Politics, Nature and Civility

When looking for a place that helps people reconnect to nature and regain some of their civility I always think first of the Rio Grande Nature Center. It is a great place to connect to natural silence. One can center themselves by sitting in a living room which has a glass floor to ceiling wall that looks out onto a large pond filled with ducks and turtles. The room has speakers so you can hear the sounds of nature while sitting in a comfortable air conditions room. The Nature Center also has two miles of walking trails one mile of which run along the Rio Grande River while the other mile meanders through a cottonwood forest. Everyone who walks at the center never fails to say good morning when passing another walker.

For an annual fee of just $30 a family can get free parking and enjoy all that nature has to offer right here in the City of Albuquerque. If you support the care of our local environment and wish to enjoy nature then you should check out the Rio Grande Nature Center. The center is on Candelaria just west of the Rio Grande Blvd. This weekend would be a great time to check the place out because they are having their annual Herb Feast. This year they have renamed it the Cottonwood Festival.

The Cottonwood Festival is scheduled for May 10 & 11 from 9:00 until 4:30.

What you can expect at the Festival

Speakers
Artist demonstrations
Herb, wildflower, and native plant sales
Guided bird and nature walks
Children’s crafts
Hand-on Workshops
Live music
Food and refreshments stands
Booths and exhibits including
Rescue Inc. of New Mexico
Arts & crafts
Herbal remedies
Cooking with herbs
Green living
Community organizations

Parking is $3 for cars if you are not a member of the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center. Members of the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center get free year round parking as part of their membership. The group is a non-profit 501 (c)3 corporation.

This year the center cleared out a large number of Russian olive trees from a ditch and opened it up to the Rio Grande River. The ditch will prove a safe haven for the Silvery Minnow. Native plants and trees have been replanted around the area. The Russian olive tree is one of the SUVs of the plant world when it comes to absorbing water. It is a non native plant in New Mexico. For more information on this event you can call 344-7240.

The mission statement for the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center is:

To preserve and protect the Rio Grande Bosque, to educate the public about the Rio Grande ecosystems, and to foster positive human interactions with those systems.

The center does receive money from both the state and federal government to run its programs. It is a part of the state parks system. They are always looking for volunteers to help out with the educational programs. They have summer classes for children age 6 through 12 years of age which are taught by certified New Mexico teachers. The classes teach children about owls, bats, insects, wetlands or coyotes.

The sad thing is that the Rio Grande Nature Center is one of the best keep secret places to visit in the City of Albuquerque.