The Botanic Garden in Fort Worth, Texas

The Botanic Garden in Fort Worth have always been one of our favorite spots to visit on the weekends. We especially liked to go there when we lived in Arlington, which is in the mid-cities between Dallas and Fort Worth. The Botanic Gardens are free to the public, and offer a wide array of interesting sights and activities.

The crown jewel of the Botanic Garden is the Japanese Garden. This area requires an admission fee, unlike the majority of the gardens. The grounds are beautifully kept and include a pond filled with koi, statuary, many shady trails and a gift shop. The attractive pagoda-styled main gate is open during the summer, revealing a small courtyard which is free to peruse. Off to the side is a small waterfall. At out last visit to the gardens, a great blue heron came and let us get very close to it at the waterfall. The animals in the garden seem to be used to people and are much less skittish than at other parks or gardens.

You might also be interested in visiting the greenhouse Conservatory if you come to the Botanic Gardens. There is a small fee to enter this area, but I think you will be highly pleased. Inside the warm and humid environment there is a wide range of tropical plants such as bromeliads, orchids, and other exotics. One nice thing about the Conservatory is that it's warm year-round, so it's a great place to visit in the winter when it's cold and rainy.

Other gardens in the Botanic Gardens include the extremely popular Lower Rose Garden, and the recently renovated Oval Rose Garden. The Lower Rose Garden in particular is often used for weddings and parties. The Fuller Garden, which features a gazebo and a fountain, is also quite popular. The Perennial Garden is one of our personal favorites. It has a waterfall with a heron statue, and several small ponds. The shady Perennial Garden is a great place to sit and relax and just soak up the scenery. The Fragrance Garden offers many scented plants to stimulate the senses. The Trial Garden is a place for new perennial species, and also has a shady gazebo where you can rest before heading off to the next part of the garden. The Four Seasons Garden features many different types of chrysanthemum, daylily and iris along a narrow trail with benches and statues, and offers a peaceful place for contemplation. The Texas Native Forest Boardwalk provides educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, and connects the other gardens together. The Water Conservation Garden is coming soon, and will provide access to native plants which thrive in a dry environment. The Water Wise Entrance is on the northern side of the gardens and includes water efficient plants such as Texas Sage, agave, and red yucca. The Imagination Vegetable Garden is a teaching garden for children of Fort Worth, and is marked off from the rest of the garden by a giant sunflower. Fourth graders can work with master gardeners to learn about growing vegetables. The produce grown in the garden goes to the poor.

If you can't make it to the garden, there are several panoramic views available on their website. Even if you can make it, the panoramic views can be very helpful to find places you may have missed, or explain areas of the garden which you may have had trouble keeping track of. It's nice to explore the garden online when it's extremely hot, or during the rainy season.

On our way home from vacationing in central Texas, we stopped at the Botanic Garden for a picnic lunch, and received a visit from a local squirrel who gratefully accepted some crusts of bread from us. It was a dreamy and idyllic stop, and we remained for several hours to re-explore the garden and see what was new. It was an idyllic way to punctuate the drive home. The Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth are a perfect stop, no matter where you're headed.

Uncredited, "In any Season, a Sanctuary for the Senses." The Fort Worth Botanic Garden. URL: (http://www.fwbg.org/)
Uncredited, "Better Living - Better Living." The AzleZoo. URL: (http://azlezoo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12)