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OUR MISSION: To protect and preserve our natural heritage and help build an environmental culture while developing a Botanical Garden dedicated to Mexican flora and providing an oasis of peace and tranquility for all.
Please tell your friends and prospective members/supporters how to access the newsletter and help broaden the base of support for the Botanical Garden.
Most of the year, water divides the landscape, separating north from south, enriching El Charco with the sky-reflecting beauty of its seasonal presa; the most interesting of all habitats beside the presa is the extensive wet meadow on its north side. Water-loving plants thrive in the presa shallows, Pinkweed (Polygonum mexicanum) is the most familiar of these.
In the history of mankind, marshes were an impediment to settlement and to the rapid progress of armed forces. Clearly, a rational progress of society required that they be drained and given over to builders. Today, but only for some, wet meadows are valued ecosystems, rich in invertebrate fauna, bird and plant life, prized for their inherent nature. In wet meadows, unlike marshes and swamps, there is no standing water, but wear boots, or risk wet feet, to experience the density of plants in El Charco’s wet meadow.
Species composition changes, and becomes more varied, as one walks away from the meadow into the narrow belt of grassland above the path, on the north side of the presa. The path is sometimes muddy. Where water trickles across the path, Floating-primrose (Ludwigia peploides) (‘common in still water’) blossoms, each flower with five butter-yellow petals, broad and obovate, a lighthouse to pollinators.
For the most part, plants prefer rooting in dry soil, provided it is watered from time to time. One species of the watery margin needs no rhizomes to secure its abundance; it is a plant without flowers, and so small the whole plant may sit on a finger: this is the Water-fern (Marsilea mollis).
Flowers of the dry ground bounding the pathway, include Mexican Marigold (Tagetes lunulata) and Peruvian Zinnia (Zinnia peruviana).
Independence from Spain (1810) and Saint Michael the Archangel, patron saint of the city, are celebrated in September when Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) and Sunflower (Tithonia tubiformis) stand tall in the moist meadow at the eastern end of the presa, the most unforgettable floral display in the preserve.
Wild & Wonderful. Nature Up Close in the Botanical Garden ‘El Charco del Ingenio’ (extract) Book on sale at El Charco’s giftshop and Camino Silvestre, 250 pesos.
Canadian born Martin Keogh first moved to San Miguel with his family in 1968 as a child, when one could walk in any direction and be in the countryside in less than seven minutes. He climbed down the canyon wall to el Charco del Ingenio when he was 14 years old, long before the ladder appeared. Years later, he and his wife Liza celebrated their wedding at the Four Winds Plaza in 2002. This past year has been committed to walking regularly in the Jardin Botanico to sense the changes from day to day and season to season.
Amongst other books, Martin is the editor of the anthology: Hope Beneath Our Feet, Restoring Our Place in the Natural World. For his three-decade contribution to the development of the dance form Contact Improvisation, he has been listed in Who’s Who in the World and has been named a Fulbright Senior Specialist. Keogh is the founder of The Dancing Ground, an organization that produces conferences and symposia on gender, ecology, and mythology.
Martin spent time traveling to monasteries in Japan and Korea and was the director of the Empty Gate Zen Center in Berkeley before discovering the world of dance. His books and essays have been translated into nine languages and he has facilitated groups and teacher’s conferences in thirty-one countries on five continents. More info at: www.martinkeogh.com. We welcome Martin Keogh, temporarily as a consultant while he receives his full nomination as a member from the Board of Directors.
Thanks to the recent efforts of Dr. Miriam Isidron, an agreement of collaboration was signed between the President of the Botanical Garden, Cesar Arias, and the Rector of the University of Agriculture of Havana, Dr. Maria Irene Balbin, which continues the research project started four years ago in conjunction with the National Polytechnic Institute (Silao) and the Institute of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Guanjuato (Irapuato) with the participation of Mario Mendoza, Board member of the Botanical Garden. As we have mentioned in previous newsletters, the program is currently focusing on the propagation in vitro of various species of cacti in danger of extinction (Geohintonia Mexicana, Aztekium Ritterii and A. Hintonii) which are difficult to germinate and grow outside of their native environment. Using seeds from El Charco’s species, partial but satisfactory results have been obtained. In this new stage of research, work will continue with the above-mentioned plants and will be extended to include other succulents from the Crassulaceae family also in a risk category and with propagation difficulties, such as the spectacular Dudleya brittonii.
On the 18th of this month, the World Day of Protection of Nature will be commemorated to acknowledge the preservation of natural areas threatened by such things as urban and industrial expansion. This is the fundamental theme of El Charco which, since its inception, has had the mission of rescuing and protecting a natural area of ecological, historical and scenic importance.
We welcome you toshare the successes and challenges of the last 20 years of this conservation project – have a stroll and enjoy the Fall landscape, stay until sunset and admire the magnificent October moon, in an unforgettable environment.
Jacobo Mendoza is descended from a well known family of weavers and has his gallery and workshop in Teotilan del Valle, Oaxaca, an ancient Zapotec village where weaving with a waist loom has been an art since before the arrival of the Spaniards.
In 2004 Jacobo had an exhibition at the Natural Museum of Los Angeles, California. His work has shown in the Carrillo Gil Museum in Mexico City (2005), Popular Art Museum in Oaxaca (2008), Museum of Art Peter Gray in Jalisco, and in various spaces in Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and San Miguel de Allende.
For his work Jacobo uses silk and fine wool and tinctures made of plants, insects, roots and other natural materials. His pieces include geometric designs, representations of archeological ruins of Oaxaca, pieces of codices, and fragments of the past as well as inspirations of the moment. His work is of the highest quality. El Charco offers an illustrated talk during which Master Jacobo will share his techniques for using natural dyes and some of his crafts will be available for purchase.
You can see more of Jacobo's work and purchase his weavings as well as decorative pieces (chairs, stools, animals, etc.) by Oaxacan artist Blanca Gomez at Casa de la Cuesta B&B, Cuesta San Jose #32, November 1 and 2 from 3:30p.m. to 6p.m. This lovely B&B will also have a magnificent Day of the Dead Altar to view.
For more information: elcharcocomunicacion@gmail.com
Various artists have worked in this media, Land Art, such as Robert Smithson, Andy Goldsworthy, Chris Booth, Richard Long, Hamish Fulton, Chris Drury, Walter Mason, Sebastian Silva, Jim Denevan, Dennis Oppenheim, to name a few. Places that are protected, conserved, have harmony and peace, such as the Botanical Garden and Reserve of El Charco del Ingenio inspire artists to use them as a perfect canvass. Once again we convoke artists and all creative people to walk, sit, smell, get to know the canyon, reservoir, paths of El Charco to be inspired and to join us in this experience.
Objective: Use the landscape of El Charco as a background an artistic creation in harmony with the natural surroundings of the Reserve. That is, artistically alter the land using natural materials of the region that integrate both visually and environmentally without damaging the space.
Eleven projects will be selected for presentation on November 24th, 2012.
United by the same goal of forming an ecological awareness amongst the youngest members of our society, the Environmental Education Program of San Miguel de Allende (PEASMA) and El Charco del Ingenio work together with the children of San Miguel.
PEASMA grew out of an initiative in 2002 by Save the Children (FAI) and was primarily applied in the Botanical Garden. Over the years the program has expanded in the municipality and evolved maintaining El Charco as a space for children involved in this experience. During the month of September, the Botanical Garden was filled with the laughter and games of various groups of children, who learned about the importance of the environment through various activities.
We are pleased to announce that El Charco del Ingenio has joined Investing in Communities (IIC) which brings an opportunity to benefit from the funds of this institution. This is a way for people to support our conservation project without any cost to themselves. IIC is an organization that allows people to donate to non profits through real estate transactions. You can find participating real estate companies at www.iiconline.org and designate El Charco as the beneficiary of your next transaction. The real estate agency will give us a percentage of the sale out of their commission.
El Charco is very grateful to it's members for supporting it's conservation project. Your contribution by purchasing a membership helps us continue to keep the garden going, even if you don't visit very often. If you don't have a membership, or if you would like to renew it, please pass by the reception of the Botanical Garden, or in Posada Corazón, Aldama 9 in Centro. Thank you again for you support; it's what keeps us going.
Only seven years old, Diego Chavez Francis started volunteering at El Charco in September – without a doubt, the youngest helper we have ever had…and one with so much enthusiasm for his work. Diego comes every Saturday and assists in the propagation area. We welcome all who are interested in the environment to join us as volunteers and follow this excellent example set by Diego!
Thanks to the collaboration between El Charco and the Denver Botanic Garden, the talented artist, Randall Raak, will offer a class this coming December. The Botanical Garden is a paradise for observing birds but drawing them can be a challenge. This class will cover the basics of bird illustration using graphite on paper. Students will learn the fundamental tools for drawing exact representations of birds at rest and in flight as well as learning to draw quickly in a field study environment. Direct observation is essential for capturing a dynamic feeling as opposed to using a static image from a reference photo.
Drawing from several reference photos will also be done to familiarize the students with the anatomy of birds. At the end of the five days, a finished work will be produced by the students. It might represent anything from a falcon in flight to a photo like representation of a favorite songbird.
Randall Raak has been interested in the natural sciences since childhood. He was inspired to develop his artistic talents by the lakes, rivers and forests of Minnesota where he grew up. For most of his life, Randy has been a commercial artist and sculptor. He recently completed an Illustration Certificate.
For more information: elcharcocomunicacion@gmail.com
From November 12-16 the 8th International Congress of Education in Botanical Gardens will take place in Mexico City. As a complimentary activity, about 40 people from various parts of the world will visit El Charco del Ingenio at the end of the Conference. This is a significant event for our Garden which demonstrates it’s recognition worldwide. Our visitors will come from France, New Zealand, Argentina, Japan, and Spain. If you can host one or more of our guests for the night of November 18th please email Naomi Zerriffi at nzerriffi@gmail.com. This is an opportunity to meet interesting people and show our hospitality.
We invite everyone to this open celebration that has been taking place for many years during the full moon cycle at the Four Winds Plaza in the Botanical Garden. We celebrate the Full Moon Ceremony to come back into balance with nature on earth. Come and enthusiastically participate and dedicate your intention and energies at the Plaza of the Four Winds. Bonfire, incense, chanting, drumming included. Bring flutes, cymbals, a drum or any other instrument if you want. It’s worth arriving a little early to admire the setting of the sun and the appearance of the moon over the mountains. You may want to bring a coat for cool evenings. Children welcome.
This sweat-lodge steam bath, of ritual and healing character, takes place under the direction of an experienced temazcal leader in the ruins of the hacienda located in the Botanical Garden on the far side of the reservoir.
The combination of heat, humidity and fragrant herbs provides a purifying experience for the body and spirit. Its benefits are multiple: it activates circulation, increases the body’s defenses, eliminates pains, decreases uric acid, relaxes the muscles, regulates the nervous system, stimulates respiration and is excellent for losing weight.
RESERVATION NECESSARY : elcharcocomunicacion@gmail.com | Tel:154.8838, 154.4715, or in the Botanical Garden visitor’s center. Reservation deposit may be paid at the Garden’s reception or at Posada Corazon (Aldama 9).
Autumn has arrived…We invite you to visit El Charco, walk its paths, see the Conservatory of Mexican Plants, the canyon, historical sites…and appreciate the transition from the greens of summer to the golds of Fall. While appreciating the colors of the many wildflowers, you will see a bounty of butterflies as well.
The walks are for birders of all levels. They begin at 9:00 am and last about 2 1/2 hours. No reservations needed, and feel free to leave the walk at any time. Please bring binoculars, wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat, and bring water. Your guide will meet you after you pass through the Reception area of the Botanical Garden.
A new product in our shop by Wendy Coulson Catalan is felt dolls in creative forms, designed and made by local crafts people using natural regional materials. Purchases in the Gift Shop and Café help us with the costs of maintaining this magnificent natural reserve. Thank you. In the Cafe we invite you to refresh yourselves with a delicious and nutritious slice of bread made of chia, now with beets added – a new creation from Lupita and Mari at the kitchen. Now that the weather is cooler, try a hot drink along with your bread. Don’t forget to check out the plants for sale on the side of the Café
| Open daily from sunrise to sunset More info |
| El Charco del Ingenio AC San Miguel de Allende, Gto., México TEL: (415) 154.4715 y 154.8838 charcodelingenio@gmail.com |
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