The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a plant museum of magnificent proportions. With the addition of the Dale Chihuly exhibit, through Nov. 5, the garden expands to become an art gallery as well.
From the state of Washington, Chihuly has developed an international reputation for his sculptured glassworks. The colorful and whimsical works mimic and complement their earth-tone environment. Rather than compete with the flowers of the garden, the pieces blend into their surroundings or accent the natural colors.
The arboretum is a 66-acre botanical garden on the southeastern shores of White Rock Lake with plants in bloom nearly year-round. The park is known for its spring festival of blooms that signals the end of winter. A privately operated unit of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department since 1976, the garden is a tapestry of fountains, flower beds, and native landscaping.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located at 8525 Garland Rd. in northeast Dallas, and is open 9am-5pm daily. For more info, go to www.dallasarboretum.org or call 214/515-6500. The facility also offers on-site dining opportunities. The outdoor stage is considered one of the best places in town to see concerts, which are scheduled twice a week through July, and then once a week in September and October. The Chihuly glass sculptures are currently glowing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6-10pm (that varies throughout the season).
1,091th in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, a book of “Day Trips,” is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.
This article appears in June 29 • 2012.
