The Big Chill

This is definitely not the Caribbean, as you guessed I am back home in Indiana and the temperature has dropped.  It is a bit early but I find myself with wearing four layers including Carhart bibs, hat, gloves and fuzzy waterproof boots.  While I lost a few pounds working at Ladera I am now wearing 15 pounds of extra clothing.  Today we are experiencing the winds brought our way by hurricane Sandy after she pounded the east coast she sent the winds whirling in the Midwest and we got our first sleet and snow today, the temperature with wind chill is a balmy 25f.

Some of the work I have done since coming home includes adding these tall (6') junipers to this new landscape we did this summer.  The junipers help bring down the height of the house and ground it.

One of the last jobs of the season for me will be the renovation of this landscaping on Snow Lake.  The shrubs were put in by the homeowner when the home was built and they are anxious for a new look.  We will be adding some trees, rearranging and transplanting some of the old shrubs and adding some new plants.  Hopefully we will start this week and finish up next week before the snow starts flying.

Sandhill Cranes

Wildlife is another of my passions, while in college I was headed toward a degree in ethology (animal behavior) but circumstance changed my major.  I am always excited to observe, photograph and commune with animals so I was especially pleased when I found out that less than an hour north from my home is a Sandhill Crane migration route where people can view these great birds for a few days each October.  The location is near Battle Creek, MI at park made possible by local Kiwanas club.  It is a wonderful experience and I would recommend everyone who loves nature see this site.

Serendipity

Coconuts Used To Edge Walk Sprouting

Sometimes I feel like I have been working at the top of the world, never growing complacent, always taking time to glance down in the harbor trying to memorize the sea,  listening to the frogs and birds,  fascinated by the clouds from gauze like wisps to racing thunderheads, I inhale the sites and sounds that are Ladera and try to imprint them forever in my brain.  I am so lucky to return here to ply my trade, given the opportunity to style and refine what is already a brilliant display of color and form.

White Begonia Named "Bread & Cheese"

Certainly Ladera and St. Lucia are a photographers dream and I was seldom without my camera, looking all the tourist as I hung out past the safety of the railing to snap a picture or cajoled a worker into standing still long enough for me to capture their image.  Each trip I have made to this romantic paradise has taught me lessons in life, landscaping, the human spirit.

Sexy Pink Heliconia

Pink Hibiscus

 The environment at Ladera is a complete 360 from my Midwest roots and intimate little landscape company.  There are well over 120 workers at the resort and landscaping is one of the minor elements of the hotel business.  In addition Ladera is not like other hotels or resorts it is more self contained whether it is building furniture in the wood shop, fabricating slip covers  in the sewing center or mixing yards and yards of cement by hand this is not your run of the mill resort.

Last Day With Landscaping Crew From Left Ray, Kerran, Me, Bartholomew, Darius

Walking the grounds each morning I am greeted by workers with smiles and wishes for a good day.  I am complemented on my hard work even the  simple pruning of a plant.  We work at separate tasks for a common goal, with pride and a sense of accomplishment of being a small piece in the big wheel of a world famous five star resort.

Landscape Crew Trading Seeds Like Baseball Cards

New Planting Around Sign At Road

Champions of Ladera

These are some of the extroidinary people who have contributed their talents, sweat, brains and bruan to complete the extensive lists of repairs, renovations and brand new concepts during the past 25 days at Ladera Resort.  What a crew, what effort, tons and tons of work done, literally, congratualations, for those who continue to complete Paradise Ridge we are breathless from its beauty.

And The Winner Is........

Removing three very large boulders was the second step in the renovation of the car park, first step was transplanting the large and numerous bougainvillea.