What's in a name?

Well maybe not a rose,
but you get the point.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." And so would a garden listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a garden that is a Registered Texas Historic Landmark, and a Texas Civil Engineering Landmark. 

The newly remodeled Jingu House

So who cares what name the garden goes by, really. Especially if it has gone by several different names. I certainly don't. On my visit this past weekend to the garden, I found it smelling very sweet with abundant blooms everywhere. And with a new twist, or maybe that should be a return to an old twist. You can decide for yourself later. 

One of the butterflies

The garden was filled with soon to be graduating seniors who were being photographed using this spot as their background, families from San Antonio and visitors all wandering along the stone pathways of the garden. There were strollers, wheelchairs, and wagons making their way over the bridges. Adults and children alike were gazing and pointing at the ponds filled with fish, turtles and birds. I saw a multitude of cameras shooting as bumblebees and honey bees went from flower to flower. Lots of oooohhhs and aaaahhhs were being said as the butterflies dipped gracefully and then landed with wings outstretched. 

My view from the parking lot.

And yet with all this activity, the garden didn't seem crowded or overly full of people. There was ample space in the parking lot, with several empty spots. The normally hot Texas sun was hidden behind clouds and there was a nice breeze blowing to cool everyone while they strolled around. I spoke with several folks as we admired the various parts of the garden. One mother and daughter was from Poth (a small town southeast of San Antonio.) The daughter was a senior waiting for the photographer to show for her pictures. I met one nice man who was visiting San Antonio from Houston for Fiesta. And I met picture hounds who loved going to the garden several times a year to photograph its changes. 

Note the name on the sign

I'm sure by now you've probably figured out what garden this is. But just in case you haven't, it started out with the name the Japanese Tea Garden, then became the Chinese Sunken Garden, and finally its name changed back to the Japanese Tea Garden. Signage for the garden which is located in Brackenridge park lists it as both Sunken Garden (the name most locals know it by) and the Japanese Tea Garden. Which could be rather confusing if you are just visiting. (Hint, hint: the city parks and recreation department should address that issue.)  
The new or revived twist I spoke of is the opening of a restaurant called the Jingu House at the garden. Named for the original restaurateur of the Bamboo Room on the same site back in 1926. The original restaurant like the current one served light lunches and tea. I sampled the organic black tea (unsweetened) and one of their Fiesta cookies. Both were excellent and packaged in an environmentally friendly manner. The new restaurant has only been open 3 months, with to my knowledge little to no publicity for it. Since I didn't know it was open I stopped at another place prior to arriving at the gardens for some take-out. Now that I know of its existence I'm going to try it next time I go. I saw several plates from other diners on the tables and everything looked delicious.


Here's the link for the gardens if you need or want additional information. http://www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec/directory_japanese.aspx

Just a little pretty flower

One of the houses that the city built
back in 1920 and populated with
Hispanic artists who sold arts &
crafts to tourists. There are only 2
houses remaining from the village.

growing within the rocks of the
foundation of the pagoda

Another of the beauties from Sunken
Gardens aka The Japanese Gardens.

Hibiscus which grows very well here in our climate.

I was amazed at the number of
different flowers that have been
planted and are growing.

One of the original walls built by inmate labor. This wall has
been partially restored based on the differences in color
that were showing.

Just really loved this one. So
unique. 

The last remains of the quarry that
existed which made the garden
possible, the smokestack.

Another Hibiscus. 

As it just starts to bloom out.

They almost looked like little blackberries. But I have no
idea what they were.

The entrance to Sunken Gardens etc.

Up the stairs from the parking lot.

Dressed for Fiesta!

Mr. & Mrs. Jingu and some of their
children, they had 8 in all.

Some of the children with Mr. Jingu outside in the Japanese
Tea Garden. Note the Pagoda behind them.

More Fiesta Color!

The columns and rafters of the roof of the Pagoda.

This is my favorite site, has been since I was a child.
Standing in the middle of the Pagoda and looking up at the
ceiling of the Pagoda.

Another butterfly.

One of the many large oak trees of the Garden.

One view of the Pagoda as you
come up the entrance stairs.

Another interesting pretty that actually
was a blooming tree.

My favorite among the flowers I saw. The leaves were all
fuzzy and soft.

Butterfly

Butterfly

Pretty flowers

some of the Koi in the Lily ponds

The turtle I saw. He was underwater so this wasn't easy
to get this shot of him.

One of the ducks.

Another duck.

One of the lilies that had just started to bloom. This flower
was still underwater and so were the leaves when I took this.
That's why the lines or streaks are in this shot. That's the
water's reflection.

Some of the ornamental grasses that
have been planted.

My favorite view of the Pagoda. Now you get an idea
of it's impressive supports and the size of the roof.

A bee going about its business.

Is it or is it not Up, Up and Away!!!

I asked my FB friends earlier this week the question: Would you ride in a plane with a pilot who's in his late 80s or 90s? Are you that brave? Am I nuts?

Multiple choice answers were:

A. are you stupid;

B. are you nuts;

C. are you both stupid and nuts.

The consensus opinion was "C," both. 

As a matter of fact one caring friend even went so far as to be incensed that I would ask for advice and then not follow it! Of everyone who gave their opinion only one person said "yea, go for it!" As to why I didn't want to follow the advice I was given, let's just say I didn't like the answers.  

You see, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend time with the men who flew during WWII. My father's generation. The "great" generation that saved the world from nazism and fascism and imperialism, those who sacrificed so much to insure that our freedom continued. 

So this past Saturday I was going to spend most of the day at the Bi Plane Fly In held in San Marcus, Texas. Here's what drew me to this event. They had what they called "reservations" from 16 WWII pilots. That in and of itself was pretty amazing as these folks are getting up in age. Most are at least in their 80s and many in their 90s. Their time here on earth is almost done and after they are gone, we will no longer be able to hear their musings, memories and anecdotes from them about a war that changed the world forever. 

That is the very same generation my father was part of. He too was in what back then was called the Army Air Corp having started out as a navigator, then a gunner, a co-pilot and finally a pilot. What would you give to hear from men who shared your father's experiences; Who did the same job in war that your father did.

Finally there were both bi planes and single wing expected. Now I'm sure that some of the planes were newer  models of course. But some were planes that date back to the dawn of aviation. Planes that were probably designed, built and flown before the WWII pilots were born. Hmmmm, and (this is the best part) you could ride in one of those planes after the fly in if you chose. 

Call me crazy, nuts, stupid but the truth is I was truly looking forward to this. Doing this would've been exciting, unexpected and just a wee bit dangerous.  Like meeting Larry, Curly and Mo by friends the snakes from the Cibolo Nature Center. Or if we add the last snake I saw while hiking/walking the Leon Creek Greenway, then we could call them all the Marx brothers. Either way, they found me and considering they were snakes that was just a wee bit dangerious. 

This time I was going to be the one doing the looking. I was the seeker. I was the one ready and willing to climb in, stick a strange leather hat on my head (giving me hat hair) and put on some goggles while someone else is in control of an airplane that can go somewhere between 100 and 150 miles per hour. Doesn't sound all that fast, but having raced cars some I can tell you that is not slow partner.

However the best laid plans and all that stuff. If today could be rewound and I could start over, I would. But that's just not how things work so I have to admit that no matter how much I wanted to get off the ground and fly, no matter how sincerely I tried. Nothing was working in my favor to allow this to happen. In other words I didn't get to the fly-in, didn't get to see the plans, didn't get to go up in the air. Oh well, such is life. Just like last weekend, we were going to the coast and didn't make it because of road blocks this weekend seemed destined to be the same. So I'll regroup and dig my heels in and try again next weekend. Maybe I'll find something interesting to do tomorrow. Who knows. 

I only know that I there are other places to see, other things to photograph and much more to tell you about.

Last night we had dinner and looked at classic cars, muscle cars, and antique cars at Biff Buzby's Burgers (which I've told you about in a previous blog. So while we waited on our order I took these shots of the interior decor of the place. So they will have to serve both you and me as stand-ins for what could've, should've and/or would've been if only today had worked out.

One of the should've been planes.

My idea of what would have been. **sigh**

A could've been plane. 

A wish it had been plane

An I would've given my eye-teeth to have been plane.

Hello Dolly . . . and goodbye N'Awlins

The Oaks Plantation

It's time for now to say good bye to N'Awlins. This will be my last post from our spring trip to  the Big Easy. Hope you enjoy it and I look forward to bringing you another post from our return trip to see the Plantations. 

I have to say that we squeezed in as much as we could from early morning to late evening. We saw a little bit of everything you wanted to see. And we did a little bit of everything you'd want to do. As a self-confessed foodie, we ate a little bit of everything we wanted to try also. 

Mahalia
Jackson

Louis Armstrong

But one of the places that I had never been before this trip was Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square. Both are located in the Treme district just across Rampart Street from the quarter. This area of the city has long been a neighborhood with strong ties to the music, slaves and free people of color in the city's history. The park was beautiful and spacious. It was well landscaped making it a joy to photograph and laid out to showcase not just the sculpture in it, the historic buildings but also city venues for different shows. While we were in the city, the Lion King was playing, and of course the Hornets were also playing. New Orleans Municipal Auditorium is just behind Congo Square and the Mahalia Jackson Theater is in the park.  

Congo Square

Historical Marker 

But it was Congo Square that to me was most fascinating. I could almost hear the drums playing on the morning when we went. We had found both the park and square the night before by accident. In the cool morning air, we were alone in the park. And it allowed us to take in not just the scenery but the history and the ambiance of the square. I'm not usually a willing early morning riser but on vacations it's a must as far as I am concerned. You generally will have the run of what ever you want to see. 

One of the oak trees

The entrance to the park was spectacular viewed in the dark. Daytime made it nice but it lost some of its impact. Just inside the entrance to the left is Congo Square. This was the traditional gathering place on Sundays for slaves and free people of color during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The gatherings would include a market, dancing, music and voodoo. All of this was on view and viewed in the afternoons by the white citizenry and many visitors to New Orleans. Reports from visitors have documented as many as 500-600 unsupervised slaves gathered around dancing, trading and playing music. It's been noted that Marie LeVeau lived no more than a block from Congo Square and oftentimes went to the location to practice her voodoo rituals.  

Congo Square Oak

All of that history however comes alive when you walk through the area because of the trees. The square was filled with these massive live oak trees that were so big around that you would need 4 to 6 people with arms outstretched just to encircle them. Dripping with Spanish Moss, it's obvious that the trees have been witness to the birth of jazz which came from the gathering of the slaves and the music played by them. The peace and tranquility these trees expressed as well as the ability to survive mother nature is a testament to their strength and the time they've already been in existence.

But as we continued to wander we left Congo Square and headed into Louis Armstrong Park itself. Designed as a tribute to Louis Armstrong, favorite native son, it also showcases Mahalia Jackson, jazz music and the jazz brass bands that fill the streets of New Orleans. Armstrong Park was lushly landscaped, filled with lagoons, scenic arched and covered bridges and grassy knolls. The lagoons were filled with ducks and geese swimming lazily in the early morning. Filled with statues of Jackson, Armstrong, a brass jazz band and Sidney Bichet. There were quiet spots to sit and relax, meandering paths and historic landmarks (which bore signage that they were under renovations and repairs after Katrina.) 

Louis Armstrong Park

One downside to the park and square however is that it is bordered on the one side by the quarter but is definitely situated in the Treme district. Why is that a downside? There was a definite lack of businesses around it for eating, drinking and/or sitting. There were also no public restrooms anywhere within several blocks of there. Now on the whole neither of those would create a crisis situation, but combining the two could if you've just had your morning coffee make you somewhat uncomfortable. And if you had young children or grandchildren with you under the circumstances of no public restrooms  might make the park one of those "let's just skip that one" items for the city. A shame, but understandable.

Entrance to the park, at night

Same entrance, in the day

statue commemorating the dancing in the square

Some of the landscaping in the Park

One of the water features in the park, all of
which are lit up at night

one of the bridges over the lagoons

note the lights at the bottom of the bridge for light at night

the oldest Masonic temple
in the state located in the
park.

Another of the bridges over the various lagoons

The flowers in the park were so beautiful and abundant

This is the beginning of the National
Historic Jazz Park. Most of this
part of the park was under construction
because of Hurricane Katrina.

Another of the pretties in the park.

Another water feature in one of the lagoons.

Looking down out of a "window"
in the bridge to the lagoons
below.

An historic old fire station located in the park.

Statuary which was on a peninsula
located in a lagoon in the Park

Close-up of the statuary on the peninsula
from the previous picture

Brass band statuary on the pathway from the entrance