Botanical Gardens of DFW

Between its scorching summers and its mild, flower-filled springs, North Texas has a deep appreciation for a well-tended garden — and the metroplex has built some of the finest in the Southwest. This driving tour links four of the region's signature botanical destinations, from a world-famous lakeside arboretum to a country garden out past Weatherford. You'll wander seasonal displays that explode with tulips and chrysanthemums, a Fair Park glasshouse devoted to butterflies and ecology, a historic Fort Worth garden that hides a serene Japanese garden within it, and a private labor of love built around hardy roses and daylilies. Each shifts dramatically with the seasons, so the same stop can feel like a different place in March, July, and October. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a hat, and treat this less as a race than as a slow, fragrant tour of how the metroplex coaxes beauty out of the Texas heat.