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.