El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden

 

Cactus wren on her nest

San Miguel's 88-hectare (170 acres) botanical garden is also a wildlife and bird sanctuary. The garden was born in 1990 as a way to protect the unique natural environment, which has both scenic and historic value. It was purchased by wealthy Mexicans in town, who wanted to protect the land from the ever-encroaching housing developers of San Miguel.

The sprawl of San Miguel

The extensive Pathway system leads you through wetlands and magnificent areas of cacti and native plants. The deep canyon at the bottom boasts the eponymous freshwater spring, El Charco del Ingenio

Moreover, this is one of five Mexican sites designated as Zones of Peace by the Dalai Lama in 2004. Well, that says it all, if it was that good for Dalai, then it’s a place to visit.

This is a jackrabbit. He is about 3 feet tall

We were guided on a 2-hour tour by David Tarrant, a Vancouver transplant and botanist. Within the wildness, there are artistic man-made structures for pleasure and for ritual. Each full moon there is an evening ceremony as the moon rises, given in both Spanish and English.

Just in case you forgot your map

Every Spring Equinox there is a concert with a stage set in the dry canyon, while the audience sit around on the rocks. In 2013 an Israeli born concert pianist presented an entire program, after having a grand piano dismantled and taken to the bottom of the natural rock amphitheater.

 

With recent rains, we were gifted with more flowers