Large trees stretch high above narrow pathways while a vibrant array of flowers and unique plants twine among the young bushes. Sime visitors inquire about the different plants while others lounge peacefully in the garden’s landscape. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, located in the heart of Dallas, is where nature thrives in this urban landscape.
The Arboretum spans 66 acres and encompasses a total of 19 named gardens. The most notable and popular section, “A Woman’s Garden,” celebrates what the Arboretum calls “the strength, grace, and spirit of women through a blend of formal structure and natural beauty.” The space includes a still pool with a statue of a woman watching over the garden. People can look to the White Rock Lake beside the pool, a view which fully captures the carefully curated gardens around the lake.
The gardens’ design immerses visitors in their environment, refusing to let nature and mankind remain separate. The flower-lined pathways allow guests within touching distance of the sunset-colored blooms and the bees surrounding them. Benches wrap around tree trunks or nestle under the shade of heavy canopies.
The garden moves with the seasons, providing something new every visit. This past summer, the gardens displayed art made by Seward Johnson, known for his bronze painted statues. The works throughout the garden included many notable displays: “Crossing Paths,” a life-sized scene featuring two women chatting on a bench; “Hot Weather,” a young man enjoying ice cream; and “Captured,” where a young woman sits on a bench reading India Blake’s book of the same name. Each sculpture is relatable in its simplicity and proximity to visitors.
“It’s easy sometimes to forget the simple things that give us pleasure,” Johnson said in a statement to the Grounds for Sculpture Organization. “If we open our eyes, life is marvelous. The human spirit triumphs, if only for moments in a day. I try to have my work call attention to those moments.”
In the garden’s peak seasons, fall and winter, its activities are particularly popular. The fall months display “Autumn at the Arboretum,” showcasing over 100,000 pumpkins and a Pumpkin Village with huts and houses large enough to walk through. Winter in the gardens plays on winter wonderland imagery with a Christmas Village featuring children’s games and the “12 Days of Christmas” displayed in gazebos. The activities, though the same each year, provide a sense of familiarity for many in Dallas.
The gardens are accompanied by a stone house called the DeGolyer House. Supported by the city of Dallas, the estate represents Everett and Neil DeGolyer’s home, built in 1940. The home celebrates the art of preservation and act as a space for individuals to experience its English feel, including a large living room filled with cutlery and a grand piano, a tearoom and a library spanning countless volumes of books.
A classic spot for a picnic, the gardens have large hills overlooking White Rock Lake. Many restaurants such as Cafe on the Green, which allows for quick bites and refreshments, or Restaurant DeGolyer, which stands by the DeGolyer house for lunch and tea, provide pleasant dining options nearby.
The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An adult ticket is currently $21.95 Monday-Thursday and $25.95 Friday–Sunday. More information can be found on its website. UTD students may purchase discounted tickets to visit the gardens in the Comet Card Office.