The largest floral festival in the Southwest, Dallas Blooms, returns on February 27 and continues through April 10 with the theme “The Artistry in Nature”, showcasing an explosion of color with more than 100 kinds of spring bulbs totaling 500,000 blooms and dazzling layers of landscape at every turn. In addition, renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price’s Great Contributors Bronze Statues exhibit is set among one of America’s best floral festivals, sponsored by Bank of America.

“Bank of America is once again honored to sponsor Dallas Blooms, a premier outdoor event that deepens our cultural experience in North Texas,” said Gillian Breidenbach, Senior Vice President and North Texas Market Manager. “In addition to benefiting our local economy, Dallas Blooms is a magnificent spring tradition, and we look forward to this festival in a spectacular setting.”

The Great Contributors exhibit is a part of Gary Lee Price’s renowned art collection. A fellow of the National Sculpture Society, Price has been recognized worldwide for his bold work lifting and celebrating the human spirit. The life-size bronze sculptures that will be placed throughout the spring garden include Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Claude Monet, Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, Mark Twain and the Wright Brothers, many of which are on benches or in garden settings.  

Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum President and CEO, said, “Dallas Blooms is arguably the largest display of tulips in a public garden anywhere west of Holland. There are also thousands of azaleas and dozens of Japanese cherry trees blossoming throughout the spring season. With this year’s addition of the Great Contributors bronze statues among the many spring-blooming bulbs, guests are sure to have a special experience in our breathtaking garden.”

Dallas Blooms features tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, violas, poppies and thousands of other spring-blooming annuals and perennials.  The finale of this spring celebration is the mass flowering of the garden’s collection of 3,000 azaleas that bloom during the end of April.  

Throughout Dallas Blooms, there are many events to celebrate one of “America’s Best Spring Floral Festivals”, according to Fodor’s Travel in 2015.

Mommy and Me Mondays & Tiny Tot Tuesdays: February 29–April 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and located in the Pecan Grove, children’s activities include face painting, a petting zoo, story time and Kindermusik. In case of rain, check the website or call 214.515.6500 the morning of the event as activities may take place indoors.

Nature Nights: Wednesday Evenings, March 2 – October 19

New! The garden extends its hours to 8 p.m. each Wednesday for families and friends to enjoy a night out during the week. As an added activity during the evening, Booker T. Washington art students provide free instruction in various mediums and locations throughout the garden, geared toward 6 to 12-year-olds from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

C.C. Young Senior Thursdays: March 3 – April 7

Senior-friendly tours and activities are offered each Thursday during the festival, including health and wellness activities, discounts, music, garden instruction and more.

C.C. Young Senior Thursday Spring Fling: March 24, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Derik Lorin Jazz Trio serenades guests along with health and wellness activities and guided tours of the Great Contributors exhibit.

Dallas County Master Gardeners: Fridays, March 4 – April 1

DCMG partners with the Arboretum Horticulture staff to share the secrets of the ever-changing floral displays. Staff is available to answer questions at rotating locations throughout the garden.

Spring Teas: February 29 – April 8

A favorite tradition during Blooms are the spring teas held at the beautiful Restaurant DeGolyer by Gil’s Elegant Catering. Seatings are available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday in the DeGolyer Tea Room. The prices range from $49 to $59 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 214.515.6511 or by emailing sarmanovs@dallasarboretum.org. The seated tea is for adults and children ages 13 years and older.

Saturday Morning Yoga: February 27 – October 29 (Members Only)

Starting at 7:30 a.m. for members only, early morning yoga returns through October 29. Bring mats. Rain accommodations are made when possible.

Gary Lee Price Unveils the Great Contributors Exhibit: February 27

Meet renowned sculptor and artist Gary Lee Price and hear him speak to his inspiration, planning and process of casting his pieces that are displayed in the garden. Check the website for more details and time.

Spring Break Camps: March 7 – 18

Organized by grade level, these camps cater to children’s interests from 3 years to 8^th grade. Unforgettable camp adventures are led by experienced Arboretum teachers, rain or shine. Registration opens January 4 at 10 a.m. Visit www.dallasarboretum.org to learn more.

Washington’s Cherry Dessert Competition: March 19, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Guests that like to bake are invited to bring their best cherry dishes (pies, cakes, tarts, crisps, bars, jams, etc.) in various categories to be judged by a panel based on appearance, taste, consistency and technique. For $2 per entry, anyone can enter in honor of George Washington’s Cherry Tree Legend. The winning recipe will be featured in Restaurant DeGolyer’s Garden Tea menu from April through September.   

Good Friday Children’s Concert & Activities: March 25

Sponsored by DallasChild, the Dallas Arboretum celebrates Good Friday with a concert by family favorite Eddie Coker at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn. Children’s activities include face painting, crafts and a petting zoo. In addition, the Mission Winds Clarinet Quartet of the United States Air Force Band of the West performs from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden: Reopens February 27 – December 31

Reopening on February 27, this eight-acre scientific children’s garden is where science and fun become one. There are 150 interactive exhibits, many of which include technology, where guests can learn about pollination, habitats, photosynthesis, electricity and more. Spring events include a Kids’ Workshop with Home Depot, Earth Day with the University of Texas at Dallas, Wild Animal Adventure with the Dallas Zoo and Billy Goats Gruff with The Dallas Opera. Daily plant labs include How Sweet It Is!, Cabbage Juice Chemistry and more. Check the website for up-to-date details.

Cool Thursdays Concert Series: March 17 – June 30

Cool Thursdays, sponsored by Wells Fargo, return this April with new and exciting national cover bands and some of the Metroplex’s best food trucks. The series includes several new bands featuring tributes to musical greats such as Billy Joel, the Eagles, Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones. Crowd favorites return such as Emerald City, Bruce in the USA and Le Freak. Gates open at 6 p.m. with concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m. Guests can bring a picnic or purchase food from popular food trucks. Nearly all of the 2015 concerts were complete sell-outs, so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets or subscriptions today.

Discounts:

Group discounts for 15 or more are available with advance registration by calling 214.515.6520. C.C. Young is the Senior Thursday sponsor, with discounted admission of $11 for seniors 65 and older and a 20% discount in the gift store. Tom Thumb sells discounted tickets for $1 off the regular price. BOGO Wednesdays, which are buy one get one free admission, are available at the ticket booth only and exclude spring break, with a limit of one purchase per person.

WHAT:

As a part of the Dallas Arboretum’s The Artistry of the Nativity exhibit, Broadway star George Dvorsky’s extensive collection of 300 crèches from around the world have been showcased in the elegant library of the historic DeGolyer House among the lavish holiday décor and design. Dvorsky will return for a meet and greet on Sunday, January 3 at 2 p.m. on the last day of the collection’s exhibit.

Having a long list of Broadway appearances and star roles, Dvorsky has performed with symphonies all over the world, allowing him to expand his collection of nativities from many of the places he has traveled.

“As a child, I was fascinated by the true Christmas story and the purity and beauty that it promised every year,” Dvorsky said. “My dream now is to share them all by displaying them in museums or other appropriate settings so that everyone can discover what I did as a child – the true meaning of Christmas.”

Also on display throughout the DeGolyer House are the many other crèches that make up The Artistry of the Nativity exhibition with 500 total nativities, including Dr. and Mrs. Ray Harrington’s collection among others.  

WHEN:

Sunday, January 3 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the DeGolyer House at the Dallas Arboretum

8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218

WHY:

Guests can tour the lavish DeGolyer House, see more than 500 nativities and meet Broadway star and nativity collector George Dvorsky.

As a part of the Dallas Arboretum’s The Artistry of the Nativity exhibit, Broadway star George Dvorsky’s extensive collection of crèches is showcased in the elegant library of the historic DeGolyer House beginning November 27 through January 3. In the 1,700-square-foot library of the 21,000 square foot historic home celebrating its 75^th anniversary, Dvorsky’s collection of 300 nativities from around the world are carefully displayed among the lavish holiday décor and design.

Having a long list of Broadway appearances and star roles, Dvorsky has performed with symphonies all over the world, allowing him to expand his collection of nativities from many of the places he has traveled. He has starred on Broadway in the title role of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the Tony Award Winning Passion, Marilyn: An American Fable and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He also played Prince Charming in the premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Lincoln Center where he also acted the role of Tommy in Brigadoon.

Dvorsky’s fascination with nativities began as a young child when his father would wait until the church emptied and take him down the aisle to see the beautiful crèches displayed on stage. At that age, he said that was what he considered to be the most beautiful pieces of art.

In the past 30 years, Dvorsky has collected approximately 300 nativity sets from many places he has traveled and from friends and family. Some are small enough to fit in a doll house, one is made out of beeswax, another is made by the Italian sculptor Armani, one is crafted from banana tree leaves in Tanzania, one set was gifted from former First Lady Barbara Bush and Dvorsky’s favorite nativity was hand embroidered and crocheted by his mother.

“As a child, I was fascinated by the true Christmas story and the purity and beauty that it promised every year,” Dvorsky said. “My dream now is to share them all by displaying them in museums or other appropriate settings so that everyone can discover what I did as a child – the true meaning of Christmas.”

Also on display throughout the DeGolyer House are the many other crèches that make up The Artistry of the Nativity exhibition with 500 total nativities, including Dr. and Mrs. Ray Harrington’s collection. The Artistry of the Nativity is open for viewings from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and on Wednesday nights in December during The 12 Days at Night.

Holiday at the Arboretum sponsors include Iberia Bank and Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District. For The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit also taking place as part of the holiday festivities in the garden, the gazebo sponsors include the following:

Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree

Sponsored by Jeanne R. Johnson

Day 2: Two Turtle Doves

Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum

Day 3: Three French Hens

Sponsored by Faye C. Briggs

Day 4: Four Calling Birds

Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum

Day 5: Five Golden Rings

In honor of Great Grandparents Dolph and Evelyn Bosley and their 5 Gold Rings

Day 6: Six Geese A-Laying

Sponsored by Marilyn R. Corrigan

Day 7: Seven Swans A-Swimming

Sponsored by Tom and Phyllis McCasland

Day 8: Eight Maids-A-Milking

Sponsored by Kathy and Gene Bishop

Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing

In Honor of Chloe Simone Shea. Given by Holly & Tom Mayer, Maile and Charles Shea

Day 10: Ten Lords A-Leaping

Sponsored by The Margot A. and Carl J. Johnson Foundation

Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping

Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum

Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming

Sponsored by Myron K. Martin

For more information about The Artistry of the Nativity and George Dvorsky’s collection, watch the video or visit www.dallasarboretum.org.

Chandler Lindsley, the granddaughter of Eleanor and President Franklin D.  Roosevelt, didn’t start out writing cookbooks, but she realized that her cookbooks were selling like hotcakes in the places where she volunteers and supports.

Last fall during Autumn at the Arboretum, the garden featured the “Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Festival Recipes.” The inspiration for this collection came from Lindsley. This winter as the Dallas Arboretum opens The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit throughout the garden on November 8, it also debuts “The 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Cookbook.”

Mary Brinegar, president and CEO of the Dallas Arboretum, said, “The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit and its concept conceived by Phyllis McCasland has been so well received that our guests have visited our gift shop for items featuring The 12 Days to share with friends. We now have ornaments galore, special aprons and t-shirts, but one thing was felt to be missing.”

Brinegar added, “Chandler Lindsley, who wrote the Pumpkin Cookbook, offered to write one on great holiday cookies and share the photographs of this magnificent holiday exhibit on The 12 Days of Christmas as this Pumpkin Cookbook has been very popular. She began doing books like this for the gift shop at Roosevelt Campobello International Park where she wrote a book called ‘Cookies for Eleanor’ featuring favorite cookies of her grandmother, Eleanor Roosevelt.”

Lindsley said, “I’m happy that there’s a grand Christmas exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum. This cookbook will get people in the holiday spirit as baking and sharing favorite cookies are a part of celebrating the season.” 

This new book, which is available at the Arboretum’s Hoffman Family Gift Store for $4.95, features recipes from Lindsley, docents from the Arboretum chaired by Barbara Brooks and a tasting committee of willing staff and volunteers who selected the best tasting cookies. A sampling these recipes includes Chocolate Mint Cookies, Peppermint Meringues, Pecan Snowballs and Maple Syrup Sugar Cookies.

All proceeds from the book will go to the care, maintenance and growth of the Arboretum.

Holiday at the Arboretum features the return of the magnificent 12 Days of Christmas outdoor exhibit from November 8 to January 3 and The Artistry of the Nativity at the DeGolyer House, November 26 to January 3 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. On certain evenings, the garden remains open for extended hours for The 12 Days at Night displaying the illuminated gazebos for magical viewings. New this year is the addition of 500,000 lights throughout the garden, trimming the architecture of the historic homes and lighting the canopies overhead—including a 30-foot-tall tree at the center of property.

Holiday tea, Santa sightings and special activities round out a visit to the garden.  For the first two weeks of The 12 Days nighttime exhibit, special ticket pricing with parking included, is available. Tickets are based on limited availability. For more information, visit dallasarboretum.org.

In the historic DeGolyer House lavishly decorated for the holidays, The Artistry of the Nativity exhibition returns with 300 crèches from around the world, displayed at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden daily from November 27 to January 3. In addition to the Ray Harrington Collection, which the Arboretum owns, the George Dvorsky Collection will return. Dvorsky’s long career on Broadway and a lifetime spent traveling has allowed him to amass a collection of unique and collectible crèches from around the globe. This collection is a part of Holiday at the Arboretum, which also features The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit and other events throughout the garden.

The DeGolyer House is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with guided tours, and on select Wednesday evenings during the holiday season, it is open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. In special celebration, Restaurant DeGolyer will be open for reservation-only dinners on Wednesday evenings for guest to enjoy an elegant dinner and a tour of The Artistry of the Nativity. Dinner at Restaurant DeGolyer is available December 2, 16, 23 and 30, with seatings at 7 p.m The three course elegant dinner is $52 per person, excluding alcohol. Reservations are required by contacting Susan Armanovs at 214.515.6511 or sarmanovs@dallasarboretum.org.

“The Artistry of the Nativity is such an amazing addition to Holiday at the Arboretum. These collections of crèches are perfect for families, church groups and friends to see together,” said Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum president and CEO. Brinegar added, “Along with the collection of nativities, the lavish holiday displays in the DeGolyer House only add to the magical holiday spirit in the garden.”

While visiting, guests are invited to stroll through the spectacular outdoor exhibit, The 12 Days of Christmas, featuring a dozen 25-foot-tall, Victorian style gazebos representing the beloved Christmas carol, dispersed throughout the 66-acre garden. This year, The 12 Days of Christmas is open at night, enhanced with an added 500,000 holiday lights, illuminating the trees and intricate gazebos, trimming the architecture of the historic homes and lighting the canopies overhead.

For more information on Holiday at the Arboretum, to purchase tickets or to make dinner reservations, please call 214-515-6615 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org.