Discovering the east side parks....

Tired of Zilker, the Greenbelt, Shipe, Waterloo, Pease? Let me introduce you to the east side parks!

Little K and I spent a beautiful Friday afternoon out at my favorite, Big Webberville Park (as opposed to the "little" Webberville park). Just head east out MLK/FM-969, pass under the toll road, pass Austin's Colony, continue on past the little burg of Webberville itself, and you'll eventually make it to the Big Webberville Park. While I enjoy the endless possibilities for entertainment down at Zilker, and it's wonderful if my only goal is to wear my kid out, I think there's something to be said for a wide-open, old-school park with just enough to do, but without all the logistical hassles and overstimulation of the urban super-park. You'll find playground equipment, a basketball court, convenient facilities, a boat launch, waterside trails and a pier, but all in a sort of de-centralized, lazy arrangement that encourages picnics, fish-watching, and games with sticks and rocks (remember those?). You won't worry if your child wanders 100 feet away, because you'll still be able to see them. There will probably be a couple of other people there, but you'll most likely learn their names after 10 minutes or so. You won't fight for a parking space. You'll probably, in fact, wonder if the park is always so empty. And the good news is, it is. As far as the trees go, think about the shameful condition of fully 1/2 of Zilker's trees, and picture the opposite. Big Webberville boasts a park full of great big shade trees, healthy and happy, with nice big picnic tables nestled into their shade. So bring the kids and the cooler. And maybe a fishing pole....

OR, you can put your canoe in over at the Little Webberville park (rentals available at Cook's Canoes - right up the driveway), and take a slow paddle - about 3 hours or so - down to Big Webberville park. For a small fee, Cook's will pick you up and take you back to your car. Little Webberville has a tiny playset and a porta-pottie, but that's about it other than the boat ramp. And your boat had better be small.

For a full-service park, check out East Metropolitan Park. It's got it all. Playing fields (the website says there are 2 soccer fields - but it looks more like 10 to me!), fishing, picnic areas, hiking trails, playgrounds, and a swimming pool. The kid's pool is fantastic, with slides and fountains, while the lap pool is separate and supervised. Admission to the pool is free with a YMCA membership, by the way. Despite all these amenities, though, it never feels crowded or overwhelming - probably because it sprawls over 273 acres! Now that's a park!

Spring is almost here!

I love this time of year. The buds are swelling on most of the trees, fruit trees are blooming, and live oaks are changing their leaves. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing the fresh kelly green of the first cedar elm leaves - our harbingers of spring - and the live oaks will, hopefully, be exchanging those stressed-out, buggy, fungus-y leaves for some nice fresh ones. Last year was hard on them. Let's cross our fingers (and knock on wood?) that this year is kinder.

Finally, our Texas mountain laurel will bloom this year. Sheesh. We've had it in the ground for about five years, and it's never bloomed for us! Pear and peach and plum trees are also blooming - including the native Mexican plums, which we can smell from a mile away.

I had a lovely time visiting the JBG gardens on Saturday, and bought a few heirloom tomatos - check them out, especially if you're on the east side: http://www.jbgorganic.com/ I believe they are continuing their plant sale next weekend, and they may be giving another Slow Food tour. If you go, be sure not to miss the giant Live oak by the parking area!