Fall at the Arboretum

I took a break from my hectic schedule to visit the Dallas Arboretum last week. It was so pretty and fallish! Join me for a short tour...
The little cottage was cute and cozy like always..
and the giant lilies were still floating on the pond.
The water wise area was blooming and looking happy,
but the real show this trip were the beautiful fall flowers and..all the PUMPKINS!!

There were houses made of pumpkins..















There were beds bordered by white pumpkins,
and beds bordered by orange pumpkins!
There was a German cafe surrounded by hay bales and pumpkins.

Who knew pumpkins grew on sweet potato vines! : )
There were pumpkins stacked up every-
where!
There is always something wonderful to see at the Arboretum-even if you just want to sit and relax.
Of course of all those pumpkins-this
little
"punkin"
was my favorite!

Saturday at the Arboretum

The wind here Saturday was un-
believable. The gust would blow you away, but it was worth being blown around a bit to see the beauty of the Dallas Arboretum. There were tulips in every color!
Some of the flowers were still in bud, others were starting to open..
..some were in full bloom!
Love this bed of yellow tulips with yellow daffs.
And speaking of daffodils--I loved this ruffled variety. Note to self: buy some of these bulbs this fall!
But what really "blew me away", were the cherry trees! I have been going to the arboretum for years and years, every season, but I have never seen the cherry trees in full bloom. This was the year! They were absolutely gorgeous!
The Arboretum has 17 trees, and according the the newspaper, better see them this Saturday as in 3 days, the blooms will all be gone.
This picture doesn't show the color--you really had to get the sun behind you to capture the luscious light pink of the cherry blossoms.
I felt like I was in a fairy land..all pink and fluffy. What a treat to see these beauties. I see now why so many flock to Washington DC to witness the blooms. Maybe one day I will...hey, I have a daughter in DC! I think I may pay her a visit during Cherry Blossom time next year. Oh Jen, can we get that on the calender??

Fall at the Arboretum

It has been so rainy in the Dallas area, I have had a hard time finding a Saturday to go to the Arboretum. Even though today was cloudy and pretty chilly, it was a great day to tour some of the gardens.

It is fall, and the trial gardens are full of plants showing off their fall colors. It was so wet, I just stayed on the walkway and didn't venture over like I usually do. Looks like most things did really well this past year. They will be planting bulbs and pansies pretty soon I think.
The cute little thatched roof house is still transformed into Hansel and Gretel's house. The plants on either side of the walkway look like they are about ready to stop blooming, but they have been spectacular this past year. I love the cottage look this area has.

This is one of the ponds. I think it looks great! It won't be long before the lilies and poppies will stop blooming. In the winter, the ponds look cold and lonely, but the minute warm weather returns, the pond comes back to life.
This is one of the beds around the grassy meadow. This time of year the Arboretum beds are full of coleus (my favorite!) and ornamental grasses. The colors are normally very striking-this cloudy day does not do justice to their brilliance.
And, Cindee, I took this picture just for you! These hens and chicks were really big!
Can you tell it's getting about time for Halloween? woooooo...

And of course, we saw lots and lots of pumpkins!

They lined the walkways..

There were pumpkins to buy..

There was even a pumpkin house!
But we had the cutest pumpkin there!

Saturday at the Arboretum

Time for another visit to the Dallas Arboretum. They are celebrating their 25th anniversary. The nice thing about trips to the Arboretum is that you may see some of the same things, but there is always something new blooming.
The pansies were mostly gone, and the petunias were in and looking beautiful!
Masses of bright spring colors..
The marigolds were in and starting their pretty yellow and orange show..
The creeping jenny by the stream was thick and lush...
Aren't the Japanese Maples beautiful hanging over the stream..

The Delphiniums were...well, so blue!

The foxglove were standing proud and tall in several beds..

Jerusalem Sage was in full bloom and very showy..

But the star of the show this trip...were the roses and iris!

"Fairy Rose"

"Rosa"

"Belinda's Dream"
(thank you Mother for holding the rose so I could take a picture!) :)


"Nacogdoches"

This is the only Iris that was marked: and what a great name!

"Chocolate Fudge"

Simply stunning..(not the name, but should be!)

My picture does not do this justice..this is a beauty. And she has the best fragrance of any iris I have ever smelled.

We spent over 2 hours taking in all the beauty, but knowing we still didn't see everything. Flowers nourish my soul..they make me happy..they give me peace.

"Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning." Lydia M. Child