Don Alejo, the Orchid Yoda

A couple of weeks ago we discovered a great nursery right here in Los Altos de San Isidro of Atenas.  Our handyman, Julio, had recommended us to visit the nursery.  The owner, Alejo Campos is one of the most passionate people about orchids I have ever met.  He, his wife and daughter run the family nursery and he tends to his hundreds of orchids.  Each orchid is like a child of his and his passion shines through his eyes and stories when he tells you about each variety.  He said he never had the opportunity to study in school, but his wealth of knowledge is certainly worthy of a master's degree in cultivating orchids and many other plants.  We love visiting the nursery not only because of the wonderful variety of plants, but also because of the warmth of the family.

It was also such a funny coincidence that our friends who accompanied us to the nursery were in search of the exact same plant we were looking for as well.  The plant is known as a Jabuticaba.  We both arrived at the nursery unaware of the plant's name we had both written on a small piece of paper.  When we both pulled out our papers to ask about the availability, we discovered we had the same name written.  Fortunately for us both, we were able to purchase the plant and are now anxiously awaiting the fruit the small tree produces, something akin to a grape.