The San Antonio Botanical Garden is in full bloom. On October 21-22, the garden will unveil the first phase of an anticipated 8-acre expansion, complete with new gardens, education centers, and a garden-to-table experience.
Before the grand opening celebration, let's take look at what's new for the growing garden.
A new tree-lined avenue leads visitors to the Welcome & Discovery Complex, which boasts a new gift shop and courtyards, the Halsell Welcome Building, H-E-B Discovery Center, and two amphitheaters.
At the Discovery Center, kids can dig into two "dirty" classrooms and the "Exploration Station, while the new Mays Family Display Garden promises vibrant blooms year-round and a picturesque water feature.
To bolster San Antonio's reputation as a burgeoning food destination, a new 34-bed Culinary Garden, outdoor CHEF Teaching Kitchen, and the Goldsbury Foundation Pavilion will offer a true garden-to-table experience, via interactive courses in planting, harvesting, kitchen fundamentals, and meal preparation.
The CHEF (Culinary Health Education for Families) Teaching Kitchen will offer professional and recreational cooks the opportunity to engage with chefs, dieticians, and other community partners.
"Visitors can see, touch, taste, and talk about what's in the garden and why," says chef Dave Terrazas, the garden's culinary and wellness program specialist, in a statement. "It's really rewarding to handle freshly-harvested edibles, to talk about antioxidant properties, and what they can do for the body."
The grand reopening kicks off Saturday morning at 9:30 am with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests can participate in chef demonstrations, children’s activities, lawn games, a butterfly walk and talk, and more on both Saturday and Sunday until 2 pm. On Saturday night, the San Antonio Botanical Garden hosts Moonlight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a grand opening after-party complete with music, performances, and a costume contest.
This is just the beginning of the garden's big reveal, as spring 2018 signals the second phase of the expansion. In March 2018, the Family Adventure Garden debuts alongside sand play areas, an outdoor classroom, and more.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. General Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-13. Members visit for free.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden reopens this weekend.
