Tag Archives: Wilson Botanical Garden

The Departing Desvenains

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Our VP Kate and her family, Patrick and Luca, recently left Costa Rica for Washington, DC, a city that Kate has described many times as one of her favorite places to live.

All of us who have enjoyed Patrick’s hospitality and culinary skills; who have walked, talked, birded and banded with Kate, and who have played with “Luca-paduca” will miss them terribly. But naturally we saw them off with a terrific Farewell Party at Las Cascatas and we wish them all the best the world has to offer!

‘Kate’s Last Walk’ photo by Landon Daft

This photo was taken on June 16 at the Wilson Botanical Garden to commemorate what will now be known as “Kate’s Last Wilson Walk”. Standing from left to right are Liz Allen, Barbara Keeler-Barton, Peace Corps Volunteer Darien Combs, Elena Murillo, Heysen Esquivel, Hellen Castillo, Wally Barton, Alison Olivieri, Judith Ippolito, Erick Ilama Loria, Joe Ippolito, Roni Chernin, Mark (who is taking over Morphose Mountain Retreat B&B) and Wendy Schulz. Kneeling in front are (from left to right) Kate Allen Desvenain, Edwin Borbon Abarca, Yoiner and Royce Schulz (really not kneeling). Special thanks to visitor Landon Daft for taking this picture.

Wilson Walk Report: May 12, 2012

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Several new member and guests joined our recent bird walk in the Wilson Botanical Garden, including the youngest member of the SVBC, Elias Castiblanco U., participating with his mother, Kathleen Ulenaers, and grandmother, Philomen Schutters.

L to R: Barbara Keeler Barton, Philomene Schutters, Kathleen Ulenaers, Elias Castiblanco U., Pat Morgan; back row: Wally Barton. Photo by Alison Olivieri

New member Barbara Keeler Barton joined us for the first time as did Morphose Mountain Retreat guests Celia Lucente and Randy Bonsignore, vacationing here from Florida.

As for the birds, for the second time in as many months we spotted a handsome Rufous-winged Woodpecker actively foraging near the entrance gate. Other favorites of the morning were two perched Blue-crowned Motmots, possibly a pair, and a White-crowned Parrot that obliged us by sitting still for several minutes on a palm trunk stump.

Although new member Wally Barton did not actually walk with us, he did make it for “Coffee-and-the-List” and found the last bird of the morning, a male Yellow-faced Grassquit, bringing our total to 35 seen or heard species on our one hour and 45-minute outing.

Don’t miss the fun: join us for the next walk on May 26 at 7:30 am at the main entrance to the Wilson Botanical Garden!