Happy Halloween from San Antonio Botanical Garden

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is all decked out for fall festivities and Halloween!

We recently enjoyed the gardens during an evening event sponsored by San Antonio Water System to thank Partners in Conservation who help with public outreach and education on water conservation issues. 

 A giant spider and web are so appropriate for the season.  

Another giant spider in the nearby culinary gardens part of "David Rogers' Big Bugs" on display until December 8th.



"Wow Garden" at the entrance is in full bloom.  A recent 20+million renovation created a functional and beautiful new entrance area to better meets the needs of visitors.  The old entrance was small and confusing with no place for groups to assemble.

"Wow" is right, the garden is stunning and features plants in bloom despite the summer's heat and drought.  I love how this sculpture picks up lines of the glass conservatory in the background.

Fluffy "Scott's Turf'" sedge softens stone edges.

Fun spot for nesting pumpkins.

I could see this being used for several seasons.  Ornaments and Easter eggs come to mind.

Recycled curbing from the old parking lot. 



More pretty views near new office/classroom buildings.



We were treated to a cooking demonstration of Wilted Kale salad with citrus vinaigrette in the outdoor kitchen.

Family photo opportunity!



The new Adventure Garden for children.

Following the new trail gently up to the highest point in the city.  Much improved from the old steeply graded walkway.

   



Walking to the top we encountered the beginning of Scarecrow Trail, an annual event featuring the work of community groups like the Epilepsy Foundation.

The trail goes on through the gardens but we were here to enjoy the sunset from the high point of the city.

 
Even provided Halloween colors.

Beautiful!

Enjoy your Halloween!

 

Tropical Color for Valentine's Weekend!

A tropical treat for those still in the grip of wintry weather.  The Lucile Halsell Conservatory at San Antonio Botanical Garden hosts special exhibits such as the holiday poinsettias featured in my post here.  Crotons, Bromeliads and other tropicals welcome with bright color all year, especially nice when things are a bit dull outside.  In the heat of summer, it's refreshingly cool in here where the temperature is kept the same year round.  

Wings of the City at San Antonio Botanical Garden

"Wings of the City," a series of bronze sculptures by Mexican artist Jorge Marín, are on display at the San Antonio Botanical Garden through June 6, 2016 presenting a special opportunity to view classic sculpture in the garden.

Designed as a traveling exhibition shown in cities around the world and sponsored by the Consulate of Mexico along with local businesses, I was thrilled to see eight of the sculptures in November.  A ninth work from the series is on display at the Southwest School of Art.

The artist worked from a lofty concept:

“I wanted to share with a major audience one of my obsessions, which is the possibility of going beyond our physical limitations — metaphorically, we can fly to the place we wish to.” (from Marín's interview with the Dallas Morning News)

Angel Perselidas has just landed.  Beaked masks are designed to encourage interaction according to the artist.  Marín's placement of the sculptures within the gardens and in context of surrounding structures was particularly compelling.

Cycads evoke the wing theme and are a good textural match for the sculpture.  Agaves in the bed below make closeup viewing a challenge.

Tiempo crouches in the ornamental grasses with missing arms and partial skull.   Wing details are exquisite.  Marín began forming wings with modeling clay as a child and sculpted his first wings in art class at age 18. 

A bit battle weary still with intact wings, ready for action.

Well sited among specimen plants.

Wingless Split with angled legs reinforced by the form of surrounding buildings.

Placed at the highest point in the garden Split has a view of the city:

“In each city the experience is different, because the people make what the city is: their own dreams, aspirations, wishes” (Marín's interview with the Dallas Morning News)

Archivaldo strikes a powerful pose.

Details in relief evoke strength.

With an aviator's helmet and hands crossed behind Bernardo Oriental rests near a grove of ripening citrus.

Overlooking the formal gardens emphasizes his classic lines.  Photos from the exhibit in other cities show these pieces set against busy city scapes in contrast to this more restful garden setting.

  

Set in the palm room, Embrazo, an angel comforting a woman Pieta style.

It's the only sculpture in the exhibit displayed indoors.

Equilibrista 90 evokes balance and strength in a magnolia grove.

Alas de Mexico (Wings of Mexico) near the entrance invites us to climb the steps and become a part of the exhibit.  Appearing static on their own...

...then quite dynamic moments later when my garden club friends encountered them.

For a different perspective check out Pam's photos at Digging from the Houston stop on the tour. "Wings of the City" will be at the San Antonio Botanical Garden through June 6, 2016 so you have plenty of time to visit this spring for a view of art with the garden in bloom.

Seasonal Celebrations: From Fall to Winter

Fall colors usually arrive much later in San Antonio than in more northern regions.  This year it seems later than ever so we can combine fall color with holiday cheer.  Last week I attended an event at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and found both in abundance.  I'm linking with Donna at  Gardens Eye View for Seasonal Celebrations to show off how we enjoy two seasons at once.

The Carriage House entrance is ready for the holidays.  There are many changes in the works for the San Antonio Botanical Garden and construction is underway for a new entrance that will accommodate larger crowds.

Enjoying Fall Foliage of Kumamoto En

Attending an event last week at San Antonio Botanical Garden, I spotted bright foliage peeking over the bamboo fencing of Kumamoto En, the Japanese Garden.  Would it be possible I had arrived at that brief moment when Japanese Maple foliage peaks in San Antonio?

LEGOS in the garden

Years ago (okay it's been decades) we took a month off and booked round trip tickets to London.  From London we flew to Copenhagen to begin a tour of northern Europe.  At the time it seemed Denmark was all agog for a place called LEGOLAND and I remember wondering how an entire theme park could be based on a plastic brick.  I began to get the idea of just how flexible those blocks could be a few years later when a LEGO store opened in the mall near our home in Virginia and featured awesome constuctions of local landmarks and Star Wars vehicles.  Now there is even a LEGOLAND in California.

Recently I had an opportunity to see what an artist can do with LEGOS during a visit to the San Antonio Botanical Garden's display called Nature Connects: Art With LEGO Bricks featuring 27 sculptures made with almost 500,000 LEGO bricks by artist Sean Kenney.  The LEGO sculptures are built on a structure of steel rods and plates for stability.

The tour begins with an Eastern Swallowtail near the entrance to the gardens