It's time to plan a trip to Dallas Blooms

Dear Friend,
It’s time to plan for a trip to Dallas Blooms!

For the last couple of years I have managed to be in Dallas for “Dallas Blooms” which is a month long garden show with hundreds of thousands of bulbs in bloom during March and when they fade the really spectacular pink azalea display that happens the first week of April is even grander. The first year I went I didn’t have a camera with me because I had gone into Dallas for something else. I had an afternoon to spare so went over to the Dallas Arboretum (garden) to see what Dallas Blooms was all about. That year I was there on April 4th. There are about 20,000 azaleas in bloom at that time. The setting on the shores of White Rock Lake with downtown Dallas across the lake couldn’t have been prettier. Oh, and by the way I had driven by the Arboretum on other trips but the gardens are on ground that sloops down to the lake so you can’t see the flowers from the street. Last year I was there on about March 27 and only a few azaleas were in bloom but something like 400,000 bulbs were in bloom. These pictures are ones I took last year – when I was there in March at the height of the bulb dispay.

There is a 1930’s home to tour on the grounds and tea (light lunch) can be had, but I believe you need to make reservations. Hours and prices for all of this is on the Dallas Arboretum website and the link to it is at the bottom of this page. We hadn’t made reservations, but enjoyed a cold drink on a patio snack area There are numerous benches through out the gardens to sit on and enjoy a variety of views. I saw families sitting in the grass having a picnic – yes it’s okay to bring your own food. Artist were sitting and drawing in the gardens. I will go back this year in early April to see the azaleas. There is much to see and do in Dallas all year, but this time is just great – not to hot - gorgeous weather and a clean attractive city, much good entertainment and some of the best shopping in the southwestern United States.

While in Dallas a favorite hotel of mine that isn’t too far from the gardens is the Melrose. That’s the same Melrose that is in Washington D. C. The website address is at the bottom of this page. It’s not in walking distance of the Arboretum, but Dallas, being very spread out, has many lovely hotels that are many, many miles farther than the Melrose. We rent a car and drive in Dallas because of the distances from place to place. This isn’t a place that I would want to take cabs.

If you have just a few hours for shopping while you are there, North Park Mall is also just a few miles from the Melrose. North Park has recently had a tremendous revival – with shops like Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole New York, Lilly Pulitzer and Nordstoms coming into where there was already Dillard’s and Foley’s which are good all around department stores. The Melrose is on Preston Road which has very upscale wonderful shopping on it also – Highland Park Village center is there which is one of the oldest shopping centers – not a mall, in the country. Lovely architecture. The dining choices are almost unlimited with one of the more unusual casual sandwich/to go places being Eatzi’s on Oaklawn near downtown – just south of Lemon Ave.
I am grateful for Mother Nature, good food, and my husband and friends who share my interests.

Eatzi's address is:
http://www.eatzi’s.com. There’s a map on their website. This would be a great place to get your picnic lunch to take to the Arboretum.

Where is the Dallas Arboretum located?: The Dallas Arboretum is located at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas, 75218, on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake in East Dallas.
Their website is at
http://www.dallasarboretum.org/

The Melrose Hotel website address is
http://www.melrosehotel.com/index.asp