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Garden Party

By M+E Staff

Planners and guests agree: There are real benefits to gathering in the blooms in Texas.

April showers bring May flowers or so goes the childhood rhyme. But thanks to the number of world-class botanical gardens in the Lone Star State, groups can enjoy floral surroundings for events any time of the year.

Holding a gathering at a botanical garden automatically sets the mood for guests of a gala or corporate celebration. Houston attorney Marcie Rhodes was a guest at a private event held at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and describes the venue as a “natural but impeccably manicured backdrop.” The event was “sparkling and the beautiful outdoor setting made everything shine,” she says.

Moreover, private event rentals of botanical gardens are often used to fund important research regarding the conservation of plants and the natural environment. The 66-acre Dallas Arboretum, for example, has been listed among the top arboretums in the world and includes a complete life science laboratory.

It also has been named one of the best event venues in the country by The Salonnière, a website dedicated to the art of party hosting. Planners can choose from four venues including the 5,000-square-foot Rosine Hall, which accommodates seated dinners for up to 350 guests or lectures for a maximum of 600. Additional venues include the 21,000-square-foot DeGolyer Estate, listed on the National Register of Historic Places; A Tasteful Place, a glass-walled culinary venue; and Alex Camp House, a two-story home with a lush lawn and views of White Rock Lake.

Botanical gardens also offer a glimpse into different cultures and serve as a learning environment. In Texas’ Gulf Coast region, the 50-foot-by-100-foot, climate-controlled Global Collection Garden Tent at Houston Botanic Garden overlooks the 3-acre Global Collection Garden, which features plants from tropical, subtropical and arid zones from around the world.

“Groups who meet at the garden can arrange for access to the paths and trails,” explains Justin Lacey, director of communications and community engagement. “Last Christmas, we had three companies plan their holiday parties in our Global Collection Garden Tent, and they all went in on the event budget for the decor and event furniture. The three events coincided with our holiday lights trail, so their guests could take advantage of that as well.”

Events also can be held in the Culinary Garden’s 30-foot-by-50-foot, climate-controlled tent located among edible and medicinal plants, including Mexican mint marigold, spineless prickly pear, turmeric, sugar cane and Turkish sage.

Thanks to varying climates, the gardens themselves can be, albeit peripherally, a testament to the perseverance of the farmers and gardeners of Texas’ past. Facing drought, high winds, scorching sun and heavy soil, the founders of Amarillo’s first garden club had their work cut out for them in 1929. The tenacity and success of that first club inspired the founding of Amarillo Botanical Gardens in 1968. The 4.4-acre attraction in Medical Center Park is a popular choice for area galas and events. Planners can choose from a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces for private events, and groups of up to 320 can be accommodated in various outdoor garden spaces.

With their beautiful and serene natural settings, gardens also can serve as a much-needed mental health respite from the chaos of the past few years and provide planners with no-headache (or at the very least, headache-reducing) planning assistance. Clark Gardens, located in North Texas between Weatherford and Mineral Wells, was once the private garden of Max and Billie Clark and opened its gates to the public in 2000.

Clark Gardens offers all-inclusive corporate retreat packages, including breakfast, lunch and teambuilding activities. Among the many spaces that planners can choose from are the 5,000-square-foot Bowling Green (for up to 350 guests), Channel Garden with two covered and furnished pavilions, a chapel, and East Tent, a 6,000-square-foot permanent tented venue surrounded by antique roses and featuring chandelier lighting, a permanent stage, dance floor and bar area.

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