Texas Gardens

 Amarillo Botanical Gardens: 1400 Streit Drive (In Harrington Regional Medical Center), Amarillo, TX 79106 (806)352-6513.

As part of a regional medical center, this 2 acre botanical garden's mission includes educating health care workers who seek to develop gardens for patients and their families at their own facilities or those interested in creating an adaptive gardening program. The garden features a fragrance garden for the visually impaired and a greenhouse.

 Antique Rose Emporium: 10,000 Highway 50, Brenham, TX 77833 (979)836-5548.

The display gardens of this retail nursery specializing in Old Roses features a restored Victorian home with period gardens, rose hedges, and a pear allee. Other gardens include Emilia's Garden (a formal rose garden surrounded by trelliswork and climbing roses), original rose beds, cottage garden, herb garden, butterfly garden, native plant garden, children's garden, arbors of climbing roses and vines, perennial borders, water and stream gardens, and a tribute to Queen Mary's garden in London.

 Antique Rose Emporium: 7561 East Evans Road, San Antonio, TX 78266 (210)651-4565

This retail nursery specializing in Antique Roses showcases roses and other plants in display gardens including a cottage garden, a courtyard garden, perennial gardens, an herb garden, and the main gardens.

 Aquarena Center: Southeast Texas State University, 921 Aquarena Springs Drive, San Marcos, TX 78667 (512)245-7570.

This resort and nature park is situated at the headwaters of the San Marcos River.

 Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens: 1 Westcott Street at Memorial, Houston, TX 77265 (713)639-7750.

This museum of the decorative arts, formerly the home of Ima Hogg, features 14 acres of woodland and gardens. The elegant gardens feature three lovely statues and include the Clio Garden (boxwood hedges, roses and perennials), the Diana Garden (evergreen hedges and pink flowering plants), the Euterpe Garden (a naturalistic garden with azaleas, redbuds, pink oriental magnolias, and purple Mexican plum trees), the Carla Garden (named after the hurricane which created a clearing for the garden), the East Garden (camellias and azaleas and a raised terrace with a small octagonal pool framed by a semicircular hedge and a wrought iron fence), the Butterfly Garden (boxwood hedges and dwarf evergreen azaleas), the White Garden (a woodland garden), and a Topiary Garden (a wire-framed turkey, squirrel, rabbit, deer and eagle).

 Barton Warnock Center: HC 70, Box 375, Lajitas, TX (432)424-3327.

This Environmental Center, serving as the eastern gateway to Big Bend Ranch State Park, displays 2 acres of botanical gardens planted with cacti, desert shrubs and trees indigenous to the Chihuahuan Desert.

 Bell Park Cacti Garden: FM 1424 and FM 1914 (Ave. K and Cleveland St.), Hale Center, TX.

This garden, established in honor of Hershell Bell, an agronomy and range management expert, displays 350 specimens representing 15 species of cactus.

 Brackenridge Park: 3910 N. Saint Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX 78212 (210)736-9534.

In addition to the San Antonio Zoo (see below), a carousel, a Swiss cable car and a train, this park offers Japanese Tea Gardens situated in an old limestone quarry with winding walkways, waterfalls, stone bridges and pools. A web site emphasizing the park's role as an aquifer.

 Brazos County D. A. "Andy" Anderson Arboretum: 1900 Anderson off Southwest Parkway, College Station, TX 77840 (979)764-3486.

This 17 acre arboretum, founded in 1975, emphasizes native Texas plants and displays water oaks, post oaks and elms plus yaupon, an evergreen holly, and 100 species of grasses, sedges, and wildflowers.  A self-guided tour is available.

 Cameron Park Zoological & Botanical Society: 1701 North 4th Street, Waco, Texas 76707 (254)750-8400.

This new 50 acre natural exhibit zoo includes an African Savannah Exhibit, an island with gibbons, a Herpatarium and a nature trail. Exhibits under construction include a play area for children, a butterfly garden, a parrot and macaw exhibit, an African aviary and the Pride Rock African Lion.

 Capitol Complex: 11th and Congress Streets, Austin, TX 78711 (512)463-0063.

The 26 acre complex includes historically landscaped grounds with gardens, statues and memorials.

 Chandor Gardens:  711 W. Lee Street, Weatherford, TX  (817)613-1700.

Created by a portrait painter as “living artwork”, this lovely 3.5 acre garden combines ornate Chinese architecture and formal English garden elements.  Features include a 40 foot waterfall, fountains and a bridge.

 Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens: Texas Highway 118, Fort Davis, TX (432)364-2499.

Run by the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute headquartered at the Sul Ross University Campus, this 507 acre houses one of the largest collections of Chihuahuan Desert cacti in the world in its cactus greenhouse. Other attractions include a mining heritage exhibit, a 20 acre botanical garden with a living collection of trees, shrubs, and flowers native to the region, and hiking trails.

Children's Museum of Houston: 1500 Binz St (at La Branch), Houston, TX 77004 (713) 522-1138.

In the Farm to Market exhibit, children can practice farming, while a garden and greenhouse with fruit trees, flowers, vegetables and herbs in the adjacent courtyard further illustrate horticulture and ecology.

 Clark Gardens:  567 Maddux Road, Weatherford, TX 76068 (940)682-4856.

Adorning the summit of a rugged, picturesque hill, Clark Gardens is an 83 acre botanical park employing principles of xeriscaping with over 50 gardens of individual interest, acres of ponds, and a Children’s Garden.

 Cockrell Butterfly Center: Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030 (713)639-4629.

Home to 1,500 live butterflies, this three story glass house replicates a tropical rainforest.

 Dallas Arboretum: 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218 (214)515-6500.

This 66 acre site, combining two estates on White Rock Lake, showcases Texas trees, shrubs, vines and flowers plus plants which thrive in Texas. Exhibits include the Palmer Fern Dell, the Johnson Color Gardens, the DeGolyer House, the DeGolyer Gardens, the Woman's Garden, and the Lay Ornamental Garden.

 Cedar Ridge Preserve: 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway (at Wheatland Road), Dallas, TX 75249.

This 633 acre sit, managed by Audubon Dallas, offers 10 miles of hiking trails, including the Bluestem Trail (a wildflower meadow), the Butterfly Trail (through the Mary Alice Bland Butterfly Garden), the Possum Haw Trail, the Cattail Pond Trail, the Cedar Brake Trail, the Fossil Valley Trail, the Escarpment Road Trail, the Bluebonnet Trail, and the Mulberry Trail.

 Dallas Zoo: 650 South R. L. Thornton Freeway (I-35 E), Dallas, TX 75203 (214)670-5656.

This 85 acre zoo is home to 2,000 creatures representing 400 species. Major exhibits include the Wilds of Africa (25 acres with 6 natural habitats (forest, mountain, woodland, river, desert and bush)), the Endangered Tiger Habitat, the Primate Place (monkeys and gibbons), and Zoo North (Children's Zoo, Birds and Reptiles, elephants, giraffes, and more).

 Dow Park and Botanical Gardens: 610 E. San Augustine, Deer Park, TX 77576.

This 40 acre multi-facility city park features botanical gardens with more than 180 flower species, including 50 wild flower varieties, and colonial light fixtures, brick walks, wooden arch bridges, and a gazebo.

 The Earle-Harrison House Pape Gardens on 5th Street: 1901 N. 5th Street, Waco, TX 76708 (254)753-2032.

This Greek Revival mansion is surrounded by five acres of lawns, pond and gardens featuring native Texas flowers and shrubs. Herb and vegetables gardens with plants useful to nineteenth century cooking are found near the kitchen.

 East Texas Arboretum:  1601 Patterson Road, Athens, TX 75752 (903)675-5630.

This recently developed 100 acre site, varying from marsh and swamp to dry pasture, displays both native and non-native plants.  Features include a guided nature trail, an herb garden (54 varieties, 1000 plants), a bog overlook, a grasslands restoration area, and a wildflower restoration area, with more to come.

 El Paso Municipal Rose Garden: 3418 Aurora Avenue (at N. Copia), El Paso, TX 79904 (915)541-4331.

This AARS Garden features 1670 rose bushes.

 Footbridge Garden Park: Court House Square, Rusk, TX.

You can walk the longest footbridge in the world - 546 feet - set in a landscaped park.

 Fort Worth Botanic Garden: 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107 (817)871-7686.

This 114 acre garden displays 2,500 species and varieties of exotic and native plants. The gardens offer a 10,000 square foot tropical plant conservatory, rose gardens (including traditional, miniature, and the Republic of Texas Rose Garden), a Japanese garden (built in a gravel pit and featuring 5 ponds, a pavilion and a teahouse), collections of cacti, daylilies, irises and chrysanthemums, and landscaped open areas.

 Fort Worth Water Gardens: 1502 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102 (817)871-5755.

This 4.3 acre city park designed by Philip Johnson replicates a miniature mountain scene complete with rivers, waterfalls and pools and 500 species and varieties of plants and trees.

 Fredericksburg Herb Farm: 402 Whitney Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (830)997-8615 or (800)259-4372.

This retail herb farm maintains 14 acres of formal and informal display gardens.

 Governor's Mansion: 1010 Colorado Street, Austin, TX 78701 (512)463-5516.

This Greek Revival Mansion offers gardens that feature fountains, decorative hedges and antique cast iron fencing.

 Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary: One Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069-8840 (972)562-5566.

The museum, showcasing the nature collections of Bessie Heard, is surrounded by a 287 acre wildlife sanctuary. The Texas Native Plant Garden includes 135 species of trees, shrubs, grasses, vines, ground covers and perennials native to Texas.

 Helen Lee Estate Daffodil Gardens: 21600 CR 3103 (Off County Road 3104), Gladewater, TX 75647 (903)845-5780 (Helen Lee Foundation).

This cattle ranch, showcasing 20 spectacular acres of daffodils, is open to the public during bloom season by request of Mrs. Lee in her will.

Hermosa Valley Gardens: 9410 Hermosa Drive, Dallas, TX 75218-3549 (214)320-3020.

 Hilltop Herb Farm and Restaurant: Chain-O-Lakes Resort and Conference Center, Daniel Ranch Road (CR 2132), Romayor, TX 77368 (713)592-2150.

The restaurant has views of the herb garden.

 Houston Arboretum and Nature Center: 4501 Woodway Drive (western edge of Memorial Park), Houston, TX 77024 (713)681-8433.

The 155 acre urban sanctuary is organized into three habitats: forest (pines and hardwoods such as oaks and hickories), pond and prairie (a demonstration prairie with wildflowers).

 Houston Garden Center and J. M. Stroud Rose Garden: Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX (713)284.1986.

This public park features rose, bulb, fragrant and perennial gardens, an international sculpture garden and a Chinese pavilion. The J. M. Stroud Rose Garden is an All America Rose Selections accredited garden. See also "Japanese Garden" listing below.

 Houston Zoo: Another web site. 1513 N. MacGregor, Hermann Park, Houston, TX 77030 (713)-284-8300.

Beginning in 1922 with a lone bison, this wonderful Zoo is now situated on 55 landscaped acres and is home to over 700 species and more than 5,000 animals.

 Japanese Garden:Japanese Society of Houston Virtual Tour. Hermann Park, Houston, TX 713-845-1034.

This lovely garden, designed by Ken Nakajima, features a stone lantern, a tea house, waterfalls, and exotic plants. See also "Houston Garden Center" above.

 Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center and Cactus Garden: U.S. 90 at Loop 25, Box #160, Langtry, TX 78871-0160 (915)291-3340.

The Visitor Center features a botanical garden with native plants of the Southwest labelled with name and Indian or pioneer lore about the plant.

 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: 4801 LaCrosse Avenue, Austin , TX 78739-1702 (512)292-4200.

The 42 acre headquarters of this wildflower promotion and education center features a wildflower meadow, display gardens, greenhouses and a shadehouse.

 Las Colinas Flower Clock: Highway 114 and O'Connor Road, Irving, TX.

This floral clock is composed of fresh flowers planted yearly.

 Lilypons Water Gardens: 839 FM 1489, Brookshire, TX 77423-8804 (713)391-0076.

 Log Cabin Village Herb Garden:  2100 Log Cabin Village Lane (University Drive and Colonial Parkway), Fort Worth, TX 76109 (817)926-5881.

Supported by the Greater Fort Worth Herb Society, this garden is planted with pioneer herbs, native plans, heirloom plants and contemporary herbs.  Features include an arbor, period benches and stone pathways.  Log Cabin Village showcases 7 authentic pioneer homes built during the 1850s.

 Lubbock Memorial Arboretum: 4111 University Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79413 (806)797-4520.

This 55 acre arboretum specializes in plants that will grow on the Llano Estacado high plains. Displays include flowers beds and a rose garden.

 Lynn R. Lowery Arboretum:  Rice University, Houston, TX (713)348-5736.

Created in 1999, the arboretum contains about 4200 trees and shrubs throughout the campus, representing 88 species of woody plants in total, with about 100 collected botanical specimens. In addition to native plants of Texas and northeast Mexico, the arboretum offers a collection of other North American trees and shrubs.  When complete, the collection will showcase large shade trees, smaller trees, palms, shrubs, perennials, and aquatic plants.

 Meadows Museum Sculpture Garden: Southern Methodist University, Bishops Boulevard at Binkley Avenue, P.O. Box 750356, Dallas, TX 75275 (214)768-2516 or (214)768-2740.

This art museum includes an exterior sculpture garden.

 Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens: 22306 Aldine-Westfield Road, Humble, TX 77338-1071 (281)443-8731.

The gardens in this county park showcase Texas native plants, including wildflowers, carnivorous plants and endangered species, plus miles of nature trails, a butterfly nursery, and koi ponds.

 Moody Gardens: One Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554 (800)582-4673.

This multi-facility education and recreation site features a 10 story glass Rainforest Pyramid with butterflies, birds and tropical fish live amongst exotic plants from the rainforests of Africa, Asia and the Americas. A Butterfly Hatching Hut, a Bat Cave, and the Mayan Colonade are also offered.

 Municipal Rose Garden and Lily Pond: Civic League Park, W. Beauregard and Park Streets, San Angelo, TX (915)657-4515 (city).

This 11 acre public park features a Municipal Rose Garden, Lily Pond and native plants.

 National Ranching Heritage Center: Texas Tech University, 3121 W. 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79409-3200 (806)742-0498.

The museum of buildings features 35 authentic furnished ranch ranging from an early Spanish fortress-style blockhouse to the elegant home of a wealthy rancher. Gardens include 5 vegetable gardens and 1 flower garden demonstrating "historic gardening in Texas".

 Peckerwood Garden: Route 3, Hempstead, TX 77484 (409)826-4580

A Garden Conservancy garden, this 12 acre garden along a creek features wooded areas as well as dry climate plants.

 Rio Concho Park Gardens: Rio Concho Drive, San Angelo, TX (915)657-4515 (city).

This 26 1/2 acre public park features three gardens including a waterlily garden.

 Riverside Park and Rose Garden: McCright Drive, Victoria, TX (512)572-2763.

This 562 acre public park on the Guadalupe River features an All America Selections accredited rose garden with 1,050 rose brushes representing 105 varieties, an ornamental water fountain, a gazebo, and walkways.

 Samuell Grand Municipal Gardens: 6200 E. Grand Avenue, Dallas , TX (214)670-4100.

A rose garden is located near the Recreation Center and across from the Amphitheatre and an iris garden, currently being refurbished, is located near the Samuell Boulevard entrance.

 San Antonio Botanical Gardens: 555 Funston Place at N. Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78209 (210)207-3250.

This impressive and diverse garden features several formal gardens including the Formal Beds, the Wisteria Arbor, the Azalea Gardens (with azaleas, camellias, hollies, dogwoods and gardenias), the Fountain Garden, the Garden for the Blind, a Daylily Garden, the Kumamoto En (a Japanese Garden), the Rose Garden (old fashioned and antique roses, hybrid teas, grandifloras, florabundas, climbers, miniatures and tree roses), the Herb Garden (medicinal and culinary herbs), the Old Fashioned Gardens (annuals and perennials), the Biblical Garden (plants mentioned in the Bible or cultivated in Biblical times), plus the Children's Garden (plots cultivated by children) and the Lucile Halsell Conservatory (the Alpine Exhibit, Epiphyte Display, Aquatic Garden, Hot Tropical Room, Desert Pavilion, Palm House, Orangery, and the Fern Room).

 San Antonio Zoological Gardens: Brackenridge Park, 3903 North Saint Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX 78212-3173 (210)734-7184.

This exciting 25 acre landscaped zoo is home to 3,000 creatures representing 700 species. Exhibits include the African Water Hole, Amazonia, the Hixon Bird House and the Pad (17 naturalistic habitats for amphibians with plants, lighting, and water misting).

 San Antonio's Paseo Del Rio (River Walk): 315 East Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205.

This walkway was constructed along the banks of the river which winds through the downtown business district and is bordered by subtropical vegetation, cypress trees, oaks and willows and flower gardens.

 Sesquicentennial Park: 510 Preston, Houston, TX 77002 (713)250-3666.

This park honoring the city's 150th birthday is situated on a multi-level setting on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou and features waterfalls and distinctive lighting.

 South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center: 8545 S. Staples Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78413 (361)852-2100.

This 180 acre garden includes an Orchid House, an Exhibit House, a Plumeria collection, a Sensory Garden, a new Hibiscus Garden and Water Garden, a Bird and Butterfly Trail, the Oso Creek Trail, Gator Lake, plus extensive natural wetlands and protected native habitat. Exhibits under construction include a Rose Garden and Desert Garden.  Formerly called the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens.

 Stephen F. Austin State University Mast Arboretum: 13000 - SFA Station (Wilson Drive), Nacogdoches, TX 75962 (936)468-3705.

This 10 acre arboretum features 22 theme gardens, including the Perennial Borders, the Elking Environment, the Daylily Garden, the Herb Garden, the Shade Garden, the Bog Garden, the Dry Garden, Conifers and Hollies, Shrub Rows, Lines of Vines, Asian Valley, the Children's Garden, and the Azalea Garden.

 Stephen F. Austin State University Azalea Garden: University Drive (south of W. R. Johnson Coliseum), Nacogdoches, TX 75962 (936)468-1832.

An 8 acre woodland of patriarch pines, sweetgums, oaks, pecans, and understory maples will be planted with 4,500 azaleas, 150 camellias, 150 Japanese maples, and more. The web site gives details on progress.

  Sunderland's Cactus Garden: Corner of FM 495 and 907, Alamo, TX (210)787-2040.

This 5 acre garden displays native and exotic cacti and succulents.

 Sunken Garden Park: South Abe Street and West Avenue D, San Angelo, TX (915)657-4515 (city).

This 7 acre public park features a collection of cannas and native plants ornamented with water fountains.

 Tankersley Gardens: 518 Tankersley Road (I-30 at Loop 271), Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455 (903)572-0567.

This 7.5 acre garden wedding and reception facility offers a variety of flowering shrubs, annuals and perennials have been planted among native dogwood, redbud and buckeye in a creek setting. An iris garden displays 125 varieties and 9 footbridges cross the creek.

 Texas A&M Horticultural Gardens and Field Laboratory: Houston and Jersey Streets, Hensel Drive, College Station, TX 77843-2133 (409)845-3658.

These test gardens display more than 300 specimens in 27 different beds and planting areas with habitats ranging from bog and wetlands to desert southwest. Gardens include the Trellis Garden (vines), the Xeriscape Garden (drought tolerant and native Texas plants), the West Texas Garden (50 desert dwelling species), the Shade and Water Garden (Hill Country, wetland and bog), the Compost Garden, the Texas Perennial Border (English-style), the Fenced Garden (herbacious and woody plants), the Salvia Garden (20 species) plus Greenhouses and a wildflower area.

 Texas Discovery Gardens (formerly Dallas Horticulture Center): Fair Park, 3601 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75210 (214)428-7476.

This horticultural education center offers display gardens including the Benny J. Simpson Texas Native Plant Collection, the Grand Allee du Meadows, the Kilgore Rose Garden (antique fragrant roses), the Iris Display Garden (300 varieties of bearded iris hybrids), an herb and scent garden, and perennial displays. The renovated glass Blachly Conservatory houses a rare collection of African flora.

 The Texas Zoo: 110 Memorial Drive, Riverside Park, Victoria, TX 77902 (361)573-7681.

This 6 acre zoo, decimated by a 1998 flood, is now rebuilding. The naturalistic exhibits once housed 23 species of Texas mammals, 23 species of Texas birds, and 35 species of Texas reptiles.

 Tyler Municipal Rose Garden: 1900 W. Front, Tyler, TX (903)531-1212.

This magnificent 14 acre rose garden displays more than 400 varieties. Special collections include the Heritage and Sensory Garden (antique varieties), a Memorial Garden (camellia and day lily collections), and several test gardens. The Rose Museum features exhibits and memorabilia of Tyler's rose industry and the Texas Rose Festival.

 Tyrrell Park Botanical Gardens and Warren Loose Conservatory: Tyrrell Park, 5305 Tyrrell Park Road. Tyrrell, TX 77726(409)842-3135.

This multi-facility public park includes a 10 acre botanical garden with lovely floral displays, a pond with ducks and geese, and a Japanese Garden.

 Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum: 605 Robert E. Lee Road, Austin, TX 78704 (512)445-5582.

The xeriscape gardens feature 60 sculptures of Charles Umlauf in a naturalistic setting, with more in the museum.

 (Lower Rio Grande) Valley Nature Center (formerly the McAllen Botanical Gardens): Another web site. Gibson Park, 301 S. Border, Weslaco, TX 78596 (956)969-2475.

The site features a 6 acre thicket of native vegetation, primarily upland scrub forest, with a courtyard of labeled native plants, a butterfly garden, a lily pond and cactus garden.

 Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Park: Box 696, FM Road #2852, West Columbia, TX 77486 (409)345-4656 or (800)792-1112.

This manor and surrounding 65 acres of grounds depicts plantation life in Texas in 1835 to 1850 and features plantation-era flora and fauna and pecan orchards throughout the park.

 Victoria Botanical Gardens: North Vine Street, Victoria, TX.

The 10 acre botanical gardens include the Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardens, a Community Garden (with 19 plots), an Herb Garden, a Kinder Garden (children's garden), a Memorial Area, Nativescaping (native annuals, perennials, and biennials demonstrating water conservation and low maintenance), a Pollination Garden, a Rock Garden, a Sunflower Garden, and a White Garden as well as a tree nursery (Project Re-Leaf Victoria).

Weston Gardens in Bloom:  8101 Anglin Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76140 (817)572-0549.

This retail nursery’s spectacular demonstration gardens are the restoration of an estate as English Perennial Gardens - Texas style.  Special areas of the 4 acres of gardens include the antique rose garden, the lily pond, the arbor, the waterfall, the perennial garden, the shade garden and patio and the wedding court. Native Texas and acclimated plants are labeled.

 Zilker Botanical Garden: 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78746 (512)478-8672.

This 22 acres of charming gardens include the Xeriscape Garden (demonstrates the 7 principles of xeriscape design), the Cactus and Succulent Garden, the Herb and Fragrance Garden, the Posey Perennial Garden, the Freda Bodine Caladium Garden, the Hamilton Parr Memorial Azalea Garden (5,000 plants), the Floral Display Garden (annuals and perennials), the Rose Garden (an All America Display Rose Garden with 800 bushes), the Butterfly Garden and Trail, the Isamu Taniguchi Oriental Garden (with a teahouse, Bridge to Walk Over the Moon, and koi ponds), as well as a Pioneer Settlement and Dinosaur Tracks.