Author: Justin Case

contributed by Donna Otto

In August 2023 we enjoyed 16 days in western Costa Rica. We spent some time exploring nature around our condo in the northwestern coastal area and in the central, mountainous part of the country on guided trips. The wildlife was amazing! I was fascinated by the beauty and variety of the plant life, the animals that I’d never seen outside a zoo, the amazing birds, and the sloths. We knew it was a lot different just from the road signs.

When I first started gardening two years ago, I never put much thought into planting annual plants in my yard. Not to say that the colorful array of annual flowers like marigolds, pansies, and mums never caught my eye, but the thought of having to replace annuals after a season or two did not appeal to me. I wanted to brighten up the yard with attractive foliage and blooms that would last a few years.