Two garden tours, both sponsored by Texas A&M Master Gardener, are scheduled for May 9 in North Texas.
North Texas garden lovers will get to choose their own adventure because both Dallas County and Denton County Master Gardeners are flinging open the garden gates on the very same Saturday.
Uber garden fanatics just might want to catch both on May 9. With a Dallas County tour full of Oak Cliff charm to the south and Denton County’s eclectic gardens to the north, horticulture enthusiasts are sure to be happy. Besides the date, both tours share a common goal.
“For us, the garden tour is absolutely about the beautiful gardens, but we also put a large emphasis on what it takes to make those gardens so beautiful,” said Melissa Weaver, project manager of the Denton County Master Gardener Association.
Dallas County’s tour is planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring five private gardens and two public parks, all located in the neighborhood of Oak Cliff. Denton County’s tour, set in the city of Carrollton, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will showcase three private properties and two public spaces. Education, design trends, and the simple enjoyment of outdoor beauty are at the top of the tours’ agendas.
Private and Public Spaces
Both tours will relish premier greenery in public spaces.
Texas A&M’s Master Gardeners are hosting both events. The Texas A&M Master Gardener program, a volunteer training initiative, educates residents in research‑based horticulture, so trainees can assist communities with gardening, plant care, and environmental practices.
“The garden tour is one of our largest outreach programs for the tour, but the mission of Master Gardeners is to educate the public on the practice of horticulture,” Weaver said.
The Oak Cliff tour will include the Japanese garden, a shady hillside spot at Kidd Springs Park, and the 45-acre Lake Cliff Park, originally opened as an amusement park in 1906. Highlights from the private home gardens will include tropical plants, annuals, flowering trees, water features, and ground cover. Educational topics will range from full-shade gardening to sunny plantings, from perennials to rainwater capture.
For the Carrollton tour, guests will see the Josey Ranch Pocket Prairie, a patch of Texas prairie habitat, and The Grove, a community green space and frequent event site. Home garden stops will feature a shade garden, a sensory garden, and an English-inspired retreat. Educational subjects will include roses, herbs, drainage, composting, and more.
Inspecting different types of trees will be part of the tour.
Tour Tickets on Sale
Proceeds from both tours will benefit the groups’ respective projects and educational programs. The Dallas County tickets cost $18 in advance and $20 on the day of the event and are available online. For the Denton County tour, tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 on the tour day, also available online.
Flowers, grasses, shrubs, and maybe a butterfly are sure to make your tour highlights.
No matter what, though, a whole lot of plant lovers can spend an entire day strolling among the gorgeous blooms on May 9. It’s a day for taking time to smell the roses and for learning something, too.
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