One thing for sure.....there aren't any in Lewisville. Their entire concept of a "park", is a ball field.

Gardens to them, are commercial vegetable growing concerns.

Their idea of city beautification, is to erect city-owned direction signs for businesses, in road medians, to advertise the business and direct you to their location.

Nothing worth noting in Lewisville, at all.....except the rather plain and unimaginative nature of the parks department.

The Rose Garden in Tyler is breathtaking.

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens are beautiful--they are divided into Texas ecoregions and the East Texas section is particularly good. Their tropical conservatory and the succulent conservatory are interesting, but warm! The SABG also sponsors concerts under the stars, and has a really wonderful restaurant in an old carriage house, featuring herbs grown on site. Allow at least three or four hours when you visit.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (now part of the University of Texas system)in Austin is totally focused on educating people on the use of native plants in landscapes. Wonderful place to visit!

Rick,
This one is not worth mentioning statewide, but have you visited Central Park on Valley View Road? We used to love a walk on those trails and many have been upgraded to include sidewalks, nice in muddy weather. It gets even wilder if you walk around in the back area (off-road, off the beaten path. We've seen beavers and lots of birds as well as the usual squirrels.

Waco (actually in Woodway) also has the Colleen Bright Arboretum
http://www.woodway-texas.com/lev1.cfm/9

Another new area is the Waco Wetlands. It educates on animals and plants.
http://www.wacowater.com/wetlands.html

I've only viewed them on the internet, but the Texas A&M school of Horticulture Gardens in College Station looks quite impressive.

The Mercer Arboretum just north of Houston is really good. There is also Armand Bayou south of houston. I haven't been there, but have heard about it. The Houston Garden Center located at The Herman Park and Zoo is nice.

You might also add Weston Gardens. They are a nursery in Fort Worth. Perhaps you need categories like "free" "admission charge" "free but wants you to buy stuff" :)

Peckerwood Garden, near Hempstead, is primarily a collection of rare plants native to the Southwest and Northern Mexico.

Visiting hours are limited.

Here is a link that might be useful: Peckerwood Garden

I still haven't made it there, but what about LISDOLA (Lewisville Independent School District Outdoor Learning Area)?

The Water Lily collection at our Civic League Park is pretty cool, so are the Sunken Gardens, I've linked to the city website.

Here is a link that might be useful: San Angelo

These are some great suggestions and some I have not heard about. I will definitely add these to my website. Thanks!

Hi pk.....yup, I have been to Central Park. It is ok, but mostly a function facility (gazebo, etc.), a small playground for the kiddos, and a walk out into not too much. Haven't been to the back, but the walk to the back, looked pretty boring.

Gazebo would be ok for playing my flute, though, if I wanted.

Rick,
I guess it might be boring to some ;-) I go to the park to look at plants and animals. I don't visit ballparks either.

Pam

I suggest the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. Also the Master Gardener demonstration gardens in Rockport Green Acres Green Acres

The gardens at Festival Hill in Round Top are lovely...off 290 about half way between Austin and Houston. No charge to see them...open all the time. There are herb gardens, a pharmaceutical garden and a woodland garden area. Picnic areas are available.

If you come at the right time, you can enjoy a classical music concert, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Festival Hill gardens

That is a good one too! I'll add it to my list when I update my website again.

Denise,

I just visited Clark Gardens in Weatherford today. I REALLY can NOT recommend it enough! It is about 35 acres of nothing but beauty. Right down to the pure white peacock! The paths are beautifully maintained and there are many paths with ample shade for warm days. The water features are really lovely and the water lillies in all of the ponds are show stoppers. I just loved it all. There were ZERO other visitors there so the solitude combined with the beauty just made for a wonderful day. I know you already mentioned Clark Gardens, but I could not help but share this with everyone. I can't believe I've lived so close to these beautiful gardens for so many years and never visited. I will be going back!

Kristi

I second Weston Gardens in Fort Worth. They have a demonstration garden on one side of the road and a nursery on the other side where you can buy the plants you've seen in the gardens.

There's also the Fredericksburg Herb Farm in F'burg. I remember when they first started. My, how they've grown!!

http://www.fredericksburgherbfarm.com/

Of course, there's also Wildseed Farms just outside of F'burg.

https://www.wildseedfarms.com/welcome/index.html

Stephanie

Here is a link that might be useful: Weston Gardens

Kristi - That is wonderful to hear about Clark Gardens. Sounds like a good place for a group tour with the garden club.

This one is in Dallas, my mom loves it...they have classe and lectures, etc...great place to visit: North Haven Gardens

Here is a link that might be useful: North Haven Gardens

San Antonio zoological garden has a huge and varied botanical contribution (but nowhere the botanicals of the San Diego zoo).

The Moody Garden's rainforest is a nice place to visit in Galveston.

Moody Gardens in Galveston is truly Fantastic! The rainforrest building isn't just full of warm loving plants but includes lots of birds, animals and butterflies. There are what seems to be hundreds of butterflies released in there every hour or two. There are several other things to do on the same site, including an exceptional Aquarium and a RideFilm that seems just as real as if you were actually there. However, if you want to see/do everything, it's sort of expensive. One can purchase the whole package or idividually priced activities.

Here is a link that might be useful: Moody Gardens Website

Texas Discovery Gardens in Fair Park in Dallas. And in Houston, Rienzi has beautiful gardens! A lot of people don't even know about the museum, much less the gardens surrounding it. It's at 1406 Kirby in River Oaks.

Just back from a road trip to San Saba, TX. The Old Mill City Park was small but very nice. Someone has put a lot of labor into that place. It isnt like a big city botanical garden or research center, but you can have a picnic by the falls and enjoy the canna, banana, tropicals and indiginous varieties and cultivars too. We like it and thought you might. Mick -- Abilene, TX

I love this thread. Makes me want to take a road trip!

Armand Bayou A must-see, very pretty with small piers into the lake. nature center. lots of special days for family fun. docents and many programs, including canoeing to view the flora/fauna.

Well, I think I finally have a good list of public gardens for my list. Here are the places I found thanks to those of you who added to this list for me. I appreciate your help. This is copied from my website. There are links to each of these on my website if you are interested in finding out more about a specific garden - the link is below - click on Texas Public Gardens in the left column.

"Here is a listing of Texas public gardens and nature centers that would make a great place to visit on a side trip during your next vacation. Click on the links below to plan your next trip to see some of these beautiful gardens. If you have suggestions to add to this list, please contact us below."

Armand Bayou Nature CenterÂPasadena
Bayou Bend Collections & GardensÂHouston
Beaumont Botanical GardensÂBeaumont
Chandor GardensÂMineral Wells
Chihuahuan Desert Research InstituteÂFt. Davis
Clark GardensÂWeatherford
Colleen Bright GardensÂWoodway
Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature CenterÂCorpus Christi
Dallas ArboretumÂDallas
Earl Harrison House and GardensÂWaco
Fort Worth Botanic GardensÂFort Worth
Grapevine Botanical GardensÂGrapevine
Green Acres Master Gardeners Demonstration GardensÂRockport
Heard Natural Science MuseumÂMcKinney
Hermann Park ConservancyÂHouston
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower CenterÂAustin
Mercer Arboretum and Botanic GardensÂMercer
Moody GardensÂGalveston
Mrs. LeeÂs Daffodil GardensÂGladewater
Peckerwood GardensÂHemstead
San Antonio Botanical GardensÂSan Antonio
Shangri-la GardensÂOrange
S.M. Tracy HerbariumÂCollege Station
South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature CenterÂCorpus Christi
Stephen F. Austin Mast ArboretumÂNacogdoches
Texas Discovery GardensÂDallas
Tyler Municipal Rose GardensÂTyler
Valley Nature CenterÂWeslaco
Waco WetlandsÂWaco
Water Lily Collection at Civic League ParkÂSan Angelo
Zilker Botanical GardensÂAustin

Here is a link that might be useful: Allen Garden Club