Monthly
Newsletter

THE BOVEDA (DOME): A NEW MULTI-USE SPACE

During its 17 years of existence, the Botanical Garden has built few structures inside its territory: the reception/store, bathrooms, juice bar, office/library, the Conservatory and nurseries, and the dome (la bóveda) near the Plaza of Four Winds. It has always been the policy of the Garden’s Board to build “as little as possible” to minimize the visual and environmental impact on this natural site – we have enough construction already just outside our zone.

Nevertheless, the increase in visitors and in our programs have made us think about infrastructure and the need for an auditorium that can serve as a multi-use area with the space and equipment to receive groups.  We decided that instead of taking more land and incurring large costs, we would remodel the dome, which has had limited use since its construction nine years ago. It has served as a place for the vigils for the Fiesta de Santa Cruz in July, for meetings and ceremonies and as shade for our visitors.

The project of converting the dome to a multi-use space with a capacity of more than 60 people, consists of adding walls and windows, adding an area with a small kitchen and storage room, all with water, electricity and some equipment as well as a surrounding garden.  This place will be available for meetings, lectures, workshops, temporary exhibitions, ceremonies and audio-visual presentations. 

The work has begun and we hope to be able to complete it by July, with the help of San Miguel architect Anja Fauske. Funding for this project has come from some individual donations but we would appreciate additional contributions from members and friends of the Garden.

croquis por Anja Fauske, Arquitecta

WORKING VISIT TO HAVANA, CUBA

In April, Mario Mendoza, Director of the Botanical Garden, and Martin Smith, curator, represented El Charco del Ingenio at an international meeting held in the National Botanical Garden in Cuba.  During working sessions with researchers from the Agricultural University of Havana certain agreements were reached:

• Continue with the propagation project to cultivate cacti and other plants from our collection that are difficult species to reproduce by conventional methods,
  
  
• Technical support for El Charco, use of the University of Havana’s laboratory to establish the protocol of propagation of these species.

Two prominent cactologists from the Botanical Garden of UNAM (Mexico City), Dr. Leia Scheinvar and Dr. Salvador Arias, were also present at these meetings and agreed to assist in establishing a Nopal Garden in El Charco.  This includes donating samples from the UNAM collection.

WORK IN THE WETLANDS

During the months of May and June (depending on when the rains start), we will be doing some important work in the Presa de Las Colonias in both El Charco and Parque Landeta.

Machinery will take sediment from the bed to the sides of the Presa with the double intention of removing the silt and building riverbanks for flora and wildlife, creating if possible two new islands. This season will probably be the last opportunity to do this work in the wetlands, since once the new treatment plant in Parque Landeta is operational (planned for this year), there will be a greater level of water year round in the presa, which would impede using heavy machinery. The costs for this project will be covered to a large extent by a grant from Save The Laja Foundation in 2007. drawings by Dante Escalante, Historias de un Jardín, Ed. Santillana

NEW PUBLICATION
Wild & Wonderful: Nature Up Close in the Botanical Garden ‘El Charco del Ingenio’ was presented at Posada Corazon on April 16th and again on April 22nd at Villa Jacaranda at an event sponsored by Audubon and was very well received.  It is now available at the store at the Garden and in several other bookstores in town. Text is by Walter Meagher and photography by Wayne Colony, Foreward by E.O. Wilson.  300pesos.

LA TIENDA/JUICE BAR
We have had wonderful feedback on the new store. Have you been yet? New items arrive regularly so be sure to visit frequently. For the months of April, May and June we are offering 10% off selected items for members.

And while you’re at the Garden, don’t miss the juice bar/café which is also offering new items such as the delicious bagels.

NEW MEMBERSHIP DUES STARTING JULY 1ST

After maintaining the same rate for membership for the last 10 years, the Board has decided to increase the fee by 100 pesos.  Therefore, starting July 1st membership will cost 600 pesos.  While not a big increase for ten years, the additional monies will help El Charco with ever-raising costs.  Membership fees are an important source of income for the Garden.  Remember the advantages of membership are:

• Unlimited access for the cardholder and two more people,
• Discounts at concerts and other events in the Garden and in the store,
• Subscription to this newsletter,
• The option of participating as a volunteer in the Garden’s work,
• And the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a worthwhile project

If you renew before July, it will be at the old tariff of 500 pesos.  You may even want to renew for 2 years at this rate!  If you are not in town and would like to renew your membership, download (MSWord or PDF), print and complete the membership form and mail it with your check.

Thank you to our Volunteers KATHY PALMER We would like to thank Kathy Palmer for having spent hours reorganizing our photos and who is continuing to put our office papers in order.  This is invaluable work and we appreciate her talents in this area and her dedication to the project. Gracias!!

You can make a difference - Please volunteer

And you can make a difference with your contribution - volunteer or donate. We appreciate your support!! Please contact Naomi at nzerriffi@yahoo.com

E-mail any comments or questions to the Editor at charcodelingenio@gmail.com