While MIL was visiting, we decided to spend some time at Brackenridge Park.  While there, I wanted to go to the Japanese Tea Garden.  I used to love to go here while I was growing up.  Sadly, when I brought my dc here about 8 years ago, the gardens were dead, dry and destroyed.  I was heartbroken.  Then a few months ago I found out that the gardens had been renovated and opened!  We had to go!

In the 1800's, this was the site of a rock quarry and cement company.  Here are the old kilns.  

And here's the top...

After the rock quarry relocated, the site was transformed into a lovely Japanese Tea Garden.  The garden was taken care of by a Japanese family until WWII when they were sent to an interment camp.  The name was changed to the Chinese Sunken Garden and a Chinese family became the caretakers.  In the 1990's, the garden's name was restored to the Japanese Tea Garden in a special ceremony, honoring family members of the original caretakers.  I could not find either the old Chinese entrance I remembered as a child or the new Japanese entrance that was added in the 1980's.  Since it's only recently been renovated, it will become more lush and full over the years, and koi will multiply prodigiously. However, the gardens have been beautifully restored.  Enjoy.