Aruban Oasis Aruba Nights 2015

Top photo courtesy of the Boardwalk Aruba

Professional assistance and unlimited options

Aruba’s real estate infrastructure is second to none. To begin, all of the island’s real estate professionals are multilingual, so communication is never an issue. In-ternationally recognized realtors and no-taries, stable financial institutions, and expert brokers are all in place to help you locate your perfect home, answer your legal questions, and assist you in a pur-chase or lease. A timeshare is a great way to try before you buy, and Aruba’s time-share and fractional ownership programs are world class.

Location, location, location!As for location and style of residence,

the choices are legion. From studio apart-ments to luxury penthouses to gorgeous townhouses or detached homes in charm-

ing local neighborhoods, there’s an Aruba property that’s perfect for you. For per-sonal enjoyment or as an investment, or both, the cost of buying and owning a property here is low, and land tax – which is the only annual tax – is based on the selling price. Safe, clean, friendly, stable,

and cosmopolitan, Aruba is the ideal choice for your tropical home away from home or permanent residence. And all the beaches are open to the public, so even if your property is not oceanfront, you’ll always be only minutes away from some of the most idyllic strips of sand in the entire Caribbean.

A beautiful propertyWhat can you expect from your ac-

tual property? If you’ve got outdoor space, of course, you’ll want to personalize it into your own tropical paradise. Keep in mind that part and parcel of Aruba’s near-perfect weather is very little rain – less than 20 inches per year. As a result, gar-dening here is a unique and challenging adventure for even the greenest of thumbs and should always start with what thrives here naturally.

Your Own Aruban Oasisby Susan Campbell

Whether you are a first-time visitor or have been vacationing here for decades, there is no doubt that the thought of owning your own little piece of this lovely “rock” has crossed your mind. Once you decide to buy, the next step is

personalizing that piece of paradise with greenery and beautiful blooms. Read on for tips with both.

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Bottom photo courtesy of the Boardwalk Aruba

Get creative with cactiAruba’s many species of indigenous

cacti can be used to make natural fences to enclose your gardens and provide pri-vacy, but also to keep out wandering goats! Tall cacti like the cadushi will provide shade from the tropical sun to plants that need it. And cacti blooms and fruit attract bats, which are essential to pollinating the plants on this island. These prickly plants can become some of your best garden buddies if you’re mindful of not rubbing them the wrong way!

Tough trees, blooming bushes, and hearty herbs

Aruba’s watapana, also called the divi-divi, grows better here than anywhere else. Its twisted trunk and the way its branches sweep fantastically in the di-rection of the trade winds always makes for an interesting natural sculpture. The kibrahacha tree, or axe-breaker as locals call it, also boasts lovely yellow blooms at certain times of the year.

Though not native to the island, the flamboyant tree has adapted well and its striking flame-colored flowers will really pop on any property. The tamarind from Africa is also at home here now and its fruit can be used to make candies and

sauces. Seagrapes are another easy-to-grow contender; their fruit can be used to make jellies and jams and some people even make wine from it! Other fruit-bearing trees that grow easily here are cashew, mango, papaya, almond, custard apple, and avocado, though the avocado needs a lot of water to survive. Lastly coconut palms can also thrive given the right care.

You might also want to grow fresh herbs, either in your garden or in planters on your balcony. Yerbi hole is Aruba’s easiest to grow and most widely used herb. It’s a strong, pungent basil used to flavor many local dishes. Other herbs that do well here are basil, lemon grass, rosemary, chives, cilantro, oregano, and parsley. E

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Flower & soil adviceA successful garden on this arid,

rocky isle can be a challenge without the right know-how. Fortunately there is someone here who really knows how! Meet Roy Maduro, the “plant whisperer.” Roy’s gardening prowess is the result of a lifetime of research, experimentation, and globetrotting. This rich store of knowledge has led to the success of his business Fan-tastic Gardens, a six-acre nursery and garden center; Roy also does landscaping for most of the major resorts on the island. His company’s “plan and plant your gar-den” service allows you to benefit from that expertise.

Roy says, “The best way to ensure any plant or tree will grow here is to dig a big hole and add an adequate amount of compost-enriched soil. Also, do your homework on how much water the plant will need. Some flowers have adapted well to the conditions, like the bougainvillea, the allamandas, the incorrectly called

jasmines (they are really tabernaemontana) and the many varieties and colors of ixoras. Frangipanis and oleanders can also be coaxed to grow and, surprisingly, the poinsettia – typically associated with cold climates and Christmas – does exception-ally well on Aruba. Hibiscus can also really beautify your space if you can keep the mealy bugs from them. And hibiscus blooms are also an iguana’s favorite treat, so you should plant a lot of basil around them because iguanas cannot stand that scent! On Aruba, most any tropical plant will grow with the proper care, but it’s also a good idea to fertilize adequately.”

Think outside of the plant boxOn Aruba, what you might lack in

lushness, you can always make up in cre-ativity. Think outside of the box to give your plants and flowers arty hosts and homes with reclaimed materials like oil barrels and rubber tires and natural ma-terials like lava rocks, seashells, driftwood, and palm fronds. And don’t forget to grow some aloe! It absolutely adores this climate, and it can be harvested for a multitude of health, cosmetic, and even dietary uses.

Your own oasis is waiting, so why not start looking at listings now? Welcome home. K

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