Newsletter May, 2023
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. XVIII, No. 05
- SOLEDAD CENTENO "DOÑA CHOLE", INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVE OF VALLE DEL MAÍZ in memoriam
- FLORACIÓN de Agave chazaroi
- RONNIE CUMMINS, in memoriam
- THE HERBARIA OF MEXICO IN EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO
- EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO, A STRENGTHENED CITIZEN PROJECT
- RENOVATION OF THE SOLAR OBSERVATORY (SOLAR CALENDAR AND CLOCK)
- TOUR FOR TEACHERS OF SAN MIGUEL
- NEW PUBLICATION! WILDFLOWERS OF EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO
- EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO: MEMBER OF BOTANIC GARDEN CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (BGCI)
- NATURAL HISTORY TOURS IN ENGLISH
- ARE BACK
- ART AND SCIENCE IN THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
- NEW IZCUINAPAN REGIONAL ARCHEOLOGY HALL IN THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM. MIGUEL MALO ZOZAYA COLLECTION
Each species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived.
— Edward O. Wilson
SOLEDAD CENTENO "DOÑA CHOLE", INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVE OF VALLE DEL MAÍZ in memoriam

We mourn with deep sorrow the death, at an advanced age, of this extraordinary woman, who dedicated her entire life to cultivating the traditions of Valle del Maíz, an indigenous neighborhood of San Miguel de Allende. Doña Chole accompanied the Botanical Garden since its creation. It was that morning of Sunday, July 11, 1991, during the total eclipse of the Sun, when the indigenous representatives of San Miguel gathered at the edge of the great ravine to raise a last cross of conquest: the Santa Cruz del Charco del Ingenio, recovering a site of spiritual and historical significance for the indigenous peoples. And there she stood, Doña Chole, leading the walk towards "the four winds" and the raising of the cross. And every year, on that same date, as long as her health permitted, she participated in the vigil, the sacred walk and the festivity that commemorates the foundation of this important San Miguel tradition. We remember today and will remember Doña Chole, as an example of generosity, humility and affection; she was a warrior and defender of the traditions of this territory.
IN BLOOM Agave chazaroi

In the botanical collection of El Charco del Ingenio a particular agave or maguey from the state of Jalisco has begun to flourish, belongs to the botanical family Asparagaceae, cosmopolitan group with greater diversity in North America. Asparagaceae, grupo cosmopolita con mayor diversidad en América del Norte.
This agave lives wild on rocky sites of deciduous forests in the form of a rosette, with a height of 3.82 m (including the inflorescence) and 1.17 m wide, the flowers turn yellowish and begin their flowering from bottom to top and in a few days it will have hundreds of small monoecious flowers, this is when the reproductive structures are in each same flower. It can be grown in dry and temperate sites between temperatures of 20 and 30 ° C, does not tolerate excess moisture so it requires adequate drainage and requires few nutrients. Unfortunately it will die after fruiting, like most of the agaves.
The chazaroi species was dedicated to the illustrious botanist Miguel Cházaro, recently deceased, who dedicated his life to the study of the succulents of Mexico, describing at least 10 species new to science, mainly agaves.
RONNIE CUMMINS, in memoriam

We regret the departure of this American character of revolutionary spirit, fighter for environmental causes and founder of the Association of Organic Consumers. Also a member of the Botanical Garden, today we say goodbye to Ronnie and give a hug of accompaniment to Rose Mary, his partner in life and struggle, as well as the team of the civil organization Via Orgánica and the work groups that inspired Ronnie Cummins.
THE HERBARIA OF MEXICO IN EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO

El Charco del Ingenio Ethnobiological Garden invites curators and staff that make up Mexican herbariums to participate in the National Meeting of Herbariums to be held in the city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, on August 28, 29 and 30, 2023. The purpose of this meeting will be the digitization, database management and patrimonialization of botanical collections.
More information here bit.ly/41BaQ2Y
EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO, A STRENGTHENED CITIZEN PROJECT
Soon it will be 32 years of this beloved citizen, self-managed, Mexican and independent project, which has received multiple certifications, recognitions and above all has been consolidated and strengthened over the years.
We invite you to enjoy this video and share it with your friends.
RENOVATION OF THE SOLAR OBSERVATORY (SOLAR CALENDAR AND CLOCK)
Come and rediscover this interesting spot in El Charco del Ingenio.
In this observatory we can record important dates such as the equinoxes, solstices and zenith points throughout the year. We can know what day and what time it is because a sunbeam is pointing at us on the floor marked with a series of lines... But -since we know that it is not the Sun that is moving-, in reality it is an Observatory of the Earths Movement.
TOUR FOR TEACHERS OF SAN MIGUEL

Saturday, May 20 / 9:30 am
(On the occasion of the celebration of Teacher's Day)
Free entry with prior registration
NEW PUBLICATION!
FLORES SIVESTRES DE EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO (Wildflowers Of El Charco del Ingenio)

This field guide to the flowers that sprout in the reserve is a tool for researchers and nature lovers, which also contributes to the efforts to promote and defend Mexico's biocultural heritage.
ASK FOR THIS BOOK ON YOUR NEXT VISIT TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO: MEMBER OF BOTANIC GARDEN CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (BGCI)

Since 2005, El Charco del Ingenio has been part of Botanical Garden Conservation International , the largest network of botanical gardens and plant conservation experts in the world. Based in London,England, this organization brings together a large number of 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.
In a country like Mexico, whose geography comprises an enormous biotic wealth, botanical gardens play a fundamental role in the knowledge and conservation of biocultural heritage.
NATURAL HISTORY TOURS IN ENGLISH

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am
Ticket: 150 pesos per person / 100 pesos members
ARE BACK

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
NEW IZCUINAPAN REGIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY HALL IN THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM. MIGUEL MALO ZOZAYA COLLECTION

The Botanical Garden shares and celebrates with the association Amigos del Museo this new exhibition space of the archaeological heritage of San Miguel de Allende, which was inaugurated last October in the "Casa de Allende Museum". The Sala Izcuinapan already exhibits the valuable archaeological collection gathered by Miguel Malo Zozaya, who for years studied and disseminated regional pre-Hispanic history, especially that which flourished during a period of a thousand years in the middle section of the Laja River.
After 50 years in which most of this collection left San Miguel de Allende, this extraordinary collection has returned to be safeguarded, studied, restored and exhibited permanently in the Museum.
This great effort towards recovering such important heritage derives from the confluence of diverse participants: historians, archaeologists, restorers, museographers, photographers, designers, draftsmen, activists ..., a vast collective work with the support of INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) and local donors.
