Cool off in summer with a visit to the Dallas Arboretum. Dallas Blooms in spring, with thousands of tulips, marks one of Dallas Arboretum’s most beautiful flower displays. Yet even in the heat of summer, you can still find gorgeous blooms and a respite from stifling temperatures under green tree canopies.

Picnic Breakfast

Timing is everything. The earlier you visit, the greater the enjoyment. In summer, pack a picnic breakfast (not lunch). The gardens open at 9 am. Arboretum members gain an added benefit with early (7 am), members-only admission through November.

Enjoy your stroll first, then locate a shaded picnic area. Unlike other formal gardens, the Dallas Arboretum allows picnicking throughout its grounds (except in the restaurants). Magnolia Glade offers tables under massive trees. My favorite spot, the cabanas at Three Sisters Overlook, even has rotating fans to cool you off.

Lush Greenery and Water

Dallas Arboretum refurbished and added several water features to its gardens over the last several years. I’m particularly fond of the Lagoon in the Tasteful Place Garden and the gurgling stream running through the Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill. My family’s favorites are the frogs at the end of Crape Mrytle Allee and the infinity pool in the Woman’s Garden. Even when temperatures soar, the combination of water and lush green foliage just seems to make things feel cooler.

Summer Highlights

On Tuesdays, beginning at 11 am, listen to music in the Val Late Garden. Petting zoo and face painting are part of Family Fridays in Pecan Grove. Use your cell phone for Nature Walk Bingo on Saturdays and Sundays. And the Tasteful Garden offers daily tastings. The day of our visit we sampled jalapeno sauce, bread and sorbet – yum!

Discounts

Summer is also the time for admission bargains. Now through the end of July, you can purchase a ticket and get another ticket for free on Wednesdays. And during the entire month of August, admission is just $2.

When you go. The Dallas Arboretum is located at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas.  The garden is open daily 9 am to 5 pm.