It’s that time of year when big pumpkins, squash and gourds are in the markets! Here at the Dallas Arboretum, we have our nationally-acclaimed Pumpkin Village all set up for Autumn at the Arboretum. We even have a display area that highlights each one of our 52 varieties of squash, pumpkins and gourds! What you might not know is that a lot of these varieties are edible – and not just edible, but really good quality. If you want to create your own decorative fall display at home, choose wisely and you can have a beautiful display that is totally edible. Here are some of my favorites that you can find in our displays here at the Dallas Arboretum.

Table Ace

‘Table Ace’ is an acorn-type squash. This variety is very sweet thanks to its high sugar content. Great just baked and served hot.

Marina de Chioggia

An heirloom winter squash that comes from the small Italian seaside village of Chioggia. This squash has a shiny aquamarine-green color with very bumpy skin and looks great in a display. The dry, sweet flesh is ideal for Italian recipes that call for squash.

Speckled Hound

This squash (some think it’s a pumpkin) has a sweet, nutty flavor. Its green and light orange mottled skin is beautiful in a display and so good to eat!

Pink Banana

This large, heirloom variety of squash has a beautiful, smooth pink outer skin. The flesh is very versatile and can be used for many squash dishes. It can grow up to 50 pounds, so one fruit can definitely serve a crowd.

Triamble

‘Triamble’ is another bluish-gray colored squash. This is an heirloom variety from Australia. The flavor is great and it adds a lot to a decorative display.

Naples

‘Naples,’ as the name implies, is another Italian variety. This heirloom can produce large, long and slender fruits weighing up to 40 pounds. It has a rich sweet flavor.

Jarrahdale

‘Jarrahdale’ is probably my favorite variety to use in cooking: this one comes to us from the town of Jarrahdale in New Zealand. It is beautiful in a display with its steely-blue color. The flesh is dark orange and so good to eat.

These varieties are available at many markets, so have some fun and create a beautiful display that can be ‘harvested’ for great dishes through the season! Come visit the Dallas Arboretum during Autumn at the Arboretum to get a closer look at these varieties and get some great ideas for displaying pumpkins.

Autumn at the Arboretum is presented by Reliant.

Written by Dave Forehand, VP of gardens at the Dallas Arboretum.

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Last winter, Boy Scout William Duvall reached out to the Dallas Arboretum’s education team with a desire to collaborate on his Eagle Scout project.

William stated, “Presently, severe weather warning sirens are not consistent across DFW, therefore it can be confusing for kids and adults.  I want my DFW community to understand what the warnings mean and what they are supposed to do immediately upon hearing them … My idea is to build an, informative interactive sign that explains to visitors what they are supposed to do if they hear a severe weather warning siren when they are outdoors.

The sign would be a great addition because it can be very fun but also informative for both kids and parents to stay safe during severe weather. I think the perfect place for this sign would be right next to the tornado wind chamber.”

Over the course of several months, William worked with our education team to begin planning this experience – and then the garden closed due to the ongoing pandemic.

Determined, William persisted and hatched a new way to share his community service project – through a video that we could share with our visiting families.

We salute William’s persistence and are happy to share the finished project here.

We also encourage you to safely experience the force of a tornado here at the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden in our Pure Energy learning gallery!

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With the first official day of summer approaching quickly, you may notice that your garden is enjoying almost every minute of sunshine that it’s getting. Certain plants are growing like crazy, while others may need to be replaced with something that can withstand the heat. We’ve put together a short list of garden tips to help you tame your garden and keep it looking summer ready!

Planting Tips

• Continue to plant warm season turf grasses such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia.
• Plant summer annuals and tropicals. Water them in after planting and keep them watered regularly during the summer heat.
• Plant ground covers and tropical and warm-season annuals such as begonia, hibiscus, periwinkle, portulaca, purslane, salvia, zinnia, coleus, Mexican heather, gomphrena and caladiums.
• Plant pumpkin seeds this month for an autumn harvest of pumpkins.

Pruning Tips

• Prune out any dead or broken branches of woody ornamentals (trees and shrubs) but avoid major pruning during summer heat.
• Begin cutting back any overgrown perennials and annuals to keep growth compact.
• Cut back spent flowers of annuals and perennials to encourage new blooms.
• Prune spent flowers from roses and fertilize if needed according to a soil test.
• Pinch back chrysanthemums to encourage branching.

General Plant Care

• Pay special attention to the watering needs of new lawns, trees and ornamentals as hot, dry weather sets in. Water in the early morning hours (3am to 8am) to minimize fungal problems and reduce evaporation.
• Fertilize annual flowers and vegetables with your favorite fertilizer type to assure continued vigor, based on results from a soil test.
• Check crape myrtles for aphids throughout the summer.
• Mow lawns once per week to maintain good healthy growth and reduce any unnecessary wear and tear on lawn equipment.
• Check ornamentals, flowers and vegetables for spider mites, which are prevalent in warm months.
• Watch for bagworms on junipers, arborvitae and other conifers; treat as needed.
• Watch for webworms on trees, especially pecans and mulberries; treat as necessary.
• Apply fungicide as necessary to control black spot and powdery mildew on roses.
• June is an ideal time to aerate your lawn.
• Check for chinch bugs in St. Augustine lawns throughout the summer and for gray leaf spot fungus in periods of high humidity and temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
• Spot treat fire ant mounds with ant bait or a mound drench.
• Begin to harvest vegetables and fruits as they ripen: potatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, radishes, tomatoes, blackberries and peaches.

With these tips, your garden is sure to become the lush summer oasis you’ve been hoping for – all that’s left to do is sit in your garden and revel in all your hard work. What are some of your garden goals for this summer? Let us know, and be sure to tag us on social media in any pictures you post if you use these tips!

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Spring is the perfect time to get to the Dallas Arboretum and get those likes! We were named one of the Most Instagram-Worthy Botanical Gardens in the U.S. by Better Homes & Gardens, and rightfully so: 66 acres of beautifully designed and maintained gardens provide the perfect photo op for any occasion. The colors, ever-changing flora and gorgeous views of Dallas can add life to any Instagram feed. Read more for our top tips on capturing the best photos and check out @thedallasarboretum on Instagram for inspiration. Once you’re done, pay us a visit and try it out for yourself.

Visit during different times of the day – and the year!

The garden is open daily from 9am–5pm: if you’re going to be visiting for a while, use the time to your advantage! The same spot looks vastly different in the morning and afternoon. Try taking pictures first thing in the morning for a fresh, bright-eyed look and then again in the late afternoon for that golden hour glow. Gardens like A Tasteful Place are perfect for this: follow the path and use White Rock Lake as your backdrop! A cool winter morning in front of the lake can make your photos moodier and edgier, whereas a sunny summer afternoon over the water makes for a warm and welcoming pic.

When in doubt, move around.

There are hundreds of eye-catching spots in the garden. If one captures your attention but you just can’t seem to get the perfect photo, turn around and get a fresh perspective. You’ll be surprised – the garden has so much variety that just moving a few feet to your right or left can look like an entirely new area through a camera lens! One of the things we’re known for is our vistas of color throughout the garden, so follow the paths and stop every so often for pictures. The main paseo has such a wide assortment of flowers and layers of colors that provide a totally different aesthetic depending on which direction you look.

Wide angles not working? Go in for the close up.

Beautiful, expansive areas like Jonsson Color Garden and Crape Myrtle Allee may tempt you to squeeze in as much detail as you can into one picture, but when you find details to focus on and move in on them you may find that you’re getting photos unlike anyone else.

Take photos from a lower position to make them more dynamic.

Many people take pictures from the height they stand at or higher, trying to show all of the flowers spread far and wide. While this is great for showcasing more distance, it can make pictures feel far away. Instead, try squatting or getting into a lower position and taking a pic from there – the shorter depth of field will make flowers and plants look even fuller, and put you right in the middle of the action!

Find beauty in unexpected places.

When you come to the Dallas Arboretum, there are bound to be areas bustling with people – and for good reason! Once you’re done grabbing the must-have photos with everyone else, find somewhere a little more secluded. For example, the reflecting pools and under the archway at A Woman’s Garden are always on everyone’s must-see list. But follow a small pathway to the side and you’ll find more hidden places like the Poetry Garden, where the stone-carved balconies, fields of foxgloves and dappled sunlight make for a unique and stunning picture every time.

Whether you’re a full-on influencer or just an Instagram enthusiast, the Dallas Arboretum is picture perfect for every type of shoot and every level of photographer. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts and stories and use the hashtag #dallasarboretum – we might just be your new biggest fan!

Written by Alyssa Leo, website & digital content manager at the Dallas Arboretum

The post Tips for Capturing the Most Instagram-Worthy Pictures at the Dallas Arboretum appeared first on Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Blog.

The daffodil, or Narcissus, flowers are the early harbingers of spring and are known by their white or yellow trumpet-shaped petals surrounding a yellow, pink or white center. There are thousands of hybrid varieties in as many combinations of colors. Most daffodil flowers are fragrant, and some even appear and bloom in early winter. November and December are the best time to plant daffodil bulbs.

Daffodil bulbs are used extensively in landscaping because they are quick to naturalize and deter animal pests from more scrumptious flowerbed or garden delicacies. Bulbs and leaves produce toxic crystals that rodents and deer don’t like.

Daffodil flowers are easy to grow and care for. They are well adapted to our North Texas climate and soil. Plant the bulbs in late fall to early winter under three to four inches of soil, water them and feed with an all-purpose fertilizer or composted manure. After they bloom, allow the tall green leaves to yellow before cutting it back. This will allow the daffodil bulb to generate new energy for the next growing season.

Origins of the Daffodil: The Tragic Story of Narcissus and Echo

Remember Narcissus? Know people who are narcissistic? It all flows from the famous Greek myth about Narcissus, a handsome youth who was granted his great good looks by the gods. But as in most myths, there was a catch. His beauty was permanent and he was immortal – as long as he never viewed his own reflection. Once, while Narcissus was hunting in the woods, a nubile wood nymph named Echo saw him from her hiding place behind a tree. He was so handsome that she fell desperately in love, but Narcissus spurned her. She was so devastated by his rejection that she wept and wailed, and was ultimately consumed by her love. She pined so that soon, all that was left of her was her voice. The prophecy of her name had come true. But the gods were not pleased. The goddess, Nemesis, heard about poor Echo, and lured Narcissus to a shimmering lake. There in his vain state, he was unable to resist gazing at his own reflection, and fell in love with himself! As he gazed, the divine penalty took effect, and he simply faded away. In his place sprang up the golden flower that bears his name today. Now you know how daffodils came to be, and also why psychologists warn vain patients about the “Narcissus complex.”

Daffodil Days are here at last! From February 1–28, visit the Dallas Arboretum for $5 admission and watch as the daffodils pop up throughout the garden. Buy tickets and parking on our website.

Written by Dave Forehand, VP of gardens at the Dallas Arboretum

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With over 40 pumpkins, gourds, and squash at the Dallas Arboretum for Autumn at the Arboretum, presented by Rogers-O’Brien Construction, there are so many unique sets to see! The theme for this year’s Autumn at the Arboretum is, “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and our horticulture staff has been hard at work making one of the best pumpkin villages ever. Plus, Martha Stewart Living Magazine named it, “One of the best pumpkin festivals to visit this fall.”

This may surprise you but pumpkins, gourds, and squash come in many different unique types. This gives us the opportunity to use these special shapes and colors to design an incredible 3D mosaic! This year’s gorgeous mosaic depicts the iconic Peanuts Gang- this includes things such as Lucy at her “Gardening advice” booth and Snoopy and Woodstock atop his dog house. When you visit Autumn at the Arboretum from September 21^st through October 31^st, you will get the chance to go on a free scavenger hunt for all 40+ types of pumpkins, gourds, and squash. Furthermore, when you find all the pumpkins between 10a-3p you can get a ticket at the information booth and take it to the Terrace Café for a free Charlie Brownie. Let’s take a look at some of the pumpkins, squash, and gourds that bring this breathtaking Pumpkin Village to life.

Apple Gourd: This gourd looks just like a zebra apple with about the same size and shape. They are one of the slowest maturing gourds with up to a 120 days until maturity. They can also require a long drying period, up to 6 months- taking this gourd almost a whole year to be finished and prepped!

Birdhouse Gourd: This is a fun gourd that has a hard outer shell and is mainly used for crafts. It is shaped a little like a bottle and it is very popular to cut a hole in it and leave it out for birds to nest in. This gourd can help you more than you think. First, the flowers attract beneficial insects to your yard. Then after you create the birdhouse, the birds will eat bug pests in your garden. It’s a win-win for everyone involved when you plant and create a birdhouse gourd!

Mini White Baby Boo Pumpkin: This little pumpkin grows to about the size of your hand. It gets its name from its color which is white like a ghost. The Baby Boo Pumpkin is also great to eat, but make sure you harvest them before maturity, because it can turn an odd pale yellow when fully ripe.

Cinderella Pumpkin: It doesn’t take a small village of helpful mice to find out why this pumpkin is named the Cinderella Pumpkin! This is the pumpkin that looked exactly like the one from Cinderella. One unique thing about this pumpkin is it is one of the brightest, glowing oranges of all the pumpkins- almost as if someone turned up the contrast on its color. One fun fact is that this also means it’s great for cooking because it is sweet and has an abundance of anti-oxidant beta-carotene.

Peanut Pumpkin: The peanut pumpkin is a fun light pink hued pumpkin that is covered in distinctive peanut looking shapes covering its exterior. These peanut shapes are actually buildups of sugar, which makes this pumpkin great for cheesecakes, pies, and bread!

Carnival Squash: This interesting squash is covered in orange and green stripes, almost like most carnival tents are red and white. It is sweeter than most with a nutty flavor, yet it isn’t as dry as other nutty flavored squash.

Now it’s time for you to get cooking and crafting! Whether you are using the Apple Gourd to make a unique table decoration, cooking with the super sweet Peanut Pumpkin, or crafting a beautiful birdhouse out of the Birdhouse Gourd- we hope we can inspire you here at the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy nature and all it has to offer.

Be sure to tag us @thedallasarboretum if you decide to make anything and we may feature you on our Instagram or Facebook story!

The post All About the Dallas Arboretum’s Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds appeared first on Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Blog.

Welcome to our new series, Friends Spotlight, where we interview one of the fabulous Friends of the Arboretum. The Friends of the Arboretum are a treasured group of distinguished members who are committed to supporting our groundbreaking horticulture, education and research efforts through an annual gift beginning at $3,500. Benefits of being a Friends member are many, such as concert tickets, private golf cart tours, invitations to exclusive events and more.

We are so thrilled to honor one of our favorite long-time supporters here at the Dallas Arboretum, Mrs. Veta Boswell, who just celebrated her 90^th birthday. Veta’s legacy is evident in her major capital contributions, particularly the Boswell Family Garden’s elegant and many-hued roses. We would not be the same without her, and we hope you will enjoy learning a little more about this remarkable woman.

Veta was born August 7, 1929, in Euless, TX where her father and uncle ran the only general store. Her father, Warren Riley Fuller, went on to become the first Mayor of Euless. Despite the substantial hardships of the Great Depression and World War II, Veta attributes her memorable and happy childhood to the small rural town.

“The Euless community looked out for one another,” she said.

After graduating from The University of Texas with a Degree in Home Economics, Veta became a dietitian at Parkland Hospital. There, she met and fell in love with an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. George M. Boswell, Jr. They married in 1958. Dr. Boswell worked for several years of his residency in the emergency room at Parkland, and later opened a private Orthopedic practice in East Dallas with a surgical affiliation at Baylor University Medical Center. George and Veta were blessed with three daughters: Brianna Brown, Kama Koudelka, and Maia Boswell-Penc.

George and Veta built their Lakewood home in 1959. Famed architect Naud Burnett (who also has designed much of the Dallas Arboretum) designed and landscaped the remarkable gardens for their home. This stoked the flames of George’s passion for landscape art and gardening, and encouraged Veta’s involvement with the Yosemite Garden Club for many years.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, George and Veta began to take personal interest in the Dallas Arboretum through their friends Naud Burnett, Neil Sperry, Dave Forehand, and Warren Johnson. From 1992 to 1999, George served on the Dallas Arboretum Board of Directors.

In 2006, George gave a Christmas gift to his family by honoring them with The Boswell Family Garden. It was named “El Inesperado”, meaning “the unexpected” in Spanish. This gift was so meaningful to the Boswells and had a very appropriate name. Veta says “It was located in a place near and dear to our hearts, next to the Sunken Garden, and it was definitely an unexpected surprise!”

Veta has so many memories shared with family, friends and eight grandchildren at the Arboretum.  The annual Friends spring dinner in the Jonsson color garden, tea at the Restaurant DeGolyer at Christmas, and Cool Thursdays concert nights at the Rutchik Concert Lawn are all favorites. Perhaps Veta’s most precious Arboretum memory to date is her granddaughter’s wedding in the Lay Family Garden, with a reception on the Camp House lawn. Though Dr. Boswell had passed away in 2011, the family “knew that George was right there with them when the beautiful couple arrived at the altar. A bright red cardinal flew in, perched itself on the arbor, and began to sing.”

Veta continues to donate to the arboretum for numerous reasons: for the joy and beauty that the Dallas Arboretum gives to her and her family, the education it provides to children and families from all over the world, and continuing the legacy of her husband’s generosity. We are forever grateful to Veta and the whole Boswell family.

To learn more about becoming a Friend of the Arboretum like Veta, please visit the membership page or call Samantha Mitchell at 214-515-6548.

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Budget, Budget, Budget!

The most common mistake made by couples is not setting a budget for the wedding. Make lists of your priorities in order to allocate where you want to spend your money. You don’t want to miss out on getting the perfect video of your ceremony or your dream dress just because you started spending money without a plan.

Research & Ask for Quotes

You may not be an expert in all the fields of planning, but the only way you will know if you are getting the most out of your money is to price compare. Research all vendors in a 30 to 60-mile radius and ask for a quote. This is where having a budget Excel spreadsheet will come in handy!

One Stop Shop Vendors

Weddings have so many moving parts. Consolidating vendors to those who can check off multiple items on your list will be the most beneficial to your budget and your sanity! Two major benefits are that you will have one point of contact who has your vision in mind and you will save on fees and delivery costs.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

Don’t be afraid to ask for any special offers, packages, or discounts. This may feel uncomfortable to ask, but you could be pleasantly surprised by how much you can save by being bold. The worst they can do is say no. Many vendors have seasonal discounts that they are willing to give if you just ask!

Our team hopes that we can help relieve some of the stress that comes along with your wedding day. We want you to enjoy your engagement and planning without stressing about your budget. When you worry about the small things in life, you miss the big adventures!

Be confident,

Sales & Special Events Team

The post How to Make the Most of Your Wedding Budget! appeared first on Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Blog.

Artichokes are really cool plants. Most people know the fruit, which is actually a large flower bud. The artichoke is a variety of a species of thistle cultivated as a food. The edible portion of the plant consists of the flower buds before the flowers come into bloom. Not only is the flower bud edible, but the plant is beautiful in the landscape as well.

When to Plant

Late fall is the time to plant these in North Texas. The artichoke (Cynara scolymus) makes a large, vase-shaped plant, with very large silver leaves.  The artichoke can handle temperatures into the mid-twenties. If it gets colder though, the plant will need some protection.

For extreme cold, you can cover the plants with sheets or blankets or pile mulch around the plant for protection. In early spring it will begin to grow very rapidly and by mid-spring will be ready to form its first bloom. You can harvest this bloom or allow it to continue to develop, and when open, will have a lovely purple flower head. 

The Cardoon

A close cousin of the artichoke is a plant called a cardoon (Cynara cardunculus). The cardoon is actually the wild form of the cultivated artichoke. It is grown not for its edible flower but for its edible stalk. The cardoon is much more cold tolerant as well.

We grow them each year at the Dallas Arboretum. They are beautiful silver plants that add to the winter displays. They look great grown in large containers or planted in beds with pansies and kales. If you want to try a new plant this winter, plant some artichokes or its tough cousin, the cardoon.

If you want to get a look at the cardoon, come by the Arboretum and see them used in beds and containers.

The post Artichokes and its Tough Cousin, the Cardoon appeared first on Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Blog.

You can recognize these beauties by their white or yellow trumpet shaped petals surrounding a yellow, pink or white center, and impress friend with their botanical name, “Narcissus.”

More about Daffodils

There are thousands of hybrid varieties in as many combinations of colors. Most daffodil flowers are fragrant, and some even appear and bloom in early winter.

Daffodil bulbs are used extensively in landscaping because they are quick to naturalize and they deter animal pests. Both bulbs and leaves produce toxic crystals that rodents and deer don’t like. Thus, they protect more scrumptious flowerbed or garden delicacies with which they share soil. In face, they are a significant portion of the 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs we plant at the Dallas Arboretum in November, because they bloom early, protect the flower beds, and are the perfect way to kick off our unmatched spring display.

Daffodil flowers are easy to grow and care for, and we love them, because they’re well adapted to our North Texas climate and soil.

Growing Daffodils

If you want to grow your own, follow these tips. Plant the bulbs in late fall to early winter under three to four inches of soil. Then water them and feed with an all purpose fertilizer or composted manure. After they bloom, allow the tall green leaves to yellow before cutting them back. This will allow the daffodil bulb to generate new energy for the next growing season.

What’s in a Name? The Tragic Story of Narcissus and Echo

The story of Daffodil’s botanical name is interesting. It comes from the character in Greek mythology, of the same name. Narcissistic people also get their description from this Greek youth, whom the gods granted incredible good looks. 

Once, while Narcissus was hunting in the woods, a nubile wood nymph named Echo saw him from her hiding place behind a tree. He was so handsome that she fell desperately in love, but Narcissus spurned her. She was so devastated by his rejection that she wept and wailed, and was ultimately consumed by her love. She pined so that soon all that was left of her was her voice, nothing but an echo. The prophecy of her name had come true.

But the gods were not pleased. The goddess Nemesis heard about poor Echo and lured Narcissus to a shimmering lake. The vain young man was unable to resist gazing at his own reflection, and fell in love with himself! As he gazed, the divine penalty took effect, and he simply faded away. In his place sprang up the golden flower that bears his name today. Now you know how Daffodils came to be, and also why psychologists warn vain patients about the “Narcissus complex.”

The post Get to Know Daffodils appeared first on Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Blog.