Dogzilla gets to go to San Antonio!

My employer (really huge standardized test publisher) is located in San Antonio, TX and has asked me to visit the "mother ship" during the first week in February. I will be able to rent a car and will have evenings to myself. I'm thinking about staying through the weekend, but that sort of depends on what suggestions you have for me! This trip will be Feb. 1-5 (so far).

I have been to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens (really cool!). Austin is only an hour away. Is there anything garden-related, or another botanical garden in Austin? Does anyone have any other brilliant ideas about what I could and should do for fun while I'm San Antonio? (Mental note: I'm going to pick up a really good map while I'm there this time. MapQuest sucks.) Of course, my teammates will be taking me out to dinner and to the riverwalk and such, but they can't be expected to entertain me for an entire week. (I'm a big girl; I can find things to do on my own anyway...) P.S. I am not really interested in the Alamo. Been there, done that, whatever. Landscaping is nice...

Also, my boss asked me if we have a plant called Esperanza in Florida. I have never seen it here. Looked it up here in the PF and I can't figure out why nobody has this plant in Florida. (It's beautiful!) Can anyone think of some reason I shouldn't try to find some seeds or steal a cutting from someone or something? I can't see any reason it wouldn't do well here... do you know of a good reason I shouldn't try this? Is it so common that I could find it in Home Depot or any local nursery?

Good for you - my dad lives in San Antonio, and I just love visiting there. The riverwalk is always nice, plenty of good restaurants there, too. When I go out there Dad usually takes me out for a ride through what they lovingly call "the hill country". I don't know what would be blooming out there this time of year, but I find it very interesting looking at the almost desert landscape and the pink granite rocks, etc. Dad has been saying next time I go out there and the weather permits we are going for a long walk/hike in the hill country to some of the old abandoned missions out there. Just like the stuff in the old western movies I guess. That should be a real photo op! Maybe you could take a lil seed collecting excursion in the hill country??

That sounds like a great idea. Maybe there's some trails or state parks or something... (Runs off to Google.)

In Austin there is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. www.wildflower.org and several old missions in San Antonio - I'll work on a list of possibles and get back to you.

Yuska, thanks! How serendipitous... they're having a symposium on medicinal plants, which is my area of interest, during the time I'll be there. Awesome.

Wow - I wish I could go to that. Take notes and share with us when you get back, ok?

I'll do my best! (I'll take my digital camera as well.)

Dogzilla, you should be able to get esperanza at either Milberger's or Calloway's. There is a Calloway's location on Broadway north of downtown (across the street from the Witte Museum). I called to inquire - they don't have it right now but expect it to be on hand in about two weeks, weather permitting. Good timing, eh? You might also inquire about Pride of Barbados. It dies back in winter here but comes back each spring...hummers love it.

I hope to have more S.A. info for you in a couple of days which I'll send direct.

I can fly with plants, right? It seems like I've seen people carry them on... LOL. That may look funny. I could also probably pack cuttings or seeds in my luggage. Mental note: Take big suitcase so there will be room to smuggle plants across state lines.

I think I sort of know where the Witte Museum is... How 'bout a recommendation on the best place to find a really good street map?

I'm going to laugh if I go to all this effort to import esperanza into my home yarden, only to find out my local nurseries all carry it or could get it for me...