Wordless Hungry Squirrel on the Shagbark Hickory

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Colorful DiscoveriesAt the San Antonio Botanical Garden

One of many highlights of our recent trip to San Antonio was visiting the San Antonio Botanical Garden with Jean at Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog. A resident of the area, Jean shared helpful gardening and historical information, and we had some fun discussions.



The botanical garden had some impressive edibles growing in beautiful displays.



The displays included information about the plants and required growing conditions.



In many cases, the edibles and ornamentals were interplanted, which is always fun to see and do.



Other highlights of the botanical garden included this former limestone quarry, which was transformed into a public waterworks system for the city in 1877. Now a beautiful sunken garden, it features a staggered seating area, climbing vines, and beautiful stonework.



Some of the displays were unique--for example, Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana), Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris), and Prickly Pear Cacti (Opuntia spp.) growing in a display together.



We visited during the gardens' Orchid Celebration, which was fabulous. I took so many photos, but the only name plate I captured was this healthy Noble Rock Orchid (Dendrobium nobile).



The others were, of course, incredibly lovely and colorful, too.

An extra bonus was that the Texas Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) were just beginning to bloom--at the botanical garden and throughout the surrounding area.

It was one of many beautiful days in a beautiful part of the state and a lovely region of the country.

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Revisiting the San Antonio Riverwalk

Have you been to San Antonio, Texas? Have you walked along the Riverwalk? We spent the second half of February in San Antonio, and part of the fun was exploring the Riverwalk. We'd been there more than three decades earlier; since then, it's been expanded by more than a dozen miles, so it was even more amazing than during our first visit.

From scenery and landscaping, to restaurants and attractions, to historical landmarks, to parks and fun--there's so much to see and do along the Riverwalk's 15 miles on both sides of the river.



Huge and impressive native Bald Cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) line some areas of the shoreline. Apparently, they can grow to be 100s of years old and 80-120 feet tall.



The landscaping along the Riverwalk includes creative stonework, plantings, and waterfalls. We visited during late winter/early spring, and I can imagine it must be really lovely from mid-spring through November, and colorfully lit during the holidays.



San Antonio has a subtropical climate, so palm trees are also common sights along the way.



It was sweet to see roses blooming in February. While there were no tags on this one, I believe it's a Rosa chinensis cultivar.



Historical landmarks are also fun to explore along the way. This property, the Villa Finale, is a beautiful structure, with equally impressive landscaping surrounding it--even at the end of winter. Also known as the Norton–Polk–Mathis House, it was built in 1876.



Historical markers help to tell the stories.



Heavenly Bamboo shrubs (Nandino domestica) line some of the walkways; during our visit they were laden with bright berries.



And, of course, the Alamo is a must-see during a San Antonio trip. We visited a few of the area's missions, as well.

The weather was great for most of our trip, with highs in the 70s and 80s F during most of the days. We're glad to be home, but it was a wonderful getaway at the end of the winter. More coverage to follow...

Name That Plant (and That Pollinator)

Texas Mountain Laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum)
Horsefly-Like Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tabaniformis)