By Stephanie Mikneus
The San Antonio Botanical Garden on Saturday gave children a chance to create valentines, lollipop flowers and critter cookies.
All in chocolate.
This was the culmination of the 10th annual Chocolate Day, an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of chocolate botany and history.
“Chocolate Day brings families closer to the garden and to each other,” said Candace Andrews, managing director of the Botanical Society.
A total of 1,972 people attended the event, which included the creation of chocolate concoctions and sculptures by the RK Group, a full-service catering business based in Austin that has opened a restaurant, Carriage House Bistro, at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Sculptures 18 inches tall consisted of hearts, twisted poles and swirls, all chocolate, of course. Created by the RK Group, they were for sale.
Hot Sauce, a local band, played music described in an event description as “Gypsy Kings meet Austin Powers.”
Children participated in crafts, listened to stories and created fern rubbings in the Lucile Halsell Conservatory.
“Most children participated in the chocolate kiss critter activity; they seemed to like that one the most,” Andrews said.
Chocolate Day gave families a chance to use the Dora and Diego Garden Adventure exhibit, a presentation of brightly colored playgrounds along with the famous Nick Jr. cartoons, which opened Sept. 1.
Parents observed and smiled as their children squealed and laughed, running through the grounds.
Upcoming events include a children’s Spring Break Camp March 17-21, and the “Walk Across Texas” event April 19 during Fiesta San Antonio.
The Botanical Garden is a 33-acre piece of land operated under the nonprofit organization, Garden Center Inc.
The center is owned and maintained by the city of San Antonio.
The mission is to connect people to the plant world through experience, education and research, according to the Web site.
For more information, log on to www.sabot.org or call 207-3250.