San Antonio and back home again…

There is fun to be had in San Antonio–great gardens from the Botanic Gardens, the Riverwalk and the Antique Rose Emporium–and good food and folks.

Launch Gallery

It seems that this time of year is always interfering . Although I returned from San Antonio a calendar week ago , I still need to tell you what a fun , sprawling city it is and there are a hatful of gardeners there ! There is a peachy farmers market on Saturday at the Pearl Brewery parking lot . And the river walk fit on for something like 30 air mile , roll through the urban center and it is full of rattling creature and flora . The conditions was absolutely glorious — downcast sky and sun — quick in the twenty-four hours and just the right way at dark . When I pilot in , I was expecting to see the earth below treat with brown dry out leafage due to their drought , however , there were lots of dark-green fields and rise things ; fortunately they had a rain the hebdomad before . Back home in Maryland , the earth is muddy beneath my animal foot and we are 6 - inches above storey for rain fall this year .

I lead to give three programs and did a brief video spot . Although San Antonio is famous for The Alamo , I never quite made it there . The first program was for the San Antonio Herb Society on Thursday night and the topic they choose was “ Everything You Always want to love About herb ” which is challenge to do in 1 1/2 hours ! There was a great turnout — the room at the San Antonio Botanic Gardens was full — and members brought all kinds of smasher to share , cook recipe from my cookbooks ! What an enthusiastic bunch of herbies . Marilyn Nyhus was my amour from the SAHS and her champion and herbal cohort , Evelyn Penrod was my contact for the two programme that I did for the San Antonio Herb Market Association . They picked me up from the airport and take me to lunch at a terrific vegetarian restaurant foretell Greens . I must admit , I have a critical food palate and I would go back there in a instant . I will post their formula for Kale Salad as soon as I test it this week ; it was killer .

Friday , I did an other morning spot on the local FOX station — Anne Morris and her hubby Eddie picked me up and drive me there and aid me set up to present my Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Basil and Chives — that took a few hours for just a three - minute section . Mary Dunford , who was the beginner of the SAHMA , unite me on TV and institute fabulous St. Basil the Great to habituate . From there we hop in her exchangeable with the top down and went to Central Market for a receptive overload and she prove me the plants sold there , which she supplies from her thriving business , Nature ’s Herb Farm .

Having previse these herbies that I am a chilehead and love Southwestern cooking , we headed to La Fonda for luncheon . Evelyn fall in Mary and I for a delightful luncheon on the patio , and I must tell you that I had a memorable Poblano bunko Queso with Poblano Crème Sauce and a Cheese Enchilada with a red-faced sauce of Lycopersicon esculentum and chipotle ! It was better than muy bueno , it was perfecto !

Although San Antonio is famous for The Alamo , and we had plans to go there and also to see the Missions , I never quite made it there . Gardens versus historic sites ? After dining al fresco , Evelyn drive me to visit the Antique Rose Emporium , which is a space that I have wanted to inflict for years . We met Marilyn there ( I was shuttled in Texas like none other ! ) and Robbi Will , who is the managing director . Robbi and I did a fast tour of the garden , store , and the two pale yellow bale buildings where they bear classes , weddings and all kinds of event . It was everything that I imagined and more . Even though it was October in Texas , there were still a number of roses in efflorescence ; I can just envisage the colour and perfume in June ! I particularly want to visit the Antique Rose Emporium , not only because they are known worldwide : Rose is Herb of the Year for 2012 . I have been editing Rose , Herb of the Year 2012 for the International Herb Association and I just knew I could take photos and glean some rise facts for the record book … and that I did !

From there , I was ushered back to my hotel , with a quick roundabout way … Marilyn drove me by The Alamo , it was after 5 autopsy so it was close down , however I did get to see it . I was surprised that it is proper in the middle of the urban center , which was build up around it . I make it back at the hotel before dark , however , I knew I had to crash early for the large food market 24-hour interval to follow — I’ll tell you those Texans are non - cease !

Marilyn picked me up promising and early on Saturday in her market apron and we were off ! The farmers ’ market and herb food market were in full swing music when we arrive ; everyone was setting up , shout out greetings and admiring one another ’s plant and product . Perfect twenty-four hour period , great gang and feedback from my programs . I did Mediterranean Herbs with a brief break , followed by herbaceous plant for Health , with lots of passing and sniffing of herbs . I had the most wonderful helper , Eileen Achorn , who not only shop and prepped and made the recipes in procession , she brought one-half of her kitchen taboot ! We were kindred liquor in the kitchen and I could not have done the food demos without her . We sold lots of books ( thanks agin to the gals who “ womanned ” the mesa ! ) and I did get to walk around both markets , sample some goodies , listen some excellent soul music and corrupt a few herbal product to take home . Oh the jalapeno peanut brittle — wish I ’d bought more ! There was a reception with herbal food by La Glorias and a tasty lemongrass and hibiscus teatime made by herbaceous plant member Gigi .

The packing up and lift down of these enormous events , is the letdown of the day . These venues can not happen without the diligent help of volunteer member — and my chapeau is off to each and every one of you . A turn of us were headed to Cappy ’s , a 30 - yr sure-enough food establishment , to toast the Clarence Day with a libation and mayhap a few apps . Well if you are looking for a actual margarita , made with fresh - squeezed lime , head for Cappy ’s and sit down out on the veranda . Cappy met us there , seated us at his favourite table , and charge over some delightful nibbles . No admiration customers requested that they bring back their sautéed Brussels Sprouts appetizer . I am go to try and vivify it for me and you to enjoy in an approaching web log . And after we finished off our supper , three waiters give birth some decadent sweet from Cappy , which we somehow found elbow room to finish up off . Eileen drove me back to the hotel , we were weary , however content and well sated .

Up too soon the next sunup and ascertain out of the hotel to be picked up by Diane Lewis , my herbal number one wood for the 24-hour interval . Diane work at a hospital in the science lab and is a plantsman , so we had mountain to utter about as we drove across the flatlands and she identified all of those Texas natives that I was n’t sure about . We headed out of town for Nature ’s Herb Farm where we were invited for breakfast at the place of Mary Dunford and her husband Dan . Dan the Man , who cooked us a epicurean breakfast , using his creativity , as well as some stirring from some of my old and new cookbooks . We set forth with fresh squeezed orange juice and stirred in a form of slushy that he made from ice and unfermented mint . The table was set with a bright textile and dishes , herbs and a heavy scale of Bay Hotcross Buns with a ramification of bay from their large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . While Mary give us a duty tour of the planetary house , Dan fried diced potato , scented potatoes and carrots with rosemary and scrambled eggs with basil and almonds . As if we were n’t already full , he served ginger tea with a gratin of various berry and lilac-colored crème … gratuitous to say , we were impressed !

Mary took us on a hitch of her huge herb glasshouse and her garden . What an operation she has , which she runs with her son Shane . It is a year - troll business supply wholesale herbaceous plant flora throughout San Antonio and other portion of Texas . She has 28 employee and the plants they bring forth are handsome and healthy . I could n’t leave without one of her sedum garland which we packed up in paper and credit card for get it in one of my carry - on bags . We said farewell and Diane got me to the airport in time to get my flight back to Maryland , where the temperature is about 20 stage cooler and the leave are fall tight . If you ever get to San Antone , look for some herbal - types to give ear out with — I have a whole slew of Modern herbalgalpals down there ! Thanks for a neat time , Texas - style ! Woohoo !

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