Stroll through the gardens of East Texas

Consider these local gardens for a picture scenery or a date night activity! Here is an index of the East Texas Gardens and Arboretums near you!

Know of another garden we didn’t list, let us know here!


Athens

East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society

One hundred acres of wooded beauty, trees, flowers, and wildlife await your discovery at the East Texas Arboretum. The forest appears to come alive as you meander along two miles of woodland trails.

Beaumont

Olive Scott Petty Arboretum

The mission of the Olive Scott Petty Arboretum is to promote the knowledge and appreciation of trees and plants for personal enjoyment, inspiration and recreation; for educational and aesthetic purposes; and for scientific research.

The arboretum is in the process of being grown. When complete, it will serve as a living classroom—a site of teaching, research and public education related to the native trees and plants of southeast Texas.

Gladewater

Helen Lee’s Daffodil Garden

Take a trip to see the gardens and walk among the blooming flowers, dogwood trees and redbud trees. Admission is free, but a donation is recommended, and appreciated, to help fund maintenance of the grounds throughout the year.

Henderson

Lake Forest Park

Enjoy a 60-acre community park that includes a 15-acre lake located on Highway 64, with walking trails, a gazebo over the lake, and an arboretum.

Jacksonville

Ruth Bowling Nichols Arboretum

Named in honor of Sen. Nichols’ mother, the Ruth Bowling Nichols Arboretum features several trails. The main trail is a quarter mile long and broken into three sections, each featuring the different types of forests—pure pine, mixed hardwood and pine and hardwood—that are represented along the trail.

Longview

J.R. Curtis, Jr. Memorial Garden for the Blind

The goal of the J.R. Curtis, Jr. Memorial Garden for the Blind was to create a space in which learning and recreation came together to form a healing environment. The concept of a healing environment is based on the understanding that there is a medical connection between mind, body, and soul. Healing gardens are intended to provide an ordered place where its occupants will experience a sense of well­-being and wonder that will alter their mood.

Longview Arboretum and Nature Center

This is a privately managed arboretum garden in the heart of Longview. Like many other arboretums across our nation, a respectful partnership exists between the City of Longview and the Board of the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center regarding the sustainability of this massive endeavor. This public/private partnership allows for cultivation, development, private investment, and collaborative maintenance on 26-acres between the Longview Convention Complex and Grace Creek tributary.

Murchison

Glenda Mae’s Daylily Farm

Explore daylily gardens displayed over three acres. Visitors are welcome to tour the gardens. Peak season is late May through mid-June. Bring your family and camera for this great photo opportunity. They grow over 400 named cultivars and many, many more unnamed cultivars and offer daylilies in pots or we will dig from their gardens.

Nacogdoches

SFA Gardens

Visitors, students and lifelong learners are drawn to the natural beauty of the SFA Gardens. Together, the five gardens contain 128 acres of green space. Those who experience the gardens leave with a new sense of discovery and wonder. They host children, school groups, adults, and families for interactive programs and events throughout the year.

Quitman

Wood County Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

The Wood County Arboretum covers 23 acres and includes a walking trail, gazebo, sensory garden, shade garden, a waterwise garden, numerous rose and flower beds, and the historic Stinson House, built in 1869. The gardens are open year-round and are free to the public. The Stinson House is open by appointment and can be rented for parties and receptions.

Tyler

Tyler Rose Garden

Enjoy your visit to the largest public collection of roses in the United States. The Rose Garden features more than 32,000 bushes and 600 cultivars. The gardens are FREE to the public. The Tyler Rose Garden includes gardens within it such at the Tyler Botanical Garden & multiple other gardens maintained by The Smith County Master Gardeners.

The Children’s Park of Tyler

It provides a place of quiet reflection for families and friends who have lost a child, a restful alternative to a cemetery. It’s a place to reflect, to celebrate, to grieve, to heal—and a place for children to play and laugh. It is a special space in our city that says to all our children, “You are special and honored!” Tyler is known for its beauty and wonderful sense of community. The story of The Park reveals the passion and unity of our citizens who wanted this project to become a reality.

Tyler Azalea Trail & Spring Flower Trail

Visit Tyler each spring when we celebrate the season with more than ten miles of residential gardens and historic home-sites covered with azaleas, tulips, wisteria, dogwood, and more. This annual spring event has been described as a floral wonderland and a photographer’s paradise. The Azalea & Spring Flower Trail takes place in March and April each year. Springtime in Tyler is one of the best times of the year to stroll the brick streets and enjoy the beauty of the area.


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Jade Allen

Jade Allen

Jade Allen explores East Texas to bring the most exciting activities and locations to The East Texas Weekend. Jade came to Texas in 2018, where it has steadily become a home and a place to explore.