MS Lalain Aquino

Hello everyone,

Classes are on hold, and Spring Break is in session! However, are you having trouble looking for a place to visit? Or perhaps you don’t have a clue what to do with your time? If you want to visit somewhere you can just relax, breathe and recharge then I have the place for you!

If you are visiting the San Antonio area, check out San Antonio Botanical Garden. This 38-acre destination has many areas for your family and friends of all ages to enjoy. Plants from local to native and to exotic imported plant species can be found everywhere in this garden.

This world-class garden has museums, play areas, picnic areas, conservatories, and classrooms to allow visitors to not only enjoy beautiful sceneries but also educate them.

I usually am not the type to go out and walk just to sight-see, but the Botanical Garden made me change my mind. I had visited the place with my family. At first, I was skeptical, since I have visited other gardens, but they did not leave a big impression on me.

A large section in the garden that I found beautiful was the Lucile Halsell Conservatory. Fern Grotto, a small section in the Lucile Halsell Conservatory, is my favorite place in the conservatory.

I felt like I was in the wild, jungle with exotic looking ferns, vines, and more. The rock that caves around the section made me forget that I was in a garden. My two favorite features of this section of the garden are the waterfalls and the pond in the middle where the water falls into. You can watch the video below to see just how magical the Fern Grotto section is.

But as I walked further and explored the garden, I discovered many beautiful plants and learned new things on plants that I have known my whole life. Also, in the Lucile Halsee Conservatory, I was in a plant section where cocoa trees, vanilla bean vines, and pineapples grew. My favorite one was the pineapple. You have no idea how shocked and fascinated I was the first time I saw how they grew.

I did not think that a big pineapple would be . . . Standing up-right on such as skinny stem. Seeing is believing, so you can only imagine how I found this fascinating to look at.

Another spot in the Botanical Garden I suggest to check out is their Japanese-themed garden, Kumamoto En. I love Japanese culture, and I find Japanese architecture so intricate and sophisticated.  There was a pond with running stream and Koi fish swimming in it. The stone paved walkway was such a cute and relaxing touch, as it led straight to the small wooden hut-deck. My family and I sat in it and relish the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of water and birds chirping on the background. This was my favorite themed garden.

Another popular garden that many visitors have visited is the Rose Garden. When I visited, it was still winter, so the bushes were all trimmed and cut. But since spring is here, I can happily recommend to visit the Rose Garden. They have different colors from pink, orange, yellow, and the classical red rose. The roses not only grow on the ground, but they also grow on the wooden wall fence that sections the garden.

I have been talking a lot about plants that it’s making me hungry. I guess we’re in luck because next to the Rose Garden is a small restaurant called the Jardín (Jar-dean). Jason Dady, Chef of Jardín, serves healthy and yummy Mediterranean cuisine with beautiful scenery for guests to enjoy as they eat. If you are ever interested in having breakfast, lunch, or dinner— the Jardín highly recommends it’s guests to go reserve online for a spot.

Finally, we have come to my last recommendation to visit in the Botanical Garden, which is the fun family and kid friendly areas.  The Family Adventure Garden is so whimsical, fun, and so cool. They have stone rock ravines, tunnels to walk in and out, and even a tumbling hill kids can run around in. They even have small houses kids can go in and play around.