conservation

During our February 2015 trip to San Miguel de Allende we visited El Charco Del Ingenio, a renowned botanical gardens important for it’s collection of endemic as well as rescued cacti. There are greenhouses which contain important specimens, outdoor collections in well managed garden beds, and of course a coffee shop, collectibles store and also a display of small cacti for sale in pots. Unfortunately it is illegal to take cacti out of Mexico and the penalties can be severe. So we just had to look. In addition there is a very large nature preserve riddled with hiking trails and wonderful views of canyons, the city of San Miguel de Allende, a hacienda ruins and cactus habitat. The grounds are so extensive and wonderful we spent two days of our 10-day vacation at El Charco Del Ingenio.

Prickly pear cactus in dry grasslands. Natural habitat at El Charco del Ingenio, Jardin Botanico, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

A rescued cactus, probably taken from a building site or highway construction. This is Echinocactus grusonii or the Golden Barrel Cactus.

Visit my website gallery El Charco Del Ingenio, San Miguel de Allende for images from this beautiful location.

Also visit my website gallery San Miguel de Allende to see images from the town itself.

© Rob Huntley Photography / Fine Art Prints / Rob’s Photo Shop / Like My Facebook

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I have recently been invited to display 5 photographs in the entranceway to the offices of the Ottawa Riverkeeper – ottawariverkeeper.ca
These are kite aerial phographs of the Ottawa River. This exhibit will be on display for a six month period, to the end of May.

The offices are above Trailhead on the third floor. So the next time you drop by the Trailhead store, go through the office entrance at the left and up to the third floor to room 301.
Nov 20, 2012 to approx. May 31, 2013
Ottawa Riverkeeper
301-1960 Scott Street
Ottawa, ON
K1Z 8L8

Here are the 5 images on display (captions courtesy of Alexandra Brett of the Ottawa Riverkeeper):

Chaudiere Falls aerial panorama including the former E.B. Eddy property, the city of Gatineau across the Ottawa River and the Parliament Buildings in the distance at the top right.

The view across the Ottawa River at the former E.B. Eddy paper mill shows the once-thundering Chaudière Falls tamed by dams and diversions. Over 60 m wide, and with a drop of 15 m, the falls powered the growth of Hull (seen across the river) and the City of Ottawa from 1800 onward. Two hydro stations still operate on Chaudière Falls.
April 25, 2010.
18” x 36” Framed Print

Aerial panorama photograph of Lemieux Island and the Prince of Wales Railroad Bridge, Ottawa River.

The City of Ottawa draws its drinking water from the Ottawa River. The Lemieux Island Plant, seen here, is one of two water-treatment facilities run by the City. Ottawa’s drinking water is rated as some of the safest in the world, but damage to the river caused by sewage, pollution, dams and shoreline destruction put our drinking water at risk.
April 25, 2010.
18” x 36” Framed Print

Rugged shoreline in winter at Deschenes Rapids near Aylmer, Quebec. This is the Ottawa River, near Ottawa, Ontario. This picture was taken from a camera rig suspended below a kite (Kite Aerial Photography - KAP).

Over 90% of a river’s life depends on the first few metres next to the shore, the area most likely to be damaged by riverside development. Maintaining natural shorelines with trees and shrubs – as seen here at Deschênes Rapids – helps stabilize banks and protect the river from pollutants and sediment in storm water.
March 23, 2008.
16” x 20” Framed Print

Sailboats at Rest - Aerial view of sailboats at Nepean Sailing Club at Dick Bell Park in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Cropped from a larger image. This picture was taken from a camera rig suspended below a kite (Kite Aerial Photography - KAP).

The Ottawa River hosts 10 yacht clubs in the Ottawa-Gatineau region alone. Canoes, kayaks, power boats – even Olympic-class rowing shells – also ply the river’s many reaches and bays. Here, sailboats at Nepean Sailing Club in Ottawa’s west end quietly await their next regatta.
May 24, 2008.
16” x 20” Framed Print

'Round the Point - Aerial photograph of a sailboat passing Pinhey's Point Heritage Property and Public Park on the Ottawa River.

A sailboat on the Ottawa River passes Pinhey’s Point, part of Pinhey’s Point Historical Site. The estate, built in 1820 by Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey, has been preserved as a museum. The Ottawa River is home to 8 national historic sites and numerous pioneer villages, interpretive centres, community museums and historic houses.
November 9, 2011
24″ x 36″ Framed Canvas Print

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