Garden Journal Challenge January: The country garden🌱

Happy 2026, my fellow gardeners. Today I want to share my garden from the mountains of Falcón State, Venezuela, for January's #Gardenjournal challenge. I hadn't been there for over a year, and seeing that my plants had survived was exciting. Although some were almost dry, overall the garden still existed.

I find it satisfying that plants such as poppies, St. George's swords, oregano, heart of Jesus, lilies, and bad mother are resistant and can grow in this xerophytic, dry soil.

Bougainvillea and pink trinitarias are also hardy.

Years ago, I planted an olive tree, and now its seeds have spread and sprouted around the house with the help of the birds. There are many hummingbirds here. As a child, I used to call them “chupaflor” (flower suckers).

I mainly have aloe vera, agave o maguey, prickly pears, and cardoons planted. These were planted to act as a water barrier, so that rainwater would fall on the plants, because the soil was very xerophytic and did not allow water to penetrate. So, I planted many seedlings throughout the ravines, and it worked well.

In December, I took advantage of the time to open furrows, make pruning cuts, and repot plants with these tools, as well as some gloves.

There was a time when supermarkets sold dried fruits at Christmas. I loved eating dates, so I planted several seeds and a plant grew. It has survived for more than five years, but it doesn't grow because it is only watered by rain and I am only there for a short time each year. This plant is very resistant to summer heat.

I had an excellent vacation, enjoying good weather, rain, beautiful skies, and lots of fresh air. Being in these mountains means living off the land, surrounded by the river landscape, the chirping of birds, the sounds of guacharacas, howler monkeys, and macaws. In addition to cattle ranching. Plus, gardening during the hours when the sun isn't too strong.