Welcome to the Meso-American Garden!

Manuel surprised me with this garden statue.  He is the newest addition to our Meso-American garden, the part of our farm that grows traditional Central American species such as chile peppers, corn, amaranth, onions, nopal, tomatoes, gourds, tomatillos, dahlias, and marigolds.  It's been an education learning how many widely-loved plants originated in that part of the world (let's also not forget cocoa beans and vanilla!).

This little guy welcomes both the sun and garden visitors. He faces east with a smile as the first daylight strikes his face. There is a lot of symbolism in his design, from his earrings to his headdress. I believe it is Mixtec (to the south of the ancient Aztecs), and it could be a Tlaloque (a mini Tlaloc god of rain and fertility).

Manuel likes to put fresh-cut flowers at his feet each day, as a plea to Mother Earth.  We can use all the divine intervention we can get!

Comments

[Jeannie]

I love your beautiful meso-american garden. Your guardian seems to be doing his job for the bounty of corn,peppers,tomatoes and so on is amazing. I've never seen such huge tomatoes on tiny bushes,or smells such fragrant peppers. Such a wonderful addition to your paradise!