Dallas Blooms arboretum one of world’s 10 best

Thursday March 8, 2012
Dallas Morning News

Everything’s coming up tulips — as well as daffodils, Dutch irises, hyacinths, pansies, violas, poppies, azaleas and other flora — at the Dallas Arboretum’s 28th annual floral festival.

Everything’s coming up tulips — as well as daffodils, Dutch irises, hyacinths, pansies, violas, poppies, azaleas and other flora — at the Dallas Arboretum’s 28th annual floral festival.

MSN.com has called the 66-acre arboretum one of the top 10 places in the world to see spring flowers. Usher in the warmer weather with a walk amid rows and rows of beds filled with spectacular displays of 500,000 blooming bulbs.

The buds of 100 cherry trees will also come to life for a week or so, and as is Japanese custom, the Japan- America Society will host Hanami, a cherry-blossom-viewing party, on March 11, with a lunchtime picnic and traditional music under the trees in Pecan Grove.

Make sure to check out the new “Small Houses of Great Artists” exhibit, designed by six Dallas-area architects, in keeping with the festival’s “It’s a Work of Art” theme, and mark your calendar for ArtScape, a fine-art show and sale on the grounds March 16-18, showcasing nearly 100 artists of many media from around the country.

The festival ends on Easter weekend, with a Good Friday concert, children’s activities and photo ops with a live bunny.

Continues through April 8, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $9 for children 3-12, free for children 2 and younger. $1-off coupons are available at area Tom Thumb stores. Parking is $10. 214- 515-6500. dallasarboretum.org.