With great delight I found that David Tarrant was giving a talk at El Charco del Ingenio, the botanical gardens in San Miguel. Not only is David a successful transplant from Vancouver, now living here for seven years, but El Chaco is one of my favourite places – great for nurturing body, mind and spirit.
At the start of the talk David aptly stated that the gardens are ‘the jewels in San Miguel’s crown.’
Hearing his enthusiam over the cacti and other native plants and flowers, I recalled his similar feelings about B.C. flora at a garden club talk on Bowen Island some years ago. He showed photos of San Miguel gardens and how people grow many of their plants in pots, which makes it easy to redesign. David’s talk excited me in more ways than one – it is easy to see how one can uproot from wherever and put down roots in San Miguel.
During the slideshow, David also showed the exotic garden of another Canadian transplant, Toller Cranston, the famous champion skater. Toller has been living in San Miguel for many years and is now a prolific painter of exotic paintings and other art objects. Later I toured Toller’s garden and visited part of his house, full of his paintings and glass baubles. The garden is indeed a jungle but there are various places for sitting and appreciating it and there is a lovely swimming pool. I saw the area where Margaret Atwood and entourage were hosted at a party given during her recent visit.
After David’s talk, I roamed the botanical gardens and as spring had just sprung, was fascinated with the opening of just in bloom delicate yellow flowers on the Nopal, one of Mexico’s most common cacti. Since I started coming to San Miguel, I often give myself a day of wandering the El Chaco’s canyon and it is sitting on the rocks that I do much of my writing. Within the wildness, there are artistic man-made structures for pleasure and for ritual. Each full moon there is an evening ritual as the moon rises, given in both Spanish and English.
Every Spring Equinox there is a concert with a stage set in the dry canyon, while the audience sit around on the rocks.
This year, there was an Israeli born concert pianist who presented a full program, while the audience basked in the evening sun with their picnics. Two years ago, I saw a spectacular Mexican sitar player accompanied by a tabla player.
On the day of the Equinox, all children from kindergartens and pre-schools parade the streets, looking adorable dressed as bumble bees, insects, animals and flowers. Also at this time, as if by magic, all the jacaranda trees came into full bloom. Everywhere one looks are gorgeous purple flowers. In spring, San Miguel wakes up the senses and everything is at its blooming best.
Sounds great! I’ve been asked to do an equine photography workshop there so I’ll have to look into some floral stuff as well!!