The Dallas Arboretum consists of two estates on the east shore of White Rock Lake, on the east side of Dallas. The two houses involved were built between 1930 and 1950. We toured one of them, which was quite impressive. The owner updated his home with items from a William Randolph Hearst estate sale in California in the 1950's.
As gardens go, the place isn't much behind Versailles in France. The gardens of the "front" estate, closer to the entrance, put more emphasis on flowering plants as well as AAS "trial" plots where new varieties of flowers are tested.
Perhaps the most spectacular features are two topiary peacocks whose "tails" spread out into beds of flowers.
Typically of Dallas in summer, it was warm and humid. The front house was said to be the first air-conditioned home in Dallas, but before such amenities, the only refuge from the heat and humidity were well-designed shady places like this beautiful walkway with trees arched over it.
The other estate had fewer flowers but more flowing water and graceful landscaping.
Other features of the Arboretum included displays of bird houses and bird feeders.
Not to mention an owl play house:
Despite the heat, we found the Dallas Arboretum to be a place of beauty, peace, and tranquillity.
From Merikay: a few more delightful flowers.
And for the other Karen in Wisconsin some Coleus
As mentioned earlier, the day was very hot and humid, but the gardens were well worth putting up with the weather. I knew that there were very few places in the USA that had as perfect weather as the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, but that's OK.
Everything has a trade off.
The gardens are lovely ... not so sure I would want to be there now it's hot. We had a good old chuckle over the armadillo. Slow Sunday stitching sounds like me most days. Love it:)
ReplyDeleteBlessings
That peacock sure was beautiful, but the frog not so much. :) That was a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI'm not fond of the heat either and we're right in the thick of it.
Never made it to the Dallas gardens but have been to the Montreal Botanical Gardens many times.
ReplyDeleteGreat tour, looks like a really nice arboretum. Have yet to be in or near the Dallas area, but looking forward to seeing it someday.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, gorgeous gardens! By the way, your photos seem to get exponentially better all the time. Wonderful post, Merikay.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Texas most of our lives but never visited here. Will definitely put on our list. Beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteKathi
arlonboozer.com
Now that is one huge frog.
ReplyDeleteIf you are heading south go over to 285. It's a nice road and you will skip the nightmare that is 35 south.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get to Stephensville stop at the Coffe Cup for a meal. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's a tradition of good food and waitresses that have been their since God was a Privet.
Welcome to the Metroplex! Bad luck that Sandy and I are in Houston for the month; we would have hoped to meet up and say howdy. It doesn't sound as though you will be around when we get back into town, so we'll have to hope for another opportunity. Enjoy your stay and safe travels!
ReplyDeleteHave added this to our list.
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