The Dallas Arboretum presented its Great Contributors Award to Admiral William H. McRaven, former University of Texas System chancellor, retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral and New York Times best-selling author. He received the award on November 5 at a dinner with proceeds benefitting the Dallas Arboretum. After dinner, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison interviewed Admiral McRaven about world affairs, intelligence and national security.  Robin and Jim Carreker were event co-chairs, and Robin is also a former Dallas Arboretum board member.  

Admiral McRaven knows a significant amount about U.S. and worldwide military operations and foreign policy. He served as the Commander of Special Operations Command Europe, the Joint Special Operations Command, and as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Center. He also served as the chief architect of Operation Neptune’s Spear, the operation to find Osama bin Laden. For this mission, McRaven was named runner up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year. Additionally, from 2015 to 2018, he served as the 11^th Chancellor of The University of Texas system.

Some takeaways from McRaven:

He said of The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison who interviewed him: “She was one of the finest senators who served. Thank you for your incredible service to the nation and the world.”

On Osama bin Laden:

• “Since 9/11, we were always hunting Osama bin Laden.
• “There were hundreds of thousands (of people) that were all part of this effort of the fall of bin Laden. They are heroic and patriotic to the fight.”

On being a Navy SEAL and being called Bullfrog:

• “Navy SEALs start as a tadpole and evolve into a frogman. Then 34 years later, I became the bullfrog.”
• “As a SEAL, we learned about perseverance and failure.”

About the world now with Israel and Ukraine:

• “This is a much bigger fight. It’s about a fight for freedom.”
• “If we (U.S.) don’t lead, NATO will be hard pressed to follow, and someone else will lead.”
• “The U.S. needs to be an influence for good. We have a nation of laws, the best system of laws and fundamental values that are important here. Our economy is the most powerful, and our educational system is the best...in fact, 447 Nobel Laureates are from the U.S. This is why we need to be leading.”

About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The garden is also home of the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. It is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 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, Channel 8 is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  Timed tickets are required and can be purchased online at www.dallasarboretum.org or by calling 214-515-6615.

At the American Public Garden Association’s (APGA) annual conference in Dallas/Fort Worth, the organization awarded Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum retired president and CEO and now president emerita, with the APGA Service Award at a dinner held at the Dallas Arboretum on June 7.

According to APGA, “The Service Award is reserved for an individual who has shown selfless service to the organization through work that advances the Professional Communities, service on an Association Committee, and/or the Association’s Board of Directors.”

American Public Garden Association’s CEO Michelle Provaznik, “The Service Award is our highest honor, and we are pleased to honor Mary with it. In the past 28 years, she has set a goal of making the Dallas Arboretum—one of the largest public gardens in the nation— a garden for all to enjoy, an educational institution and a leader in plant trials and research. With her vision, her standard of excellence and her attention to detail, she has also shared her best practices with our members to help them achieve success.”

Will McDaniel, Dallas Arboretum Board chair, said, “Mary is deserving of this prestigious APGA Service Award. She has dedicated her life’s work to the Dallas Arboretum, and we are one of the nation’s top botanical gardens because of her efforts. During her tenure, the garden has developed 60 percent of its property and reworked the original gardens in place. She also fulfilled the last parts of the Dallas Arboretum’s mission by adding a strong education program and trial research program.”

Structural additions occurring during her tenure included the buildings of the Trammell Crow Visitor Education Pavilion; the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden; A Tasteful Place complex with the Test Pavilion; the Margaret and Jay Simmons Lagoon and gardens; the Boswell Family Garden; the McCasland Sunken Garden; the Richard L. Grant Octagonal Fountain Garden; the Nancy Clements Seay Magnolia Glade; the Henry Lindsley Shadow Garden; the Jan and Richard McMillan Fountain Renovation; the Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill and the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn; the Jeanne L. Johnson Pavilion; the Tres Amigas garden; the Martha Brooks Camellia Garden; and Linda’s Pocket Garden.

Additionally, Brinegar helped guide renovations of the parking lots, updating of the DeGolyer House and Camp House; the renovation of major garden areas including the Lay Family Garden and Terrace; the Palmer Fern Dell; the Rose Mary Haggar Rose Garden; the Dann Talley Kincheloe Courtyard and many other smaller areas. The Dallas Arboretum secured a loan for a parking garage, bought the land for a greenhouse and then built structures on it.

Major exhibits were added such as the Pumpkin Festival, The 12 Days of Christmas, the Dazzling Christmas Tree and the Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Christmas Village to boost attendance. In 2012, she helped bring a Chihuly sculpture exhibit to the garden—the first time attendance reached a million visitors. The Dallas Arboretum now has year-round activities and festivals for all interests, and has been named by many national sources as a major attraction in the city.

The Dallas Arboretum has been recognized extensively on a national basis with listings regularly among the finest gardens in America. Additionally Architectural Digest and others have named the Dallas Arboretum as one of the leading gardens in the world.

About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The garden is also home of the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. It is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 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, Channel 8 is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  Timed tickets are required and can be purchased online at www.dallasarboretum.org or by calling 214-515-6615.

The Dallas Arboretum held its Corporate Dinner on March 23 with more than 200 people whose companies and businesses support the garden at a high level. Guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. Tram drivers gave tours throughout the garden to see the Japanese cherry trees and the 500,000 spring flowers—tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and more—that were in full bloom in every color palette.

Dallas Arboretum Board Chair Will McDaniel welcomed guests to the Southwest’s largest floral festival and thanked the Dallas Arboretum board members in attendance. Robin Norcross, Dallas Arboretum contributed revenue committee chair, gave a state of the garden update including a recent accolade from Travel+Leisure that said this “Texas Flower Festival May be the Most Beautiful Springtime Destination in the U.S.” She also thanked the major donors, committee and staff for their contributions. Then visitors enjoyed a lovely dinner with the sounds of a jazz trio. McDaniel concluded the evening with final thanks to everyone for the continued support of this Dallas gem.

Special thanks to the following sponsors:

ADP, alliantgroup, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Alpha Xi Omega Chapter, Amegy Bank, American Airlines, AT&T, Baker Triangle, Bank of America, Bank of Texas, Boston Consulting Group, CC Young Senior Living, Camelot Strategic Marketing & Media, Capital One, Caruth Protection Services, Central Market/HEB, Cigna, Comerica, Coram Deo, Curls, Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians, Dave Perry Miller, Doyle & Associates, Ecolab, ExxonMobil, Frost Bank, GFO Homes, Gopuff, Gray Reed, HKS, International Paper, Jackson Walker, JHP Architecture/Urban Design, Kessler Collins, Kimberly-Clark, Kirkland & Ellis, Lennox, Marsh McLennan Agency, McDonald’s of North Texas, Mercer, MoveStar, Oncor, Park Place Dealerships, Pegasus Bank, Phillips/May Corporation, Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, Reliant, Rexel, Rosewood Corporation, RREAF Holdings, Sammons, SHM Architects, Sidley Austin, Texas Instruments, Texas Telcom Credit Union, The Dallas Morning News Charities, The Preston of The Park Cities, UMB Bank, Veritex Community Bank, Visit Dallas, Wells Fargo Advisors , WFAA, Channel 8.

Janet Jack, Dallas Arboretum board member and Black Heritage Celebration chairperson, and Tiffaney Dale Hunter, Black Heritage Celebration host committee chair, welcomed sponsors, host committee members and influential business and community leaders to a kick-off reception for the 3^rd Annual Black Heritage Celebration presented by Bank of America. The event was held at the Dallas Arboretum’s Alex Camp House on Feb. 23^rd.

A significant program for the Dallas Arboretum, the Black Heritage Celebration places the spotlight on the unique talents, art, products and services from the local black community, amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Dallas Arboretum. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7.

There are many exciting activities planned for the 3^rd Annual Black Heritage Celebration to include entertainment by Don Diego Band and Clover the Violinist, cooking demonstrations with Smoky John’s BBQ and a fashion show produced by Willie Johnson, which will showcase local black designers and the latest trends. This year, the Dallas Arboretum will also partner with the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce to host an Entrepreneur Showcase that will spotlight local business owners and a children’s celebration for kids of all ages. In addition, the two-day event will feature a vendor showcase with approximately 40 Black vendors selling and displaying unique products and services.

Janet Jack, Dallas Arboretum board member and Black Heritage Celebration chairperson, and Tiffaney Dale Hunter, Black Heritage Celebration host committee chair, welcomed sponsors, host committee members and influential business and community leaders to a kick-off reception for the 3^rd Annual Black Heritage Celebration presented by Bank of America. The event was held at the Dallas Arboretum’s Alex Camp House on Feb. 23^rd.

A significant program for the Dallas Arboretum, the Black Heritage Celebration places the spotlight on the unique talents, art, products and services from the local black community, amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Dallas Arboretum. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7.

There are many exciting activities planned for the 3^rd Annual Black Heritage Celebration to include entertainment by Don Diego Band and Clover the Violinist, cooking demonstrations with Smoky John’s BBQ and a fashion show produced by Willie Johnson, which will showcase local black designers and the latest trends. This year, the Dallas Arboretum will also partner with the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce to host an Entrepreneur Showcase that will spotlight local business owners and a children’s celebration for kids of all ages. In addition, the two-day event will feature a vendor showcase with approximately 40 Black vendors selling and displaying unique products and services.

For more information and to view the complete list of weekend activities, entertainment and vendors, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/BHC.

The Dallas Arboretum ushers in spring with the Southwest’s annual floral festival Dallas Blooms: Great Contributors from February 25 to April 16, 2023. Named by Southern Living as one of “The Best Places to See Stunning Spring Blooms Across the South,” Dallas Blooms, presented by Veritex Community Bank, features 500,000 spring blooming flowers from more than 120 varieties. Of that total, 350,000 are tulips, and the others are hyacinth and daffodils.

Back by popular demand is renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price, who returns with a new collection of Great Contributors realistic bronze statues displayed alongside the flowers, hundreds of Japanese cherry trees and thousands of azaleas. Joining the resident sculpture of William Shakespeare are eight additional statues: Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, Ruby Bridges, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. A fellow of the National Sculpture Society and recognized worldwide for his bold work lifting and celebrating the human spirit, Price makes his third appearance in the garden. On Dallas Blooms’ opening day—Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.—Price will sculpt in clay and talk about his work. This event is included with paid garden admission.

Dallas Arboretum Board Chairman Will McDaniel said, “Dallas Blooms is one of our most popular festivals with half a million flowers and stunning beauty at every turn. Gary Lee Price’s statues have become popular with visitors because of their life-like qualities, and I look forward to seeing the new collection. We invite you to visit with your family and friends.”

Dallas Blooms also features an abundance of music, food and events throughout the garden. The festival includes the return of the Cool Thursdays Concerts series. On the weekends at noon and other select dates, guests can enjoy live and piano performances in Jeanne’s Pavilion. On Saturdays and Sundays, visitors can head to the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn – the perfect place to picnic – and listen to the sounds of North Texas’ best party bands.

A Shakespeare Dallas appearance, a Window to the Wild bird show, garden markets and special events during holiday weekends add to the festival offerings. These include spring break (week of March 12), the 6^th annual Food & Wine festival (March 23-25) and Easter weekend (April 7-9).  Mommy and Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays return for children with plenty of fun activities. Check the website and social media for the latest schedule.

A Tasteful Place:

In A Tasteful Place, a 3.5-acre potager garden inspired by the movement toward growing, preparing and eating fresh, sustainable, locally-grown food, there are plenty of demonstrations. These events listed below are included with paid garden admission. 

• Daily: Samples of the vegetable of the month
  • Mondays: Dallas College Cooks Demonstrations at 11 a.m.
  • Tuesdays: Tasteful Tuesdays Floral Demonstrations at 11 a.m. and Chef Isabel Snetsinger at 1 p.m. with a cooking demonstration
  • Wednesdays: Chef-Tastic Cooking Demonstrations at 11 a.m. (check the website)
  • Thursdays: Daily Harvest demonstration at 11 a.m. See how to harvest the season's ripest produce and ask gardening questions.
  • Fridays: Learn to Grow Fridays with Master Gardeners, the Dallas Arboretum Horticultural Staff and local experts at 11 a.m.

There are also paid workshops and cooking classes of all kinds for child and parent/caregiver, couples and individuals. For the latest, visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/visitor-information/gardens-and-pavilions/a-tasteful-place/

Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum president and CEO, added, “There is something for everyone at Dallas Blooms especially the grandeur of the garden's collection of 3,000 azaleas that bloom along with the Japanese cherry trees, ushering in spring with vibrant color everywhere.”

Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden:

Reopened for the spring, the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden features 17 indoor/outdoor galleries, 150 interactive science games and daily events and activities of themed adventures throughout the Dallas Blooms festival. The Children’s Adventure Garden is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For a full list of upcoming events and activities, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/childrensadventuregarden.

Tickets/Information:

Tickets, which range from $12 to $20, are required and can be purchased online at www.dallasarboretum.org or by calling 214-515-6615. Parking is $11 purchased online or $15 at the gate. For the latest information, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/blooms.

Special Day Discounts:

Discounts include BOGO (Buy One, Get One Free) on Wednesdays (except for March 15) and CC Young Senior Living Thursdays (those who are 65 years and older receive discounted admission and 20% off in the Gift Store).

Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Veritex Community Bank

Additional Sponsors: CC Young, Dallas Public Tourism Improvement District, Texas Telcom Credit Union

Media Sponsors: The Dallas Morning News, WFAA, Channel 8

About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The garden is also home of the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. It is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Daytime festival admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors 65 and older, $12 for children 2-12, and free for Arboretum members and children under two. Parking is $11 purchased 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, Channel 8 is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  For more information, visit www.dallasarboretum.org.