Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

DeGolyer Estate
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

The DeGolyer House at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
DeGolyer Estate Location in Texas Show map of Texas DeGolyer Estate Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	8525 Garland Rd. Dallas, Texas
Area	43.057 acres (17.425 ha)
Built	1938 (1938)
Architect	Denman Scott, Burton Schutt
Architectural style	Spanish Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.	78002914
Added to NRHP	December 28, 1978

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a beautiful 66-acre garden in Dallas, Texas. It sits on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake. This amazing place is filled with different gardens, fountains, and offers great views of the lake and the downtown Dallas skyline.

History of the Arboretum

Most of the land for the arboretum used to be a 44-acre estate called Rancho Encinal. This estate belonged to Everette Lee DeGolyer, a scientist who studied the Earth's layers, and his wife Nell. Mrs. DeGolyer loved her flower gardens very much.

The DeGolyer Home, a large 22,000-square-foot house built in the Spanish style, was finished in 1940. This house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning it's an important historical site.

Since 1976, the DeGolyer estate has been the biggest part of the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Later, another estate was added, making the gardens a total of 66 acres. Today, you can find an outdoor concert stage and picnic areas here. There's even a "Texas Pioneer Adventure" area with kid-sized buildings that show what life was like on the prairie.

In 2002, the arboretum opened a new visitors center. It was named after Trammell Crow, a famous Dallas real estate developer. This center has a gift shop, meeting rooms, and a patio with views of White Rock Lake. At night, you can see the skyscraper lights of downtown Dallas reflecting on the water.

Exploring the Gardens

The Dallas Arboretum has over 66 acres of beautiful grounds. It first opened in 1984. It combined the 44-acre DeGolyer Estate with the 22-acre Alex Camp House. Today, there are 19 different named gardens to explore.

Trammell Crow Visitor Education Pavilion

This building is made from local Texas stone, wood, and copper. It acts as the main entrance to the gardens. The Scott K. Ginsburg Family Plaza and Junkins Fountain are right at the entrance.

Margaret Elisabeth Jonsson Color Garden

Jonsson Color Garden

This large 6.5-acre garden is full of seasonal flowers and plants. It has more than 2,000 types of azaleas, along with daffodils and tulips. There's also a special "Waterwise" display. This helps home gardeners learn how to use less water in their own gardens.

A Woman’s Garden

A Woman's Garden

This garden was a gift from the Women's Council of Dallas. It has walkways built on different levels. The garden is made up of several smaller outdoor "rooms." These include the Pecan Parterre and the Poetry Garden, which has a sunken rose garden.

A newer part of this garden opened in 2006. It features a bridge made of Texas limestone and a 140-foot hanging garden. These gardens were created to celebrate the strength and creativity of women.

The Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill

This two-acre garden has over 80 kinds of Japanese Maples. They are planted along a flowing stream. The garden has paved walkways and a stone bridge. A very old, nearly 100-year-old, weeping Japanese maple tree is the main feature.

Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn

The Lyda Bunker Hunt Paseo de Flores

Paseo de Flores

People often call this simply "The Paseo." It is the main walkway that goes through the center of the Dallas Arboretum.

Fogelson Fountain

The path starts at the Trammell Crow Visitor Education Pavilion. It ends near the Fogelson Fountain, which was given in memory of Buddy Fogelson.

Boswell Family Garden

This garden has a stacked stone wall and many types of roses. It offers a great view of White Rock Lake and the other gardens nearby.

McCasland Sunken Garden

This garden is a popular spot for weddings. It has a sculpture called "Chico y Chica de la Playa" and a fountain. The main path is lined with Italian plant pots. It leads down steps to a grassy area with seasonal flowers.

The Eugenia Leftwich Palmer Fern Dell

Palmer Fern Dell

This small garden has over 90 kinds of ferns, camellias, and azaleas. A small brook winds through the area. It's located inside the Jonsson Color Garden.

The Nancy Clements Seay Magnolia Glade

This garden has a waterway and a lily pond among many flowers. It's a quiet and special place with green grass and white blooms. The sounds of running water make it very peaceful. The glade is surrounded by tall magnolias and other beautiful trees.

Nancy’s Garden

This garden is covered with pink crape myrtles and azaleas. It also has many pastel-colored flowers that change with the seasons. This space was originally Nell DeGolyer's own garden. It was later updated and dedicated to children. It now has child-sized benches and a sculpture.

Crape Myrtle Allee

Crape myrtle trees form a natural tunnel over a stone walkway in this garden. This path leads visitors to a water feature called "toad corners." The Allee was updated with new crape myrtle trees. It is paved with Pennsylvania bluestone.

Chandler Lindsley Shadow Garden

The Chandler Lindsley Shadow Garden is full of pathways. Azaleas grow along the paths, adding color in the spring. A row of magnolias forms a beautiful background for the garden.

Pecan Grove

Pumpkin Village in Pecan Grove

Pecan Grove is a central spot for the "Autumn at the Arboretum" festival. In spring, over 100 blooming Japanese Cherry Trees surround it. In the fall, more than 50,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash create a fun "Pumpkin Village."

The Martha Brooks Camellia Garden

This garden has 200 camellias and over 30 different types of these flowers. It is located along the Paseo de Flores. This garden was opened in January 2000.

DeGolyer Gardens

The DeGolyer Gardens surround the 21,000-square-foot DeGolyer home. Many of the original garden features from 1940 are still here. These include the Magnolia Allee, the Sunken Garden, and the Octagonal Fountain. The DeGolyer House is listed as a historic place.

Lay Family Garden

The Lay Family Garden is a 2.2-acre space filled with hundreds of plants. It was named after Herman Lay, who helped start the Frito-Lay company.

Rose Mary Haggar Rose Garden

This small rose garden is located within the DeGolyer Gardens. It has over 200 Hybrid Tea Roses of 16 different kinds.

The Trial Gardens

Trial Gardens

In 2002, the Dallas Arboretum became an "All-America Selections Trial Garden." This means it's a special place where new plants are tested. The Trial Gardens opened to the public in March 2003.

The main goal of these gardens is to test how different plants grow in the unique climate of North Central Texas. The information gathered helps plant growers, stores, and home gardeners. Each year, between 3,000 and 5,000 plants are tested here.

The Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden

The Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden was made to help kids connect with nature. It has over 150 fun activities for children. Some of its features include The Texas Skywalk, The Moody Oasis, and a Walk in the Clouds. This garden has different areas, each designed for specific age groups.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden facts for kids

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