Not to knock the adage, “April showers bring May flowers,” but fragrant flowers and plants crop up year-round in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, on a combined 120-acre campus with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. With stunning garden views, a café, special exhibits and children’s programming, this oasis located in the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District is only minutes from downtown.
To help you navigate all those acres, read our roundup of the garden’s most kid-friendly attractions, plus all the upcoming events and exhibits you’ll want to plan for.
Native Texas Boardwalk
Get a look at the woods that wind through the gardens on the Native Texas Boardwalk, packed with 13 educational stations to keep the kids’ brains in learning mode and their bodies moving. Crawl through a faux, hollowed-out log, walk across balance beams made of logs, hop between smoothed tree stumps, and visit the Log Hotel to discover which mammals, amphibians, snakes and insects “check in” when trees become rotted.
On the 995-foot-long, elevated section of the boardwalk, visit the interactive boards to match birds with their signature chirps and grab a partner to play with the sets of Whisper Tubes. Your voices will carry to the next station through a series of tubes that span the boardwalk.
RELATED: A Guide to Dallas Arboretum
Stickwork
In the Fuller Garden, you’ll walk through a one-of-a-kind sculpture by nationally acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty. Sticks—twisted and woven into a larger shape—form to resemble a hut, a nest, a cocoon, a tower, a maze? One thing can be certain: The resulting creation will be as unique as the garden and as rooted in the landscape of Fort Worth. Stickwork will remain in the garden for guests to explore for as long as it survives the wind and weather. Watch a video about its creation here.
Backyard Vegetable Garden
To get the most out of your trip to the gardens, couple your visit with a free class at the Children’s Vegetable Garden, now called the Backyard Vegetable Garden. The learning garden is outfitted with vegetable garden beds, rows of corn, first-year fruit trees and compost beds. Educators and master gardeners will open up the two-story yellow playhouse and greenhouse for family programs.
Japanese Garden
A multitude of brightly colored koi fish – called Japanese imperial carp – fills the ponds throughout the seven-acre Japanese Garden, and they’re not shy about looking for handouts. Step onto any number of decks surrounding the ponds and let the kids feed them pellets, available at one quarter per handful from nearby dispensers.
Moon Bridge
The Japanese Garden is full of winding pathways and charming footbridges, though don’t miss the small section of “floating” stones, which you’ll find closest to the Moon Bridge. Those with sure footing can step out onto the round steps anchored in the water to get even closer to the koi and to pose for a photo.
Moon Viewing Deck
Over on the Moon Viewing Deck, the Japanese Garden has rather unique tribute to Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. Jutting up from the garden is a cone-shaped cement platform with a spacious flattened surface to symbolize the mountain’s summit, which is often hidden in the clouds.
The kids may be tempted to climb up the platform’s angled sides, but it’s safer to take the attached wooden steps. The platform sits on a hill overlooking much of the Japanese Garden and ponds, so you can imagine taking in a real mountain view.
Rainforest Conservatory
The 10,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed conservatory located inside the garden center is brimming with tropical plant life from the world’s rainforests, including the traveler’s tree, native to Madagascar and as tall as the building itself.
On your walk along the stone pathways, be sure to step up to the greenhouse’s waterfall. The cement seating area underneath provides a great view of the rather large fish in the tank below, respite from the sunlight and a calming end to a busy day at the garden.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Address: 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth
Contact: 817/463-4160; fwbg.org
Hours: 8am–5pm. Last admission one hour before closing. FWBG Members receive early admission at 7am.
Admission: $12 for adults 13 and older; $10 seniors 65 and older; $6 children 6–15 years; free for children 5 and younger. Peak pricing on-site: $15 adults; $13 seniors; $9 children. Free for members. Free parking.
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Address: 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth
Contact: 817/332-4441; brit.org
Hours: 10am–4pm Monday through Friday. BRIT Libraries and Herbarium are open by appointment.
See below for current and upcoming events at Fort Worth Botanic Garden:
