Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Are you looking for a place to enjoy nature, art, and culture in Dallas? If so, check out the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, one of the most beautiful and diverse attractions in the city. In this blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this fantastic destination, from its history and highlights to its events and tips for visitors. Let’s get started!
History
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens was founded in 1984 on the grounds of two historic estates: the DeGolyer House and the Camp House. The DeGolyer House was built in 1940 by Everett DeGolyer, a prominent oilman and philanthropist, and features Spanish-style architecture and a collection of rare books and art. The Camp House was built in 1938 by Roberta Coke Camp, a civic leader and garden enthusiast, and showcases a Georgian Revival style and a scenic view of White Rock Lake.
The two estates were donated to the city of Dallas in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively, to create a public botanical garden. The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens was established as a nonprofit organization to manage and develop the 66-acre property. Over the years, the park has grown to include more than 20 themed gardens, a children’s adventure garden, a research and education center, and various facilities and amenities.
What can you find there?
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is home to more than 2,000 varieties of plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs arranged in stunning displays that change with the seasons. Some of the most famous gardens are:
- The Jonsson Color Garden features colorful annuals, perennials, bulbs, and ornamental grasses in sweeping beds and borders.
- The Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill showcases over 80 varieties of Japanese maples in a serene setting with waterfalls, bridges, and pavilions.
- The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden offers interactive exhibits and activities that teach kids about science, nature, and art.
- The Margaret Elisabeth Jonsson Waterfall Garden creates a tropical oasis with lush plants, cascading waterfalls, and exotic birds.
- A Woman’s Garden celebrates the contributions of women to society with elegant sculptures, fountains, pools, and terraces.
These are just some of the highlights of the garden. You can also explore other gardens that feature roses, herbs, ferns, cacti, azaleas, camellias, magnolias, and more.
What can you learn?
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is not only a place to admire nature’s beauty, but it’s also a place to learn about it. The garden offers various educational programs and opportunities for visitors of all ages and interests. Some of them are:
- The Research and Education Center (REC) conducts scientific research on plant conservation, horticulture, ecology, and environmental education.
- The Adult Education Program (AEP) provides classes, workshops, lectures, tours, and trips on gardening, landscaping, botany, photography, cooking, and wellness.
- The Children’s Education Program (CEP) delivers curriculum-based lessons, field trips, camps, and events for students, teachers, and families.
- The Artscape Program (AP) showcases local and national artists who create sculptures, paintings, photographs, and installations inspired by nature.
Events
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is also a venue for many events throughout the year that celebrate nature, culture, and community. Some of the most popular events are:
- Dallas Blooms, the largest floral festival in the Southwest, features over 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs from February to April.
- Autumn at the Arboretum, which displays over 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash in creative arrangements from September to November.
- Holiday at the Arboretum, which transforms the garden into a winter wonderland with over one million lights, decorations, and displays from November to January.
- Terrific Thursdays Concert Series, which presents live music performances from various genres on select Thursday evenings from March to October.
These are just some events you can enjoy in the garden. You can also check out other events that include festivals, exhibits, markets, dinners, and weddings.
Tips for visitors
If you’re planning to visit the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, here are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable:
- Check the website for hours, admission fees, parking options, and special offers.
- Dress comfortably for the weather and wear walking shoes.
- Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen.
- Follow the garden rules, such as staying on the paths, not picking or damaging the plants, and keeping pets and bicycles outside.
- Enjoy restrooms, water fountains, lockers, wheelchairs, strollers, and picnic areas.
- Visit during the weekdays or early mornings to avoid crowds and enjoy more tranquility.
Ready for the trip?
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a must-see attraction for anyone who loves nature, art, and culture. It offers a variety of gardens, programs, and events that appeal to different tastes and interests. It’s a place to relax, learn, and have fun. Whether a local or a visitor, you’ll find something to enjoy in the garden.
Are you ready to visit the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens? If so, book your tickets online and prepare for an unforgettable experience. And remember to share your photos and thoughts with us on social media using the hashtag #DallasArboretum. We can’t wait to see you there!
A Trip Through Dallas’s Many Treasures: From the Dallas Arboretum to Estates of Hidden Creek
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218, United States
- Get on I-30 W from Garland Rd, Highland Rd, and Ferguson Rd (7 min, 3.0 mi)
- Head northeast on Garland Rd (13 ft)
- Make a U-turn (1.0 mi)
- Turn left onto San Rafael Dr (0.2 mi)
- Turn right onto Highland Rd (1.0 mi)
- Use any lane to turn right onto Ferguson Rd (0.7 mi)
- Turn directly to merge onto I-30 W (0.2 mi)
- Continue on I-30 W to Stemmons Service Rd. Take exit 46A from I-30 W (7 min, 5.3 mi)
- Merge onto I-30 W (4.5 mi)
- Use the right two lanes to take exit 46A for I-35E N (0.7 mi)
- Use the right lane to keep right at the fork and continue toward Stemmons Service Rd (427 ft)
- Keep right, follow signs for Reunion Blvd/Commerce St, and merge onto Stemmons Service Rd (499 ft)
- Continue on Stemmons Service Rd. Drive to S Houston St (2 min, 0.9 mi)
- Merge onto Stemmons Service Rd (0.5 mi)
- Use the left two lanes to take the ramp onto Commerce St (0.4 mi)
- Turn left onto S Houston St (157 ft)
Dealey Plaza
Dallas, TX 75202, United States
- Head north on S Houston St toward Main St (0.1 mi)
- Make a U-turn (171 ft)
- Turn right (Destination will be on the right, 89 ft)
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
411 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75202, United States
- Head west toward N Houston St (144 ft)
- Turn right toward N Houston St (269 ft)
- Turn right toward N Houston St (269 ft)
- Turn left onto N Houston St (0.2 mi)
- Turn right onto McKinney Ave (0.1 mi)
- Turn right onto Laws St. (Destination will be on the left, 0.1 mi.)
The Dallas World Aquarium
1801 N Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202, United States
- Head southeast on Laws St toward Hord St (210 ft)
- Turn left onto Hord St (236 ft)
- Turn left at the 1st cross street onto N Griffin St (0.1 mi)
- Turn right onto McKinney Ave/Woodall Rodgers Fwy. (Continue to follow McKinney Ave, 0.1 mi)
- Continue onto Woodall Rodgers Fwy (0.1 mi)
- Continue straight to stay on Woodall Rodgers Fwy (0.1 mi)
- Turn right onto N Harwood St (Destination will be on the right, 0.1 mi.)
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 N Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201, United States
- Head southeast on N Harwood St toward Flora St (7 ft)
- Turn left onto Flora St. (Destination will be on the left, 0.2 mi.)
Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Meyerson Symphony Center
2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201, United States
- Head southwest on Flora St toward Crockett St (279 ft)
- Turn right onto N Pearl St (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Woodall Rodgers Fwy (Destination will be on the left, 0.1 mi)
Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, TX 75201, United States
- Head southwest on Woodall Rodgers Fwy toward North St. Paul Street (0.3 mi)
- Continue onto Broom St (0.1 mi)
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
2201 N Field St, Dallas, TX 75201, United States
- Head southwest on Broom St toward N Griffin St (0.1 mi)
- Use any lane to turn right onto N Lamar St (0.3 mi)
- Continue onto Continental Ave (374 ft)
- Turn left onto N Stemmons Fwy/N Stemmons Service Rd W (0.3 mi)
- Keep left, follow signs for I-35E S, and merge onto I-35E (5.3 mi)
- Keep left at the fork to continue on I-35E S, follow signs for Waco (14.4 mi)
- Take exit 408 toward S Industrial Blvd/S Interstate 35 E S (0.2 mi)
- Continue onto S Industrial Blvd/S Interstate 35 E S (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto US-77 (453 ft)
- Use any lane to turn right to stay on US-77 (2.7 mi).
- Turn left onto Butcher Rd (1.6 mi)
- Turn left onto Stonebriar Dr. Destination will be on the left (446 ft)
Waxahachie Stop
Waxahachie, TX 75165, USA
- Head southwest on Stonebriar Dr toward Butcher Rd (446 ft)
- Turn right onto Butcher Rd (1.6 mi)
- Turn right onto US-77 N (2.9 mi)
- Use the left lane to take the ramp onto I-35E N (0.2 mi)
- Merge onto I-35E N (13.9 mi)
- Keep at the fork to stay on I-35E N (4.3 mi)
- Use the right lane to keep right at the fork, stay on I-35E N, and follow signs for I-30 E/Texarkana (0.4 mi)
- Use the right two roads to take exit 427D to merge onto I-30 E (4.4 mi)
- Take exit 49B for Dolphin Rd (0.3 mi)
- Turn right onto Dolphin Rd (0.9 mi)
- Continue onto Elsie Faye Heggins St (0.6 mi)
- Turn right onto Junction St (305 ft)
- Turn right (144 ft)
Estates of Hidden Creek
Hidden Creek 3 Estates, 2201 N Field St, Dallas, TX 75201, United States