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Newsletter October 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. 10

AUTUMN CONCERT IN EL CHARCO

“Sounds of the Deep Earth”


Christopher Garcia is a renowned composer, multiple instrumentalist and improviser, originally from Los Angeles, California, with a long and brilliant career in the musical interpretation of ancestral music of the world.

He has given concerts in dozens of countries. He has a deep knowledge of the indigenous instruments of America, which he performs with mastery and inspiration, in the company of his family. Diverse percussions, wind instruments, songs of the soul that connect us directly with the Earth...

Sunday October 23rd / 11:00 a.m.
Boveda of El Charco
Early bird: General ticket $200 pesos / Members $150 pesos
Day of the event: 300 pesos per ticket

OCTOBER 10, NATIONAL CACTI DAY

There are about 1,400 species of cacti in the world of which 669 are Mexican and 518 endemic to our country.

We celebrate the National Cactaceae Day with the purpose of recognizing and valuing the great natural wealth they represent for Mexico. These prodigious plants live mainly in areas where there is moisture shortage, but some are also found in warm and humid places.

Cacti arevery importantin dry (arid) ecosystems as they give protection to a large number of species. Many birds, reptiles and mammals, use their branches, trunks and roots to make their nests and burrows. Its beautiful flowers and appetizing fruits feed a great diversity of insects, birds and bats. In addition, they protect the soil against erosion and capture water and moisture.

NATIONAL CACTUS DAY CELEBRATION

TALK: “Between thorns and flowers: the Cactaceae Family”
Saturday, October 15 / 10 a.m. / in Spanish
Free Entry: Boveda of El Charco
Duration: 1 hour

In this talk you will be able to appreciate the interesting forms of the cacti, thorns and flowers of the specimens of the botanical collection. Where did cacti originate? How have they managed to survive in regions with water scarcity? Why have they diversified in our country?

Learn about conservation statuses and what are the main threats facing this family of plants.

At the end of the talk, we will have a SPECIAL CACTUS SALE and there will be gifts for the attendees. Welcome!

NEW PIECES IN THE SCULPTURES TRAIL OF EL CHARCO

Thanks to the generous contribution of the Mexican artist Dana Aerenlund, two magnificent sculptural pieces can already be admired by users and visitors, on this path of the Botanical Garden, which remind us of the stelae of pre-Hispanic monuments. Its titles are more than evocative: "Without corn there is no country" (Sin maíz no hay país) and "Gift of the gods" (Regalo de los Dioses) and are a true tribute to the original plant that gave life to the inhabitants of our continent for thousands of years.  

CONFERENCE "MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE NORTH OF GUANAJUATO" WITH ROSITA ARVIGO

Saturday October 22 / 10 a.m.
Contribution: $50 pesos per person
Limited availability

The Botanical Garden receives the visit of Dr. Rosita Arvigo, who with her extensive experience in medicinal plants, offers a lecture masterfully conducted in Spanish and English. We invite the public to enjoy this entertaining conversation where traditional knowledge and herbal medicine are combined to connect us with plants and their health benefits.

Take the opportunity to enrich your library with the book Medicinal Plants of Northern Guanajuato, which will be on sale on the day of the talk. A beautifully illustrated, bilingual specimen documenting the herbal remedies that continue to be used in the high central plains of Mexico. Its pages describe the dosage, preparation and administration of home remedies with plants that can be found in the market, pots, streets, patios of the region and of course in El Charco del Ingenio.

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 Yatskievych Alberto González Varela Emiliano Sánchez Kathleen Sheperd Naomi Zurcher Coleen and Norman Bessman

FROM EL CHARCO: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND WILDLIFE IN SUROUNDING RURAL AREAS

The workshop entitled "We live among gods" disseminates the worldview of the Chichimeca and Otomi native peoples, which is related to the local fauna, this workshop contributes to the identification, knowledge of their functions in the ecosystem and demystification of some erroneous beliefs that affect the survival of wildlife.

This workshop includes an introductory talk by the biologist Saira Covarrubias, who also directs several didactic activities and a demonstration of biological material collected in the Botanical Garden, all with the aim of bringing communities closer to the wildlife that surrounds them.

The localities that have participated so far in these workshops are Agustín González, Don Francisco, Cruz del Palmar, Atotonilco, Los Rodríguez, Montecillo de la Milpa and Presita de Santa Rosa.

EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO, PRESENT AT THE XXXV ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEXICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOTANICAL GARDENS (ASOCIACIÓN MEXICANA DE JARDINES BOTÁNICOS)

The AMJB (Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens) is a scientific association that integrates the botanical gardens of Mexico to promote effective collaboration between them and support their link with society.

Currently El Charco del Ingenio holds the Presidency of this association, after having been unanimously elected by the Mexican Botanical Gardens community.

During the last days of September, El Charco del Ingenio participated in the annual meeting of this association with different presentations regarding the biocultural heritage and its conservation, as well as coordinating the annual activities. The gathering took place in the Botanical Garden of the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla. After almost three years without meeting, this face-to-face meeting was especially important for the attendees: researchers, botanical gardens, ethnobiological gardens, federal and academic institutions, where the dynamics of collaboration between projects dedicated to the conservation of Mexican vegetation were reaffirmed, as well as the strengthening of common objectives for joint work.

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.

PROPAGATED SPECIMENS OF THE BOTANICAL COLLECTION: ferocactus echidne

Cactus endemic to Mexico known as golden barrel (biznaga barril espinosa), with cylindrical stems, grows solitary reaching heights of up to 35 cm and a diameter of up to 20 cm. It has about 13 sharp ribs with thin needle-shaped amber spines. The flowers are funnel-shaped, yellow or red in color and appear at the apex of the stems. 

It needs plenty of light to develop its typical spine, is tolerable to mild frosts, and grows well in rich, well-drained soil, such as clay, pumice, lava sand, or with just a little organic matter, but it's not picky about soil. Seeds are their only form of reproduction.

In October we will have a special sale of two plants for $100 pesos.

Each purchase means an aid to the conservation of Mexican vegetation.

KIND REMINDER TO OUR MEMBERSHIP

We ask all members to carry their membership card and register in the entrance book each time they visit the Botanical Garden.

Respect for El Charco del Ingenio and the people who collaborate daily in our areas is very important.

NATURAL HISTORY TOURS IN ENGLISH ARE BACK

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am

Ticket: 150 pesos per person / 100 pesos members

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