April 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“April Winds…Did you ever think the sun could turn cold?
Do you ever miss the freedom of the sand between your toes?… Joe Brooks
Again, as I write of April, the desert wind is my companion. A kite seems a likely resource as I watch the greening become more intense after the spitting cold of March rains and recent snows in the upper altitudes. I am watching the smallest of wildflowers bloom in the neighborhoods, along roads and paths. Some of the plants have been blooming for months. The evening desert primrose, with its waxy yellow flowers has been blooming for months and is trying to grow a topknot of leaves. The pincushions are waving in the winds much like small flags demanding some attention. Perhaps there is truth in the thought that wind makes each plant stronger as each does seem quite resilient. These are not weeds, they are native plants and we celebrate them! I have some optimism that our Annual Wildflower Exhibit will have many blooms for the enjoyment of all. The care and attention that goes into this exhibit is what makes it an event worthy of note and the time spent by all involved. We hope you can visit during the weekend of April 5-7 and hear some of our speakers as well.
At our Annual Meeting in March we offered our heartfelt thanks to Dave Kurdeka for his time on the Board of Trustees. He is a Docent and still on some committees so his input will continue to be enjoyed. At the same time, we welcomed Patty Wharton to the Board as we continue our work at the Museum and within the community. Our Annual Report can be found in the Newsletter section on our website.
I appreciate the success of our Second Saturday events and other events the docents and our affiliates provide for the community. Bringing families and individuals to participate in these activities is a great way to strengthen the bonds within our community. I also thank the people who participate in the garden and property clean-ups; a worthwhile way to promote involvement in an activity that beautifies and benefits us
Please find our April 2024 Newsletter below
Download the April Newsletter Now
Maturango Sunday Speakers presents: Sean Scruggs, THPO
Maturango Sunday Speakers presents:
Sean Scruggs
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Fort Independence Indian Reservation
As THPO, Sean advocates the protection and care of ancestral homelands in Payahuunadü through Government-to-Government discussions, sharing cultural perspectives through education, and relationship building. He believes it’s critical that Tribes and individual “Original People” understand, know, tell, and share their own stories and history as they deem appropriate, not only to correct history but to be seen, heard, and understood in their communities and around the world.
Sean Scruggs is Northern Paiute, Chuk-ke-shuv-ve-wḗ-tah or Oak Creek People, and lived on the Fort Independence Indian Reservation from age 6 to 16. An Air Force veteran with service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Nevada Tonopah Test Range, he retired as Captain in 2009, and reconnected with his culture in 2014. He holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management and has served as THPO at Ft. Independence since 2018.
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March 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
Dear March – Come in, How glad I am, I hoped for you before, Put down your hat, You must have walked, How out of breath you are — Emily Dickenson
As we enter a time of seasonal change, the greening of our hills and the blooming flowers, though somewhat unusual, remind us of the living that has been carrying on all winter. One cannot help but feel that change is now on the move. The early flowers that cannot seem to wait, are giving us the energy to appreciate and enjoy them. I enjoy seeing our gardens come to a greater activity as the lizards spend more days in the sun as the sand and rocks become warmer. The plant life under the care of our garden volunteers, shows us daily how pleasant it is to walk through the paths. The occasional cottontail silent under a creosote and our attendant hummingbird sitting at the very top of a desert willow. The work done by the volunteers is worth so very much and is appreciated by all.
We have work we continue to do, both inside the museum and out, and we appreciate the support and donations from our membership to ensure they happen. We have so many positive irons in the fire right now and it is the membership that makes it happen. We also appreciate the work of the docents and volunteers to put on events to support and encourage families to come visit. This is for our community and its visitors and we are glad to be able to share.
On March 23 at 3 pm we have our Annual Membership meeting. Hope to see you!
Be well, take care, and enjoy the Spring vistas!
Please find our March 2024 Newsletter below
Download the March Newsletter Now
February 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
There are times I question if February, much like January 2024, will be a bit confusing as to what season it is. After a winter that did not, as of yet, hold us in ice for a time, there are plants that have bloomed and already seeded from the heavy rains last summer. We’re already enjoying waist-high mustard plants that have thick stalks and dark rich leaves. It’s all very interesting but does raise the question of the coming activities of spring growth. We are optimistic about the wildflowers!
Here at the Museum, it is good to see the work done to keep our gardens ready for the coming warmer seasons and many weeds cleared. A great job was done on the last clean-up but the request was made to come to pull weeds when possible or join us on February 2 at 10 am-12 noon to celebrate Groundhog Day and help clear the grounds. Either way, the help is always appreciated!
This is an active time of year when we start planning more outside tours and activities. Please watch our website and check out our events. If planning some outings of your own and would like some ideas on where to go, we have information and books in the Gift Store as well as some great advice. Make sure to have your photo-taking device charged and ready; there is much to see!
March 23 at 3 pm. will be Maturango Museum’s Annual Meeting. We will be meeting in person at the Museum. Next month we will publish more information about this event but we hope to see you there! Thank you for your help and support for these many years and your belief in the importance of what we do and contribute to our community. You make all the difference. We hope you will have a chance to stop by and see.
My best to you all!
Please find our February 2024 Newsletter below
Download the Newsletter Now
May Children's Hour- Reptiles & Garden Adventures
The May Children's Hour will be on Flex Friday, May 24, 2024, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. This month's event will be about Reptiles & Garden Adventures. Is that a lizard looking at me?
Nature has many changes in every season - spring, summer, fall, and winter. The Children's Hour Group looks forward to sharing this special time of fun and learning with the children!
Children's Hour at the Maturango Museum is a free monthly program following the school calendar for ages 3 to 5. Call 760-375-6900 for information about Children's Hour and the many other events at the Museum.
April Children's Hour- Wildflower Pollinators
The April Children's Hour will be on Flex Friday, April 26, 2024, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. This month's event will be about Wildflower Pollinators, including Bees, Humming Birds, and Butterflies.
That amazing springtime connection between critters and flowers, called pollination, will be introduced to children through stories, songs, exhibits, and crafts. In the program “Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds – Wildflower Pollinators” the children will see how flowers’ colors, shapes, and scents attract the pollinating animals. The next time the children eat fruit, or even vegetables, nuts, or grains, they might be reminded of the all-important connection between some kinds of animals and the plant foods people eat. Flower models and actual flowers to explore with hand lenses are sure to enhance the morning’s discoveries.
Children's Hour at the Maturango Museum is a free monthly program following the school calendar for ages 3 to 5. Call 760-375-6900 for information about Children's Hour and the many other events at the Museum.
March Children's Hour-Fantastic Feathers
Children's Hour to Feature Birds Fantastic Feathers
The next Children's Hour at the Maturango Museum will take place on Flex Friday March 15, 2025,10:30 to 11:30 AM. Stories and activities will feature the Fantastic Feathers of Birds and the amazing ways they help birds fly and do so many birdy things. The children will learn that whether flying high in the sky, diving deep in water, or sliding across ice and snow to swim in the cold cold ocean, birds use feathers in special ways to reach the food they need to live. How do feathers keep birds warm or dry? How do birds take care of their feathers when they become tattered and old? Of the many kinds (species) of birds that live here or visit in the winter, their bodies can be large or small, legs short or long, beaks shaped for their food. Each kind of bird's feathers may be different colors, but all have similar kinds to do particular jobs. Everything about birds, including their feathers, is indeed amazing!
Children's Hour at the Maturango Museum is a free monthly program following the school calendar for ages 3 to 5. Call 760-375-6900 for information about Children's Hour and the many other events at the Museum.
February Children's Hour- Insects
The February Children's Hour will be on Flex Friday, February 16, 2024, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. This month's event will be about insects. We will read Very Quiet Cricket, Mosquito, and The Icky Bug Alphabet books. There will be a craft to go along with the theme
Nature has many changes in every season - spring, summer, fall, and winter. The Children's Hour Group looks forward to sharing this special time of fun and learning with the children!
Children's Hour at the Maturango Museum is a free monthly program following the school calendar for ages 3 to 5. Call 760-375-6900 for information about Children's Hour and the many other events at the Museum.
Annual Wildflower Exhibit 2024
Every spring the Maturango Museum hosts the annual Wildflower Exhibit during which visitors can see the wide variety and abundance of wildflowers that grow in the Indian Wells Valley and surrounding canyons. Collectors with the proper BLM permits spend multiple days gathering the wildflowers which are placed into bottles or vases then set onto tables according to their family. This allows visitors to have a close-up view of the many wildflowers from this area – all in one room!
The exhibit features annual wildflowers and flowering shrubs. The annual wildflowers include species from the tiny white cryptantha (forget-me-nots), to the bright and showy coreopsis (bright yellow wildflower). Shrubs such as the creosote bush and desert senna are also on display. Each species is identified by a group of professional botanists and labeled with its common and scientific name.
As in past years, local artists from the Desert Artist League will be drawing and painting selected wildflowers throughout the weekend.
In addition to seeing the wildflowers, the Maturango Museum has multiple speakers during this year’s Wildflower Exhibit.
- Friday, April 5 at 6:30 pm, local Glenn Harris will give a presentation on “Holocene Climate Change - How Plants Have Responded.” Find out more about Glenn Harris
- Saturday, April 6, at 2 pm, Kimberly Schaefer, a master’s student studying Botany at Claremont Graduate University and California Botanic Garden, will give a presentation on her study area - the Sacatar Trail Wilderness. The title of the presentation is, “A Vascular Flora of the Sacatar Trail Wilderness, Southern Sierra Nevada, CA.” Find out more about Kimberly Shaefer
- Sunday, April 7 at 1 pm, Eugene Albitre from Bakersfield will give a presentation on Ethnobotany. His presentation is sponsored by the Arts Council of Kern. Find out more about Eugene Albitre
With the winter rains we have received thus far, this spring promises a colorful and fragrant display of wildflowers for this exhibit!
Entry fee is $2.00 per person paid at the door.
January 2024 Newsletter
Museum Director’s Notes
Debbie Benson
“Kindness is the connection that links us all together and strengthens the bonds within our communities, neighborhoods, and families.” Rosalynn Carter
As we leap into 2024 there is that moment of silence when we remember the generosity shown to us. The kindnesses that have helped us through to this day. We open our calendars to see this next year of days. We will fill them with the activities of living with those around us. This year gives us that extra day to fill with care for our family and friends and for ourselves. It may be a walk in the beautiful outdoors or possibly volunteering for something you believe in. It brings up the thought of how to spend that extra 24 hours in 2024. It’s very possible it could be more fun than you think!
Thank you to each person who volunteers for and helps the Museum in any way possible. As a local non-profit who is not supported by any governmental entity, you are the ones to make a difference not only to the Museum but to our community of neighbors.
Happy New Year! Be well, be safe, and take care. Our best to you all!
Please find our January 2024 Newsletter below
Download the Newsletter Now