Dallas is an incredible city full of culture and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy Texas’ blue skies. The best way to experience this urban area’s amazing charms is to visit one of the many private and public gardens. And the good news is that you don’t have to wait until spring — you can visit these Dallas gardens any time this winter.
Nasher Sculpture Center
The Nasher Sculpture Center is an indoor and outdoor museum showcasing hundreds of modern sculptures. Visit through February 4th to see the Paper into Sculpture exhibit which, like the name suggests, showcases a collection sculptures made out of paper. You’ll also find many pieces of the museum’s permanent collection, such as Willem de Kooning’s Seated Woman, on display in the garden.
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Visiting this 66-acre garden is considered one of the top things to do on a trip to Dallas. The expansive displays take roughly three hours to explore, so schedule enough time if you want to see every inch of the arboretum. Visit in February to see the Dallas Blooms Festival. If it’s too cold for a walk outside, go to the indoor galleries in the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden at the northeast corner of the gardens.
Texas Discovery Gardens
Texas Discovery Gardens is a public garden space that includes the Butterfly House and Snakes of Texas conservation areas. You can also step inside the on-site gallery, which will be displaying works by artist David Collins until February 25th. You should also be sure to walk over to the Shakespeare Garden where you’ll find a collection of the plants mentioned in William Shakespeare’s various plays and sonnets.
Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden
North of Downtown Dallas past Interstate 635, you’ll find the oldest modern art gallery in the city: Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden. The gallery specializes in an array of fine art, so take your time to view these amazing pieces during your visit. Once you’re ready to see the sculpture garden, speak to one of the gallery personnel. They’ll lead you around to the back entrance. From there, you’re free to explore the natural and manmade works of art on display. Note that this is a private garden and isn’t part of a public park.
Trammell Crow Sculpture Garden
Located next to the Dallas Museum of Art, the Trammell Crow Sculpture Garden houses a collection of works from numerous Asian countries. This includes several sculptures plus plenty of greenery to combat those winter blues. Make sure you spend a few minutes inside admiring the Samurai Gallery as well. You can visit the Trammell Crow Sculpture Garden during any season of the year for free.
Dallas is loaded with excellent gardens and museums with plants and trees on display, and you don’t have to wait until May to see beautiful greenery in the city. Stop by one of these gardens to enjoy some time outdoors this winter.
Photo: “Waterfall” by Prabal Ghosh Photography licensed under CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original
January 25