Tulipmania at the Dallas Arboretum

The first tulips have finally opened up here, in spite of the monsoon that hit us last week, swelling creeks and small rivers, making travel hazardous and often circuitous, as many of us had to be inventive to find our way home.  But my basement has finally dried out, and our neighbors  no longer can claim to have lakefront property.  In between the rain showers I've managed a few hours working in the garden, still pruning and clearing out last year's debris.  But back to those tulips . . .

While my own tulips are just starting to bloom, I was fortunate to enjoy a bonanza of tulips three weeks ago while visiting my daughter and son-in-law in Dallas.  I arrived just in time to catch the end of the annual Bulb Festival at the Dallas Arboretum.  When I purchased my ticket, I asked if the bulbs were located in a specific location within the gardens. Foolish me!  The attendant kindly replied that they were everywhere throughout the garden, which soon became apparent. 

Tulips, tulips everywhere and in every hue imaginable!  The masses of tulips at the entry gate in the first photo were nearly finished, but inside the gates most were still in their prime.

I'm sure there were other spring-flowering bulbs featured in this festival, but it was the tulips that captured my attention on this sunny day.

Pink tulips mixed with purple and white pansies--my favorite spring color combo.

Even a pop of yellow looks good here.

'Blushing Lady' tulip--I didn't bother to write down names of different varieties, but I'm always drawn to tulips with these gradients of pink and yellow.  I've already ordered a similar type at the Chicago Flower Show for this fall.

While my favorite tulips are pastel or even flashy hot colors, there is something pristine and serene about these yellow and white ones . . .

. . . especially in a mass planting.

Covering 66 acres, the Dallas Arboretum is smaller than many such gardens around the country, but its size makes it easy to tour in an afternoon.  It is a family-friendly place, with exhibits and play spaces designed for children and lots of grassy spaces for children to romp.

Indeed, most of the children I saw were enjoying the open spaces as much as any exhibit.  

Older visitors appreciated all the benches strategically placed along the broad walkways.

All visitors are welcome!  (I even saw a few squirrels scampering about.)

Of course, the Arboretum is about more than just tulips--

azaleas were just as prominent and just as spectacular.

I would love to have a mass of these blooms in front of my house!

Trial gardens in one area contained new varieties of different annuals and perennials, 

including this bed of violas.

In another area a planting of columbines caught my eye.

I love the blue, but I'm thinking I'd like some of this color in my garden, too.

Many of us were intrigued by this unusual tree and stopped to get a closer look--

an Empress Tree, Paulownia tomentosa.

A beautiful terraced rock garden.

The Poetry Garden provided some inspiration--I thought of Juliet's balcony when I saw this rose-covered high wall.  Note the stunning blue delphiniums to the left.

An unusual water feature was a popular place, and no doubt is even more popular on a hot day.

One area of the Arboretum features different varieties of Japanese maples, stunning already in early spring.

The Dallas Arboretum has many different garden areas and even an historic home that can be toured, which I didn't have time for on this day.  The tulips were magnificent, but I'm looking forward to seeing what is in bloom at other times of the year as well.  I have my fingers crossed that Daughter and Son-in-law will be staying in Dallas for some time, because I definitely plan a return visit(s) to the Dallas Arboretum!