Our rooftop garden

St. Francis greets us at the entrance to the rooftop garden, west side. He's been standing here as long as I've been coming to Maria's,and is showing a little age.






















This is the view St. Francis has of the garden, and the hill just north of Monte Alban. Stuart and I enjoy our coffee many mornings up here, listening to the birds, and warming ourselves in the morning sun. Lolita, a long-time resident here, from the mid-west US, tends this garden. I don't know how she hauls all that dirt up two flights of stairs!





















The big tree in the center of the courtyard is a grapefruit tree. Not very tasty fruit. Not-so-visible is the huge cactus that Manuel and Josephina will soon decorate with lights for the Villa Maria Christmas tree.