Cacti

Finally, the botanic garden!  El Charco del Ingenio is San Miguel's botanic garden up in the hills outside of the town center.  We hiked up not being entirely sure we were on the right road, and even though we weren't we still found it.  It is located along a shallow lake that had been formed by a dam a long time ago and is now mostly silted in.  They have been trying to restore lands along the river upstream and clean up the lake itself.  Below the lake is a gorge containing the pool of Chan, a mythical being from the underworld.  The botanic garden has a very nice gift shop and outdoor cafe, a greenhouse, and extensive natural area.  After the long hike up and around the garden a fresh juice at the cafe was very much appreciated. Leaving the botanic garden we took the proper entrance road and walked over to the giant supermarket "La Soriana" for a few things, then caught the bus back to town.

Cactus skeleton with a few live pads left

Sylvan by a huge Opuntia

Jake provides scale for a century plant

Dr. Suess plant in the greenhouse

The devil that travels

Ducks in the lake by what I think is an island of Arundo donax

Vermillion flycatcher

El charco de Chan

bird's nest in a Cholla

Bird oblivious to spines

Tribute to the 43 students who disappeared in Guerrerro before a protest in October, 2014

wall of cactus

dog downspout on a house outside the botanic garden