San Antonio Gardens
Things learned while adventuring in our city
Exploring San Antonio’s Outer Spaces - Japanese Tea Garden / San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Coming out of the San Antonio summer, as lawn owners and garden growers, we can all appreciate the real struggle to keep things alive in our intense summers. For this month’s Outer Space adventure I wanted to go see how our city has been dealing with the elements.
This month, I choose to visit some of our city’s local garden landmarks: the Japanese Tea Gardens and the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.
Japanese tea gardens
Free admission // 3853 N St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212 ( Map / )
The Japanese Tea Garden is a unique and a refreshing site for our city. It is an Asian influenced 30-minute casual meander through pockets of greenery, florals, and aquatic life all in a limestone package. This historical San Antonio icon has been around since 1916; a photographic destination for 100+ years! The koi, floating gardens, waterfall and dragon-esque series of bridges give it such a unique personality for south Texas. The garden opens at 7:00 am, but quickly you’ll encounter many photo seekers as they look for just the right shots for their social media accounts.
SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDENS
paid admission // 555 Funston Place San Antonio, TX 78209 ( Map / )
Just a couple of miles down the road from the tea garden, is the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. To be honest, coming out of what feels like 100 days of 100 degrees, I didn’t know what to expect regarding the conditions of this garden–the drought season had me droughtful … ( HA, I kid and I digress.)
With over 2 trail miles of botanical bliss inside, I felt like the botanical gardens was worth the price of admission even before I got through the gate. There are just so many layers to uncover as you walk about.
At the time of my visit, October 2023, the special exhibition called “Imaginary Worlds” is in place. It is a showcase of plant-based sculptures that include oversized books, a dragon, a mermaid and more.
I chose to buy the annual membership. It just seemed like such a reasonable deal since I was already planning to come back soon. I’d also like to try out the Jardín (French for “garden”), the restaurant on the property soon.
It’s important to participate outside in your community, but more than just consuming it we look for the lessons being shared with us. Here is what I picked up from my exploration:
OBSERVATION: “What we water will determine what will grow in life”
In this experience I watched a full staff of gardeners pouring their care into watering, manicuring, and maintaining the landscape to preserve the beauty that we find ourselves captivated by.
It caused me to reflect on how our health, family, faith, and life are all nurtured by how well we attend it. It is the commitment to tend the good things in our life that is the difference maker–more than arriving at any achievement or destination itself. One day we’ll pause and appreciate what a terrific gift the work of life really is.
We are grateful to get to be a part of serving this city and encourage you to get to an Outer Space and appreciate the outdoors that our city offers.
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