The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden held its very first walkSTEM tour, which was organized in collaboration with its founder, Dr. Koshi Dhingra. Dallas Arboretum Education teachers, Christine Dietz and Anna Sorelle, led guided explorations to help children and adults build an understanding of everyday connections to STEM-science, technology, engineering and math concepts.

On June 9 and 10 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Dallas Arboretum educators will lead walkSTEM tours through the garden starting at the Entry Plaza. Participants may also pick up a map for a self-guided experience at the information booth. The tour is free with paid garden admission.

Arboretum educators guided participants through four different areas of the garden where they encouraged them to explore the way in which math and science can be applied to learning about the world in a fun, interactive manner.  At the All American vegetable trial garden, they learned how different plants grow in the garden and estimated how much space a single plant needs to grow. In the Jonsson Color Garden, they looked for pollinators to see what types of flowers pollinators visited most often and observed the shapes and sizes of flowers that attracted these pollinators as well as the role color plays.  In A Woman’s Garden, they measured the tiles in the fountain, estimated the number of coins needed to cover the titles, and calculated their value. Finally, at Karen’s Gazebo, participants observed patterns, shapes, designs and repetition inherent in nature and design. 

At each station, educators asked questions to challenge their thinking and deductive skills. According to one parent, “This walk opened my eyes to the science and math all around me, especially in the Dallas Arboretum, which is truly a treasure in our city.”

For more information, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/walkSTEM.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.  The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. On-site parking is $15 or $9, if purchased in advance online. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum.  The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s Artscape Chairwoman, Kaki Hopkins, announced that the most famous name in gardening, entertaining and decorating, Martha Stewart, is the Great Contributor to Art Award honoree and speaker on May 11 at Rosine Hall to talk about her latest book. Just released, Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and Enjoying features decades of Martha’s gardening advice, along with more than 100 creative arrangements by Kevin Sharkey, her longtime friend and colleague. A reception starts at 10 a.m. with book sales, signing and bidding for the Invitational Fine Art Auction silent auction, which will be donated by dozens of acclaimed artists and local Dallas notables. The luncheon begins at 12 noon.

WFAA Channel 8 anchor, Ron Corning, serves as emcee and moderates the conversation with Stewart and Sharkey. 

Hopkins said, “Martha Stewart has brought into millions of American homes a respect for artistry. She has inspired us to seek artistry in our everyday life—menu planning, entertaining, decorating for special days, cooking for special occasions and every day, table top design—among countless other lessons on living graciously and artfully. She has written 90 books on these subjects, so we can follow her lead. Her latest book extends her artistry into horticulture and arranging flowers. We are thrilled that she has chosen the Arboretum to announce this book on her passion for growing flowers and engaging the best of design in gardens and flower arrangements. As lovers of the Dallas Arboretum, we share that passion.”

According to Penguin Random House: “Martha Stewart’s lifelong love of flowers began at a young age, as she dug in and planted alongside her father in their family garden, growing healthy, beautiful blooms, every year. The indispensable lessons she learned then–and those she has since picked up from master gardeners–form the best practices she applies to her voluminous flower gardens today. This lifetime of wisdom, compiled in Martha’s Flowers, forms a must-have handbook for flower gardeners and enthusiasts of all skill levels.”

According to Martha from her book: “At present my biggest garden project is Cantitoe Farm, my 150-acre property in Katonah, about fifty miles north of New York City…I have planted masses of my favorite kinds of flowers: a giant bed of pink-colored peonies; a very large perennial garden filled with all of my favorite lilies, poppies, and irises, among hundreds of others; two long gardens filled with many kinds of lilac shrubs; and borders of hydrangeas, Japanese maple trees, clematis, shade plants, and tulip beds…The bouquets and arrangements in this book resulted from our [Kevin Sharkey’s and my] close planning and envisioning—and luck—in growing spectacular blooms that combine well with one another, or with foliage, to bedazzle a room or call one’s eyes to attention.”

Tables are $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000. Tickets are $500 and $1,000. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact Missy Whisler at mwhisler@dallasarboretum.org or 214.515.6688. Visit dallasarboretum.org for more details.

The Great Contributor to Art Award was designed and donated by Gary Lee Price, whose Great Contributors exhibition at the Dallas Arboretum in 2016 was the inspiration for the award’s name.  Craig Hall, entrepreneur, businessman and lifelong art collector, received the inaugural Great Contributor to Art award in 2017.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.  The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. On-site parking is $15 or $9, if purchased in advance online. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum.  The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  

Excerpted from Martha's Flowers by Martha Stewart and Kevin Sharkey. Copyright © 2018 by Martha Stewart with Kevin Sharkey. All rights reserved.

On March 21 at 11 a.m. at Rosine Hall, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden invites the community to hear Alexandre de Vogüé speak about his family’s 17^th century chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, particularly the pioneering efforts of André Le Nôtre in designing its famous gardens. de Vogüé and his brothers, Jean-Charles de Vogüé and Ascanio de Vogüé, who now manage their ancestral estate, located just outside Paris, France, have also written a book, A Day at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, which will be available for purchase and signing after the speech. The talk is free to paid garden guests, although reservations are encouraged by contacting Mayra Salazar at 214-515-6677 or via email at msalazar@dallasarboretum.org.

Alexandre de Vogüé will give insight into the fascinating history of the estate as well as the modern day challenges involved in managing the largest private property in France, which is also listed as a historic monument. Together with his brothers, the fifth generation to own the family estate, he oversees an ongoing and ambitious restoration program, balancing attention to historic preservation and cultural heritage.

Vaux-le-Vicomte’s history began in 1641 when Finance Minister Nicolas Fouquet bought the estate and engaged three of the most famous artists of Grand Siècle: architect Louis Le Vau, painter Charles de Brun and landscape designer André Le Nôtre to transform it into a magnificent residence. The estate soon became the model that inspired Europe for more than a century, impressing even Louis XIV who engaged the same artists to build the château de Versailles. In 1875, a wealthy French industrialist named Alfred Sommier purchased the estate in an auction and undertook renovations to restore it. In 1968, Patrice de Vogüé, Sommier’s great grandson, opened the château to the public to raise funds to preserve the property. Now Patrice’s sons are continuing to preserve the splendor of Vaux-le-Vicomte.

A significant feature of the estate is the illustrious garden designed by Le Nôtre. Perhaps the leading landscape designer of all time, Le Nôtre’s work includes Versailles, Chantilly and the Tuileries.

Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum president and CEO, said, “We are fortunate to have one of the world's most significant estate owners speak with us, and we invite the public to join us. Some feel the garden design of Vaux-le-Vicomte may be among Le Nôtre’s best. We will hear how this landscape architect’s classic work is evidenced today at the de Vogue family’s lovely château."

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.   The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. On-site parking is $15; pre-purchased online parking is $9. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum. For more information, call 214.515.6500 or visit dallasarboretum.org.

With freezing weather approaching, it is important to take precautions to ensure your plants are protected from extreme weather conditions.  Following a few simple steps prescribed by Dave Forehand, Dallas Arboretum vice president of gardens, will enable your plants to survive the sometimes-harsh North Texas cold spells. 

Water plants before freeze:

First, water plants before a freeze, particularly the plant root zone. Water acts like a blanket insulating the roots. This makes the plant stronger against a freeze. When plant cells are full of water, they are less likely to be subject to frost damage. If possible, water a day or two before a freeze and make sure to water the entire root zone of the plant. This is especially important in newly planted trees and shrubs. Try watering early in the day so plants have time to absorb water before a freeze. If at all possible, avoid watering the foliage. If you have an irrigation system, hand watering might be the best option for certain locations. Keeping water off the foliage prevents the formation of ice on leaf material which can cause breaks and more damage.

Cover cold sensitive plants:

Cover them with blankets, sheets or towels. Do not use plastic because it is not breathable and will freeze to the plants causing damage. When daytime temperatures rise above freezing, it is important to remove the cover because, if left under cover all day, temperatures under the blankets can get too warm, damaging the plants and waking them from dormancy. 

If possible, use frost cloth:

Frost cloth acts as a blanket and helps trap heat. Make sure that you secure the cloth entirely around the plant and tighten to the soil using fabric pins or bricks (anything that will hold it down firmly will work). Frost cloth is made from a product that “breathes,” and this cloth helps against burn caused by other materials. Purchase frost cloth months in advance, if possible. When the threat of a freeze is coming, frost cloth sells out quickly. Do not use frost cloth when there is a chance of snow. Otherwise, it will cause more damage breaking plants from the weight of the snow.

Take care of plants constantly:

The healthier your plants are, the more prone they are to handle stress. Proper water and maintenance throughout the growing season will help in the winter months. It is also important to select the right plant for your area.  Check to make sure that the plant material you select is appropriate for your location. Check out USDA plant hardiness zone map to see what zone you live in. This information will help you purchase the best plant material for your zone.

Move plants inside, especially with high winds:

When high winds are a threat, it is a good idea to move potted plants into a shed or garage. Although plants don’t feel wind-chill, cold winds quickly dry them out.  Most plants can survive upper 30-degree temperatures easily in a shed or garage because these areas usually don’t drop below freezing until severe weather in February. 

For more plant tips, visit www.dallasarboretum.org.

A Tasteful Place, Dallas Arboretum’s newest year-round food destination, was the perfect foodie hot spot for the "Four Chefs Under Forty" on October 18. The evening served as the launch event for Growing Friends, a new membership level at the Dallas Arboretum for those 21 to 40 years old. Hosts Taylor and Richard Collinsworth, Molly and Justin Cox, Kari and Troy Kloewer and Catherine and Blake Woodall invited 200 of their friends and colleagues to be some of the first to party at A Tasteful Place, a 3.5-acre garden with a lagoon, pavilion and beautiful views of Dallas’ skyline, while listening to the band, the Culdesac Kids.

Well dressed guests walked the pathways of A Tasteful Place to see what was growing in the new gardens, all while sampling the delectable delights, generously prepared by the celebrity chefs. Chef Uno Immanivong of Chino Chinatown served a poke daikon taco. Chef Daniel Pittman of LUCK at Trinity Groves served a house pastrami slider with pickled beets and candied jalapenos. Chef Anastacia Quinones of Oddfellows served farro risotto with braised beef short rib and arugula, and Chef Andrea Shackelford of Harvest Seasonal Kitchen served nduja with yogurt and a crispy artichoke chip.

“I am so thankful for the Dallas Arboretum and to be able to be involved with a great organization. For those who are interested in helping to maintain and preserve this treasure in Dallas, please join Growing Friends,” said Taylor Collinsworth, co-host for Four Chefs Under Forty.

For more information about Growing Friends, visit http://www.dallasarboretum.org/support-volunteer/levels-benefits.