Public gardens offer dazzling fall day trips

We’re blessed with several outstanding public botanic gardens here in the Metroplex. Let’s focus on three of the most notable. I’ve been to all three of these within the past few months, and any would make a wonderful fall outing. But go soon. Things will change quickly as the weather turns colder.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Fort Worth Botanic Garden (University Drive, just north of I-30; www.fwbg.org). This is the most historic public garden in Texas. Construction of its first portion, the Sunken Rose Garden, occurred in the 1930s, during the Works Progress Administration days. Fall is a good time to see the roses in their second show of the season.

However, the real drama of the fall season happens in the beautiful Japanese Garden. Between now and mid-December, many species of trees will turn glorious shades of red, rust, orange and yellow. The spectacular Japanese maples will be among the last to show their colors, and they’ll provide some of the most dramatic vistas to be found anywhere in the Botanic Garden. As you walk the paths of the Japanese Garden, remember that 35 years ago it was nothing more than an abandoned stone quarry. Take time to appreciate all that’s been accomplished, and take quarters so the kids can buy food for the colorful koi.

No trip to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden would be complete without visiting the Conservatory. It’s easily visible from the north parking area, but you enter it from the lobby of the Garden Center building. You’ll see tropical plants of all shapes and sizes. You’ll even see plants that are sources for many of our tropical fruits and nuts, even coffee.

The Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum (8525 Garland Road, on the southeast side of White Rock Lake; www.dallasarboretum.org) was begun in the 1970s on the 66 acres that made up two historic estates. New gardens have been added almost every year. If it has been more than a couple of years since you visited, you’re going to be dazzled by the changes that have been made. Go this weekend for the wrap-up of Autumn at the Arboretum, the garden’s huge annual event. Annual colors are astounding, and the garden design is gorgeous.

Make your way back to the very formal Women’s Council Garden behind the deGolyer house. It was dedicated about 10 years ago, and it features the stunning "water-on-water" in the pool that appears to be a continuation of nearby White Rock Lake. Then, meander east into the newest garden with all of its intimate alcoves. You’ll see stonework and plantings that make this garden look like it’s been in place for decades. It’s really less than two years old. Built out of the slope leading down, toward White Rock Lake, it ties several parts of the old, historic deGolyer plantings together.

The Dallas Arboretum is really a huge display garden featuring showy flowers and foliage throughout its 66 acres. The horticulture staff deserves praise for the hard work it has put into making this one of America’s destination gardens. It’s beautiful in all seasons, but many of us find autumn to be our favorite.

Chandor Gardens

Chandor Gardens ( 711 W. Lee Ave., Weatherford, www.chandorgardens.com) is the hidden jewel of North Texas’ public gardens. It’s the old homestead of Douglas Chandor, renowned portrait artist of the ’30s and ’40s, and it has been lovingly restored to its former beauty at the hands of several skilled plant people over the past decade. Chandor Gardens is much smaller than the other two gardens, but we have to remember that it was designed and built by one man over almost 20 years. Soil was sculpted, moved and brought in. Tons of landscaping boulders were maneuvered into place. Trees were carefully planted to form colonnades and corridors. However, the thing you’ll remember about Chandor Gardens is the whimsy and creativity with which Douglas Chandor designed and constructed his garden art. From the huge stone ship to the Chinese fountain using chunks of tiles, glass and old Coke bottles pushed "bottoms-out" into the wet cement — it’s almost more than you can take in on one visit. What a passion! What a vision!

If you’re looking for a day trip where you can relax and still be inspired, these gardens are just what you need.