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Newsletter July 2022

NEWSLETTER

OUR MISSION:
Protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Charco del Ingenio, as well as maintain a botanical garden dedicated to the conservation and study of regional flora and ecosystems, mainly oriented towards environmental education.

INDEX

Vol. XVII, No. 07

THE NEW RECEPTION OF THE CHARCO

The new Charco del Ingenio reception unit, inaugurated last February, is visited and admired by a growing number of visitors. This unit includes a store of artistic and artisanal objects, mostly made by producers from our municipality and the region, as well as a cafeteria and juice bar that offers simple and healthy food and drinks. A new Interpretive Room stands out in the reception unit, which exhibits, in an entertaining and substantial way, relevant content on the ecological reserve and ethnobotanical garden of Charco del Ingenio, on the environmental conservation project and on the hydrographic basin where the park is located. garden and the city of San Miguel. The new interpretive module, open to all audiences, is part of the educational mission of our organization, aimed at building a culture of love and care for the natural world, with special attention to the youngest population in our society.

The new reception of El Charco has been possible thanks to the confluence of many wills: architects, engineers, museographers, editors, designers, gardeners, blacksmiths, carpenters, etc., gathered in various work teams, as well as the contributions of numerous contributors that made this relevant project a reality. To all of them, infinite thanks (and an apology in advance for any possible omission).CREDITS:

ARCHITECTONIC PROGRAM
Peter Alvarado · Marco Barrera Bassols · Jose Maria Bilbao · El Charco del Ingenio

ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT
Peter Alvarado · Studio 15B

ENGINEERING AND WORKS
Hyacinth Estrada · EMAG Engineering

MUSEOGRAPHY
Marco Barrera Bassols · MUSEUM

GARDENING
El Charco del Ingenio · louis franke ·
Maguey Nursery

SCULPTURAL FOUNTAIN
Eduardo Olbes

STORE (FURNITURE)
Francisco Motta

DONORS:

Montemiro · Gillian & Peter Neumeier Foundation · Community Foundation for Monterey · San Miguel Community Foundation · Hernan Drobny

Kahren & Michael Arbitman · Mark Deutschmann · Regine & Francois Sicart · susan edelstein · Unitarian Universalist Fellowship · Vanguard Charitable · Maria & Goerdt Abel · Ronald Thomas

William Peters · Terry & Jack Reinhart · Francisco Rios Jimenez · Richard Gullan · Linda Whyman · Barbara Erickson · Honey Sharp · Fisher-Weisman · Andy Blair · William Lee Ginager · Carolyn Stutts · C Jobe · Guilt King · Christopher Hixson · Monica Gerez · carol jackson · Margot Dufrene Ketz · Eduardo Adame · QR Minerals

Kenneth L. Hillenburg · Leon Horowitz · Stephen Livingstone · Michael Pope · Marilyn Link · Christine McReynolds · Jimena Gimenez Cacho · Ray Miles · John Chapman · William Lipsey · Steven Goldstein · Joshua Ehrlich · Rod & Glenna Copeland · Alfredo Alcantara · Phyllis Pitluga · Ed Laun · Richard Mason · Joy Levine · Victor Hackl · Matthew Carroll · Daniel Neuspiel · David Zi Enterprises · Richard Plewa · Luke Rich · Dale Braiman · Robert Merchasin · Gregory Diamond · klaus schmidt · Weston Young · Deborah Chlebana · George Yatskyevich · Alberto Gonzalez Varela · Emiliano Sanchez · Kathleen Shepherd · naomi zurcher

THE FESTIVAL OF THE SANTA CRUZ DEL CHARCO RETURNS TO LANDETA PARK AND WE CELEBRATE THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN

After two years, the festivity in honor of the Santa Cruz del Charco returns to occupy the Landeta Park, a territory adjacent to the Botanical Garden.
We thank the communities for their participation in continuing this traditional celebration.

11th RUNNING RACE IN HONOR OF SANTA CRUZ DEL CHARCO

ATHLETES FROM SANMIGUELENS ARE EXCLUSIVELY CALLED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT, UNDER THE FOLLOWING RULES:
PLACE AND DATE:
It will take place inside the Landeta Park and El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden, in San Miguel de Allende, Gto., on Sunday, July 10, 2022. At 10:00 am.

REGISTRATION: There will be no registration on the day of the event. Register in advance at the offices of El Charco del Ingenio from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. Each participant must show their INE with address in the municipality of San Miguel de Allende, when registering and on the day of the race.

BEGINNING OF THE HÑÄHÑU LANGUAGE AND CULTURE DIPLOMA IN CRUZ DEL PALMAR

With great enthusiasm from the community and the Charco team, this diploma course was started by Dr. Ewald Hekking and Professor Aurelio Núñez, researchers at the Autonomous University of Querétaro.
This course is financed thanks to the support of CONACYT in the project "Consolidation of an Ethnobiological Garden of Guanajuato"
Each session is aimed at knowing and learning the standardized writing system of ñañú, its basic grammar and the dialectal variants of the different regions of this language, as well as relevant aspects of the history, culture and worldview of the Otomi people.

EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO: MEMBER OF BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

El Charco del Ingenio is part of the largest network of botanical gardens and plant conservation experts in the world: BGCI (Botanical Garden Conservation International), an organization representing botanical gardens in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to link members to create global participatory strategies in order to ensure plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet.

MAGUEY MANSO (agave mapisaga)

It is a plant belonging to the botanical collection. Endemic species, it is distributed in several states of Mexico. It is a succulent plant that flowers from April to August, its leaves are large, they grow forming a rosette around its fairly short stem, it grows up to 2.5 m high and 4.5 m in diameter, it bears fruit after September.

It is known for its various uses, it is a species that produces mead for the production of pulque; the flower buds are eaten baked and the dried quiotes are used in construction as posts for houses and fences, it has been cultivated and domesticated for thousands of years.

In July we will have a special sale of 2 copies for 100 pesos.
With your contribution you help the conservation of Mexican vegetation.

EL CHARCO’S NEW VISITORS GUIDE

The new design of this guide allows the visitor to explore and discover the wide space of the Botanical Garden and access magnificent views of the natural monument of El Charco. The guide contains a suggested tour and shows a network of trails, accessible and guarded, as well as offering information about the various points of interest of the reserve: plant exhibits, viewpoints, bird sanctuaries, historical ruins...

PLANTERS AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE WHY DO THEY LOOK SO PRETTY?

Every week, very early in the morning, the watering of the aromatic herbaceous specimens that receive our visitors every day begins. The scented environment is due to the fact that this selection of plants has specialized glands that release aromas that humans and other pollinators find pleasant.

A constant job is the rejuvenation pruning of the plants in these planters, where branches and/or flowers that are dry or green are eliminated, this action helps the regrowth of new leaves and young stems that will form part of the showy inflorescences, resulting in the plant aesthetics typical of landscape design.
All pruning is not wasted since dry or green flowers and foliage are used to form bouquets that are later delivered to different colleagues to decorate and harmonize their work areas.

CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION: eBird

The Charco del Ingenio-Botanical Garden is a point of great relevance in the country for bird watching. Here 247 species of the 393 inventoried in the state of Guanajuato have been listed.

Scientists, researchers and naturalists record the data of their observations on digital platforms such as ebird, from the Cornell University Ornithology Laboratory. These biological databases contribute to the knowledge of the distribution and abundance of avifauna in all parts of the world. Citizen science is very important for nature conservation.

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2300862

KIND REMINDER TO OUR MEMBERSHIP

We ask all members to carry their credential and register in the entrance book each time they visit the Botanical Garden. We also ask you to attend to the entry health protocol.
Thanks for your support!

NATURAL HISTORY TOURS IN ENGLISH ARE BACK

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am

Ticket: 150 pesos per person / 100 pesos members

Don't forget your mouth cover!

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL OF MEZQUITE

Saturday August 6 / 12pm to 5pm
Contribution: 100 pesos per person (includes a mesquite lemonade)
Limited space

Everyone is invited to celebrate the abundance of the semi-desert and learn about the importance of mezquite in the local ecosystem, its ethnobotanical history, the harvesting and processing of the pods for the production of delicious foods with high nutritional density, and the potential for integration into regenerative agriculture systems of this multipurpose native tree that has been the food sustenance of various indigenous cultures for thousands of years.

This resilient and adaptable tree has a rich ethnobotanical history and has great potential to become a staple food crop in arid regions of the world, mitigating the effects of climate change and providing food security in the face of desertification, water stress and climate instability.

The sweet and nutritious mezquite pods have been one of the most important staple foods of the indigenous peoples of the arid areas of the continent for thousands of years, they are an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc and essential amino acids such as lysine.

Mezquite has the potential to become a strategic element in the revitalization of ecosystems and to provide food independence for the populations of the arid and semi-arid areas of Mexico and we want to celebrate that.

Soul gifts, musical gifts: Thank you, Michael Hoppé

It is very moving to see the ways in which people and sectors of our community support El Charco del Ingenio, a territory that has given peace, joy and nature to its users and visitors during the months of the pandemic.

Michael Hoppé is a recognized composer and musical producer, born in the United Kingdom and inhabitant of San Miguel since the 80s. He is an active member of the Botanical Garden, who recently has offered a lovely gift to El Charco, inspired by the daily walks he realizes on the trails of the reservation, in the company of his wife Monica. The work, Under Mexican Stars is a musical piece that takes you back to the most beautiful landscapes of Mexico or a night walk through the cobblestone streets of San Miguel. Beneath Mexican Stars (Under the Mexican stars), is a musical piece that can take us back to the most beautiful landscapes of Mexico or to a night walk through the cobbled streets of San Miguel. Beneath Mexican Stars (Under the Mexican stars), is a musical piece that can take us back to the most beautiful landscapes of Mexico or to a night walk through the cobbled streets of San Miguel.

Listen here:

ART AND SCIENCE IN THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
NEW SET OF 12 POSTCARDS: BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF EL CHARCO

Graphic work of four creative women from San Miguel de Allende:

Marijose Marín, Marisol Guerrero, Paquina Langenscheidt and Rocío Ríos

Available in our gift shop: 300 pesos