Elizabeth's Secret Garden

The picture above is a view of the Arenal Lake from our backdoor. Our plane landed safely in San Jose, Costa Rica at 12:50 Costa Rica time! We gained an hour upon entering the country which was nice. It took about 3 1/2 hours of driving to reach the town of Nuevo Arenal where my mom, siblings, and I are staying. Our van shuttle service was Eagle Tours La Fortuna San Carlos solarenal@racsa.co.cr . They picked us up at the airport and dropped us off at the house we are renting. A shuttle service was necessary to haul the four of us, our 4 rolling back packs, and 5 LARGE suitcases. Here, my mom and I are off to our first shopping experience in Nuevo Arenal. We set off prepared in our rubber boots, rain coats, and polka dotted shopping bag which has wheels! On our daily excursions to the supermarket, we always carry along our rain jackets in a backpack since the rain storms here are unpredictable and occur randomly during rainy season.      This rainbow appea...

The Butterfly Conservatory is situated in the beautiful habitat that surrounds the Arenal Volcano and lake. The Butterfly Conservatory is a Rainforest Regeneration Project that is working towards restoring the native species around Arenal volcano and preserving the ecosystem that is essential for their survival. They believe that education of visitors and locals is an important step in the process of regenerating our rainforests and its biological diversity. The Butterfly Conservatory demonstrates different strategies that can be applied in the process of preserving our rainforests. They have their own laboratories, reproduction greenhouses, exotic frog habitats, plant nurseries, botanical gardens, orchid atrium, and even organic composting! All of these exhibits serve as a source of education as they are studied by students, tourists, and scientists from around the world. Website: http://butterflyconservatory.org/   Click on the link below to watch the Youtube video I created...

Come follow me to Arenal, Costa Rica for my 3 month adventure. My plane lands in San Jose on Feb. 14th. I will be living with my mom and siblings in a small village near Arenal Volcano. The village overlooks Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano pictured below measures about 5,358 feet and is estimated to be less than 7,000 years old. It is considered Costa Rica’s most active volcano. My future blog entries in Costa Rica will start on February 18, 2011. I will document my adventurous explorations, photographs of exotic wildlife, and starting an agricultural project for SHAPE International http://www.shapeinternational.org/ . I will also be blogging about people I meet, community service projects, and daily living in Costa Rica. Below is a preview with some photographs along with a video that depicts the adventures of Costa Rica. I encourage you to become a follower and check in weekly for updates. “Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” has been ...

Community Gardens are beginning to gain popularity as individuals discover the joy that comes from growing your own fresh produce. Each plot of earth provides the opportunity for gardeners to express themselves as they nurture a patch of vegetables, cultivate flowers, or experiment with the pleasant aromas of herbs. Community gardens provide exercise, nutritious foods, strengthen community bonds, and promote environmental awareness to those who actively participate. The sustainable use of space can turn vacant lots into productive gardens that inspire others to take steps toward nutritious and healthy living. My father and I had the opportunity to see the Community Garden of Lakes Park thanks to Extension Agent, Roy Beckford. The Community Garden of Lakes Park is a vision that has begun to take shape through the efforts and partnership between The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation and Lee County Parks & Recreation. The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation’s ultimate goal is to restor...