When we bought our first house in California, I couldn't wait to start working on the front, back, and side yards. It was a corner lot with lots of yard space. I made copies of the house plan and sketched out my dreams.
After a few years of saving and working, we had a pretty green front lawn and neatly landscaped shrubs. But I still longed for one plant that never seemed to like me.
Bougainvillea.
They were more common on the coast, but I had seen them thriving in the valley, too. But after a couple of failures, I gave up. They never lasted more than one season.
Now, in South America, I have a cemented patio in the back of the house with a grand, gorgeous purple bougainvillea. It actually is planted in the neighbor's yard on the other side of the wall, but it tumbles over the top onto our patio, giving us shade and color.
I finally have a bougainvillea, a special gift from God. And I don't even have to fertilize or water it! I can see it blooming from our bedroom window.
I also found out that this plant is native to South America and prefers sandy, coastal regions. That explains why it looks so beautiful and healthy.
And, a month after writing the above, I realized that I have one in the front yard, too! It just hasn't bloomed this year so I didn't pay any attention to it.
I trimmed it back the other day and woke up to the fact that I was trimming a bougainvillea. I hope the trim wakes it up a little. Even if it doesn't bloom, I'm happy it's alive.
That is wonderful! I love bougainvilleas, they are my favorite. It would be my dream to have them all around our yard, like they were in Peru where I grew up. So glad God gave you this beautiful plant to enjoy.
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