Floral City Guide: Dallas

By
Sarah Bancroft
Dallas Blooms at the Arboretum
NorthPark Center's Center Park
The stunning landscaping at NorthPark Center
A Leopard Lacewing butterfly at Texas Discovery Gardens (Credit: @texasdiscoverygardens)
Dallas Arboretum (Credit: @thedallasarboretum)

From lush parks to native flowers and state blooms, Dallas is a floral haven waiting to be explored, and Fleurs de Villes is excited to launch our inaugural Texas show, Fleurs de Villes  ARTISTE at NorthPark Center, from March 20-24, 2024. Visitors will experience a curated collection of 15 one-of-a-kind fresh floral mannequins, all created by a selection of North Texas' most talented floral designers. Each display will reflect this city's vibrant arts community, including ballet, opera, symphony, theatre, visual arts, and more. 

Join us on a journey through the city's botanical attractions, learn about native flora, and discover the rich history surrounding Dallas' blooming cityscape.

NorthPark Center Botanical Program

NorthPark Center was developed by art collector Raymond Nasher in the 1960s, when he leased a 97-acre cotton field with the idea of creating a unique shopping and art destination in Dallas. The original modernist architecture has been expanded over the years, but the NorthPark Center’s reverence for landscape architecture has been consistent, with fountains, benches and plantings from the original 1960s design remaining. A 2006 expansion created Center Park, an enclosed 1.5 acre greenspace featuring expansive lawns, perennials and red oak trees. NorthPark Center has received the prestigious American Institute of Architecture Design of the Decade: 1960s award.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Spanning 66 acres along the shores of White Rock Lake, one can explore themed gardens, seasonal displays, and events that showcase an incredible variety of flowers throughout the year, as well as historical tours of Debolyer House. From February 24 - April 8 2024 the gardens will come alive for the Dallas Blooms festival, featuring 350,000 tulips, 150,000 daffodils and hyacinths and fun photo ops for this year’s theme, “A picture tells a thousand words.” Don’t miss the topiary peacocks.

Texas Discovery Gardens

Located in Fair Park, the Texas Discovery Gardens are dedicated to promoting organic gardening, nature conservation, and environmental education. They are the first gardens in the state of Texas to be certified 100 percent organic. Stroll through the Butterfly House and lush gardens, home to a diverse range of plant species. Fair Park, where the gardens are located, is the most visited attraction in Texas, with many museums, performance and sporting venues. A new 18-acre Community Park is slated for 2025.

BEST PARKS IN DALLAS

Klyde Warren Park

Nestled in the heart of downtown Dallas, Klyde Warren Park offers a green oasis with manicured lawns, tree-lined paths, and vibrant flowerbeds. Enjoy outdoor yoga, food trucks, and live events in this urban park. The Nancy Best fountain, with its interactive water displays that light up at night, is one of the most unique in the U.S.

White Rock Lake Park

This serene retreat 5 miles from downtown features picturesque views and 9 miles of walking and biking trails, and is the most heavily used park in the Dallas Park System. The park is adorned with native flora and wetlands, providing a peaceful environment for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. There is also a kayak concession for those who want to explore the shorelines and their wildlife.

Laura W Bush Native Texas Park

This urban nature park has 15 acres of native grasses and trees, including a bluebonnet meadow and a 1-mile network of walking trails. Guided tours on Saturdays start in April.

NATIVE FLOWERS IN DALLAS

Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
The bluebonnet, Texas' state flower, can be found in and around Dallas. These iconic blue wildflowers bloom in spring, transforming fields and roadsides into a sea of blue. Designated as the state flower of Texas in 1901, the bluebonnet is a symbol of the state's natural beauty. The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival happens annually in April.

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)
Often seen alongside bluebonnets, the vibrant red and orange hues of the Indian paintbrush add a striking contrast to the Texan landscape. According to Native American legend, a young boy's selfless act of kindness transformed the plains into a vibrant display of wildflowers, including the Indian paintbrush. This tale is often shared to impart the values of generosity and compassion.

From lush parks to native flowers and state blooms, Dallas is a floral haven waiting to be explored, and Fleurs de Villes is excited to launch our inaugural Texas show, Fleurs de Villes  ARTISTE at NorthPark Center, from March 20-24, 2024. Visitors will experience a curated collection of 15 one-of-a-kind fresh floral mannequins, all created by a selection of North Texas' most talented floral designers. Each display will reflect this city's vibrant arts community, including ballet, opera, symphony, theatre, visual arts, and more. 

Join us on a journey through the city's botanical attractions, learn about native flora, and discover the rich history surrounding Dallas' blooming cityscape.

NorthPark Center Botanical Program

NorthPark Center was developed by art collector Raymond Nasher in the 1960s, when he leased a 97-acre cotton field with the idea of creating a unique shopping and art destination in Dallas. The original modernist architecture has been expanded over the years, but the NorthPark Center’s reverence for landscape architecture has been consistent, with fountains, benches and plantings from the original 1960s design remaining. A 2006 expansion created Center Park, an enclosed 1.5 acre greenspace featuring expansive lawns, perennials and red oak trees. NorthPark Center has received the prestigious American Institute of Architecture Design of the Decade: 1960s award.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Spanning 66 acres along the shores of White Rock Lake, one can explore themed gardens, seasonal displays, and events that showcase an incredible variety of flowers throughout the year, as well as historical tours of Debolyer House. From February 24 - April 8 2024 the gardens will come alive for the Dallas Blooms festival, featuring 350,000 tulips, 150,000 daffodils and hyacinths and fun photo ops for this year’s theme, “A picture tells a thousand words.” Don’t miss the topiary peacocks.

Texas Discovery Gardens

Located in Fair Park, the Texas Discovery Gardens are dedicated to promoting organic gardening, nature conservation, and environmental education. They are the first gardens in the state of Texas to be certified 100 percent organic. Stroll through the Butterfly House and lush gardens, home to a diverse range of plant species. Fair Park, where the gardens are located, is the most visited attraction in Texas, with many museums, performance and sporting venues. A new 18-acre Community Park is slated for 2025.

NorthPark Center's Center Park
NorthPark Center's Center Park
The stunning landscaping at NorthPark Center
The stunning landscaping at NorthPark Center
BEST PARKS IN DALLAS

Klyde Warren Park

Nestled in the heart of downtown Dallas, Klyde Warren Park offers a green oasis with manicured lawns, tree-lined paths, and vibrant flowerbeds. Enjoy outdoor yoga, food trucks, and live events in this urban park. The Nancy Best fountain, with its interactive water displays that light up at night, is one of the most unique in the U.S.

White Rock Lake Park

This serene retreat 5 miles from downtown features picturesque views and 9 miles of walking and biking trails, and is the most heavily used park in the Dallas Park System. The park is adorned with native flora and wetlands, providing a peaceful environment for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. There is also a kayak concession for those who want to explore the shorelines and their wildlife.

Laura W Bush Native Texas Park

This urban nature park has 15 acres of native grasses and trees, including a bluebonnet meadow and a 1-mile network of walking trails. Guided tours on Saturdays start in April.

NATIVE FLOWERS IN DALLAS

Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
The bluebonnet, Texas' state flower, can be found in and around Dallas. These iconic blue wildflowers bloom in spring, transforming fields and roadsides into a sea of blue. Designated as the state flower of Texas in 1901, the bluebonnet is a symbol of the state's natural beauty. The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival happens annually in April.

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)
Often seen alongside bluebonnets, the vibrant red and orange hues of the Indian paintbrush add a striking contrast to the Texan landscape. According to Native American legend, a young boy's selfless act of kindness transformed the plains into a vibrant display of wildflowers, including the Indian paintbrush. This tale is often shared to impart the values of generosity and compassion.

A Leopard Lacewing butterfly at Texas Discovery Gardens (Credit: @texasdiscoverygardens)
A Leopard Lacewing butterfly at Texas Discovery Gardens (Credit: @texasdiscoverygardens)
Dallas Arboretum (Credit: @thedallasarboretum)
Dallas Arboretum (Credit: @thedallasarboretum)
Dallas Arboretum (Credit: @thedallasarboretum)
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