BelizeScapes Plant Nursery: A 2024 Update

Years ago, I visited Ms Thomasita at BelizeScapes Plant and Garden Nursery in the DFC Area of San Pedro to buy some plants. (See my 2018 post here) I’d been inspired by some of the lovely, bright flowering trees and bushes on the island, I wanted to transform our yard (which, at the time, was sand…with a smattering of weeds)

For those who don’t know the DFC area: Check out this article for a very interesting history of the original neighborhoods/subdivisions of Ambergris Caye (like DFC). You can also read my 2021 eating tour of the DFC neighborhood. I need to do this again!

Was I successful at my yard transformation in 2018? No, but not because of her help! I still have the Starfish Cactus I bought those years ago, and it has “given birth” to maybe 4 more frequently flowering plants.

Since that visit, I’ve learned a bunch about gardening on Ambergris Caye in the last six years. I’ve learned that gardening is a ton of work—especially on a salty island with poor soil/sand, where we don’t get a drop of rain for three or four months (end of January to maybe May), and the sun is intense. Sun not at all like the August sun in New Jersey—that your tomatoes thrive in—like a tropical, INTENSE-burning everything sun. And an island where wish willys (black iguanas) LOVE to eat your plants.

I’ve learned that if you don’t see certain plants on the island – even though they might thrive on the mainland of Belize – there is probably a good reason. I’ve tried with heliconias and ginger flowers (they need rich soil and WATER, serious water) – I’ve tried mango trees and lemon trees. They need good soil, lots of room for the roots, and more water than we have here naturally. All that stuff is sadly dead.

I’ve learned my (very limited) strengths: I like to learn about plants, where they come from, what they are used for, and whether they are indigenous. I love to admire someone else’s garden and marvel at their hard work. Cons: My interest in the actual work of gardening comes in incredibly short spurts, and I might forget to water a plant for a week. That’s a problem in the tropics if you don’t choose the right plants.

So, yesterday, I revisited BelizeScapes Nursery armed with this information. I wanted a few new plants – ones that grew easily in INTENSE SUN, ones where you could miss a few days of water (ideally, they wouldn’t need watering at all) and plants that looked pretty. Ms Thomasita had all my answers.

Her place looks amazing! What was once more of a wild jungle is now a very organized nursery with plants (both garden and house plants), shrubs, vines and small trees. She is now working with a hotel or two and, with her team, can do landscaping at your home or business.

Let me show you the photos. And for all the information, tips and hours, follow Belize Scapes facebook page.

Since I was last in the DFC Area, some of the roads have been paved and this corner where Belize Scapes is located has a name.

There are crotons and cacti, hibiscus and bougainvillea, ixora, fire cracker plants, crown of thorns….things that thrive and flower in local gardens.

You’ll find tropical plants that are house plants in the US and elsewhere but that thrive outside (often with some water)

Soon, this old water bottle will be a hanging plant covered in flowers. Trying this IMMEDIATELY.

I went to a friend home last week – and she had a low outdoor coffee table with about 15 different succulents in tiny pots place all over the table. It was stunning. So…I’m going to need succulents and mini cacti.

I brought home a towering allamanda vine…so tall that I was worried about taking out a power line on the way home!

Here it is on the way home…

I wanted a huge pot of tropical greenery for our front porch…but I think we get too much sun.

Perhaps something smaller inside…

She has items for more shade and for more water…

Did I also mention that my other PRO is HUGE bursts of initial excitement followed by CON: quickly moving on to the next obsession?

I brought home my beautiful yellow flowering vine and a healthy asparagus fern to enjoy them…to take a breath and do some more planning. Rain is coming soon…and when it starts, it’s the best time to do all your planting.

I’ll be back! Huge thank you to Thomasita for answering my 45 thousand questions and congratulations on your thriving business.

I will be back!