On May 16, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden kicks off Summer at the Arboretum with the return of “Flower Houses: Fairy Tales with a Texas Twist.” Continuing the year-long “Deep in the Hearts of Texans” theme, the flower village features four topiary houses up to 15-feet-tall currently enveloped in red, white and blue flowers before transitioning into summer foliage. Each house highlights a Texas-inspired fairy tale vignette-a picante gingerbread man dances around a babbling brook; Goldilocks’ irascible cousin finds herself behind the Pine Curtain, and stubborn livestock starts a chain of events causing a kerfuffle across the prairie.
Summer at the Arboretum also includes a western covered wagon pulled by two life-size topiary horses. Two large topiary longhorn cattle, affectionately named “Lone Star” and “Blue Bonnet,” with real horns complete the scene. All summer long there will be activities, events and music for garden guests to enjoy.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the eight-acre Rory Meyer’s Children’s Adventure Garden and experience the exciting labs and hands-on activities where science and fun become one.
Dave Forehand, Dallas Arboretum’s vice president of gardens, said, “As the days get warmer, look for the houses to transition to lush foliage displays of ipomoea sedans bronze, ipomoea desana lime, coleus burgundy trailing plum and ipomoea tricolor. For the first time ever, you’ll see true ‘green houses’ nestled under the welcoming shade of the trees in Pecan Grove.”
He added, “In the gardens, the beds are bursting with plants full of blooms like ageratum, impatiens, petunias, cleome, begonias, salvia, marigolds and zinnias. As the temperatures warm, caladiums, sunpatiens, lantana, pride of Barbados, variegated tapioca, elephant ears, coleus will be added to the gardens.”
Activities include the following:
Memorial Day Weekend: Friday, May 22-Monday, May 25
- In the Pecan Grove, children of all ages can enjoy a petting zoo and face painting all weekend long from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- On Friday, May 22, families can decorate strollers and wagons from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the Memorial Day Stroller and Wagon Parade that starts at 1 p.m. at the Alex Camp House. Prizes will be awarded.
- On Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., there are two Eddie Coker children’s concerts, at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn. Cost is free with paid garden admission.
- Guests can enjoy $2 hot dogs and root beer floats in certain locations in the garden as well as patriotic music all weekend.
- Admission is free all four days for all active and retired military personnel and first responders with valid photo ID at the ticket booth
