Wednesday, April 24, 2024
In his 50 professional years, Tumbleweed has interviewed some true Texas characters and assembled the largest private collection of oral history in the United States. He writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column and teaches broadcasting at the university level.
When the summer heat is at its peak people in Fort Worth seek refuge in the shade and beauty of the city’s Botanic Garden in Forest Park.
“We’re very well situated,” says Steve Huddleston, who served 26 years as the garden’s senior horticulturalist. “We are just west of downtown Fort Worth in an urban setting and yet we have this green space here so close to the downtown area. It’s a wonderful place for people to retreat and enjoy nature and see flowers. We’re an outdoor museum of living plants so we fit very well into the museum district, the cultural district. We’re the green lawn of the city, so to speak.”
The garden has a significant history.
“We are the oldest public Botanic Garden in Texas. We began in 1934. Our rose garden was the first public relief program in Fort Worth. It put a lot of men to work during the depression.”
The garden covers 110 acres and even during the pandemic attracts 200,000 visitors a year. Steve says there is so much to see and experience he recommends visitors spend at least three hours in the garden.
“We have a water conservation garden, a perennial garden, a fragrance garden. In all we have about 25 gardens that feature different kinds of plants.”
Throughout the year, the garden has all sorts of events and educational opportunities. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra does a concert over a 3-day period. There are formal teas in the garden and the exhibits are always changing. Just recently there were woodpeckers, gardeners, a praying mantis and other figures made from Legos
“Right now we have an exhibit called Stick Work which consists of saplings from American Elm and Rough Leaf Dogwood that were woven or fashioned into a structure that you can walk through, look through and explore. It’s very interesting.”
Sculptures are throughout the garden and there are several water features such as lagoons waterfalls and pools. A popular destination is the Japanese Garden.
“That’s a 7-acre garden. It has 3 large pools filled with Koi fish and is beautifully landscaped with plants native to Eastern Asia especially Japan. We have a lot of interesting structures in there as well. The whole environment is very authentic.”
Steve thinks a visit to the garden is extremely uplifting,“I love flowers. They are absolutely beautiful. Their form, their shape, their colors, their fragrance. They make us feel good.”
A mushroom (devil’s cigar) emerged from roots of cedar elm trees in the garden. The state legislature named it the official mushroom of Texas. It opens up like a star.
