Welcome to the DFW area!

Which county will you be in? The extension agent and master gardener associations offer frequent (maybe bi-monthly) classes in a variety of topics. I live on the west side, north of Fort Worth in Tarrant County and my 'go-to' nursery with greenhouses for tropicals is Stuart's Nursery in Weatherford. They have lovely grounds and lots of healthy and often native plants. I also love Weston Gardens, if you visit take the tour across the road of the old gardens! The Dallas or east side has some wonderful nurseries also, North Haven Gardens, Redentas and Living Color in Frisco are great nurseries that I've visited. Calloways is a pretty good chain here too.

Our average last frost in spring is March 15, so you need to get squash and tomatoes in then because the squash vine borers will show up in June and you want to get the crop in before that happens. Also, most tomatoes will quit setting fruit when overnight temps stay above 80.

Sorry, I don't have answers to all of your questions. I am sure that there are some community gardens. I've seen some 'feel-good' news featuring some in urban settings that encourage kids to beautify a neighborhood or grow food. The only one that I am aware of personally is Finley Junior High School in Waxahachie.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FinleyGarden/

Finally, there are job opportunities here you'll just need to watch for signs and check the classifieds.

I'll be in Richardson, which google says is Dallas & Collins counties both (I'm pretty sure I'm in the Dallas part proper). I've written down these nurseries, thank you - sounds like lots of places to visit and enjoy!

I am so not used to nights above 80 degrees - this is gonna be interesting! I'm also going to be in a home where the yard is full dappled shade, from seven (!) old trees on the property, which is a huge change from the acre of open land I've got here.

Thanks for the info!

That shade will be a blessing. We live on a city lot with 20 post oaks. Trees are the bomb :-)

There are a couple nurseries in your area that are pretty good. One in North West Garland, Rohdes. The other is in Rowlett right off George Bush and 66 called Covingtons.

my list of nurseries to visit is growing! thank you :D

Plus 1 on Covingtons,it's a quick drive on Bush Turnpike and the employees are amazing. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a must see and springboard for volunteer work.

thank you, klem!

I love North Haven Gardens, they have workshops you can also attend and if you go in their website under edibles, they have planting calendars with a Fall and Spring dates that you can download.

If you are a maple fan look up metro maples. But be prepared for the fact that they aren't as nice here as new England. Your new climate is hot, humid and subtropical not temperate so fall color isn't very impressive

This is all fantastic info - thanks! It looks like the first weekend of October is my landing date & I am jittery with excitement. The loss of brilliant autumn foliage and snowy winters is gonna hurt, but longer growing seasons and not freezing my rump off 7 months a year will make up for it.

I was in Texas for nearly a decade before I caught myself griping about a February without a good stretch of ~60° F weather..... so memories of moving snow through Easter weekend up north do eventually lose their influence on perspective.

Wishing you the best with the move and a welcome to the area.

Fall is a great time to get here and really , the first weekend in October is barely out of summer. It is also a great time to get the winter garden going and get some frost covers. You will have greens and sugar snap peas all winter long.

I know the DFW area has a spring plant swap. Do you also have a fall swap that the OP should be made aware of. I go to the San Antonio one so I am no help here. I think it is a great way to meet gardeners and get plants

Sylvia always hosts a fall swap in Fort Worth. I think that there is one in Carrollton hosted by Gretchen also.

I am planning a fall swap here in Azle on or about Oct 6.

I second the Covington's recommendation. I like it much better than Rhodes. You HAVE to visit the arboretum as soon as you get finished unpacking though.

This is a pretty active board, so if you need help or advice, you've already found the right place.

Welcome to Texas!

My favorite place I've found so far is Sunshine Miniature Trees off of 75 and park lane. It's not just bonsais like the name would have you believe, but all house plants and some pretty rare species at that!

I'm here! Settling in and wondering how soon I can get myself to the Arboretum. Would love to go today, but, um, 94 degrees?? I think I'll stay home.

UMMM,....Welcome to Texas. Don't worry, it shouldn't last too long but you better get used to it and know where all the closest swimming spots are.

Yep,it do get warm in Texas but we have a saying that go's something like this,"if you don't like the weather in Tx,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just wait,it will change in a few minutes". You are in luck,highs will be in the 70s tomorrow. You are going to LOOVVEE the Arboretum. If you have time to kill,circle around White Rock Lake and take side streets to see some of the old mansion estates from the 50s.

Klem, they say that in Hawaii too. I only wish we could say that in late June.

. " I only wish we could say that in late June."

Oh we could say that in late June but we say instead "if you think it's hot today,just wait til tomorrow."

The Texas Superstar program http://texassuperstar.com/index.html is a project of Texas A&M and has lots of great information on Texas tough varieties.