Texas Discovery Gardens | Dallas Public Gardens | Environmental Education | Ecology and Plant Tours of our Organic Gardens

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see at Texas Discovery Gardens?

We feature more than seven acres of display gardens, a Certified Butterfly Habitat Garden, the Benny J. Simpson Texas Native Plant Collection. We are currently under construction for the future emergence of a permanent tropical butterfly house (The Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium). We are located in beautiful historic Fair Park and we are the first Certified Organic Garden in Texas.

Can we bring a picnic to Texas Discovery Gardens?

Yes, we would love for you to visit our garden and enjoy a picnic. We do ask that you respect the permanent residents of our garden (the plants and wildlife) and always leave the gardens and grounds as you found them, free of trash.

Do you rent your garden/building to the public for weddings/special events?

Yes, we rent our Grand Hall and Garden areas for wedding, special events, family reunions, birthday parties, company parties, corporate retreats/seminars and any other occasion. Please see our rental page for details

What do I do if there is inclement weather during my wedding or special event at the Gardens?

If a garden area is rented for a wedding or special event, Texas Discovery Gardens is not responsible for alternate event space due to inclement weather. Rental of the Grand Hall is recommended.

When will the Tropical Butterfly House (Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium) be open?

Our target date for the Grand Opening is scheduled for summer of 2009!

How do I get butterflies to come to my garden?

You can attract many butterflies to your yard by providing the nectar plants needed for butterfly survival.

Texas Discovery Gardens staff members have offices in the little white house located within the Gardens. Our offices are open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm.

Please schedule an appointment to meet with a staff member, as we are frequently accompanying visitors out in the Gardens or out of the office at meetings and outreach events.

The board of Texas Discovery Gardens is a 28-member volunteer governing and policy-making body, representing a cross-section of the Greater Metroplex population. The board includes professional people and community volunteers, all of whom have genuine and sincere interest in the mission and activities of Texas Discovery Gardens.

Barbara Hunt Crow
Board Chair

Community Volunteer

Clara H. Saafir
Board Secretary

Baker Botts LLP

Michael A. Garcia
Board Treasurer

Community Volunteer

Rick Blanton
Board Member

Caldwell Scott Corp., Abbott-IPCO, Inc.

Michael Bosco
Board Member

Soils Alive LLC & Sustainable Growth Inc.

Karen Cassady
Board Member

Central Market

Michael Cheever
Board Member

Sixth Floor Museum

Ann L. Fiorelli
Board Member

Carter & Burgess

Kathryn B. Gameros
Board Member

Jones Day

Evie Kincaid
Board Member

Tricia Quaid Landscape Design, Inc.

Rosie Kurtz
Board Member

Community Volunteer

Clara Saafir
Board Member

Baker Botts LLP

Claire Schwarz
Board Member

Attorney

Bettye Slaven
Board Member

Community Volunteer

Harold Spiegel
Board Member

Preservation Tree Service

Michael Terstriep
Board Member

Hunter Equity, LLC.

John Thomas
Board Member

Tropical John Garden Therapy, The Living Natural First Radio Show

Tignor Thompson
Board Member

Dallas County Master Gardener and Master Naturalist

Marilyn Waisanen
Board Member

Community Volunteer

Texas Discovery Gardens is a 501(c)(3) private, nonprofit organization funded, in part, by the Dallas Park & Recreation Department

Melissa Martin
Executive Director

214 428 7476 x 25
MMartin@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

Carron Short
Administration Director

214 428 7476 x 34
CShort@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

Sonja Foster
Event Rental and Facility Coordinator

214 428 7476 x 29
Rental@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

Neli Spurrell
Children's Education Coordinator

214 428 7476 x 27
Edu@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

Fran Anderson
Membership and Fundraising Coordinator

214 428 7476 x 22
FAnderson@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

Randy Johnson
Horticulture Director

214 428 7476 x 21
RJohnson@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

Sarah Gardner
Public Relations & Program Coordinator

214 428 7476 x 23
Contact@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

General Contact

214 428 7476 x 23
TDG@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

• Visitor Information • Contact Us •

Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park • 214 428 7476 • TDG@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org

3601 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd; Dallas, TX 75210 (physical) • PO Box 152537; Dallas, TX 75315 (mailing)