone walls.

I caught my great nephew in this action shot over the weekend as he was leaping off a platform with a rope swing much to his mothers chagrin, he already had one trip to the ER last week.  He is one high energy kid.