Garden Road Tripping, Volume 1

Spring Festival: Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

Like any mom on a budget, I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive family fun. Botanical gardens are tops on my list. There’s almost always something going on—festivals, art displays, education sessions—you name it. And when there’s not, the children are still content to roam around and just…be kids! (Outside! Without the TV! And game system. And laptop…you get my drift.)

Last weekend we headed to the Spring Festival at the Japanese Gardens, located within the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. This event, held each Spring and Fall, is definitely one of my kids’ favorites. (If you missed out last weekend, never fear! The Fall festival will be here before you know it. Click here for details.)

Admission: $5 for two grown-ups; $3 for each kid. $16 total. But, of course, we rounded up to $20 so we could get a handful of quarters to feed the koi. Cheaper than heading to the movie theater, and a heck of a lot more fun.

Feeding fish = superior live entertainment.

Words are inadequate to describe the Fort Worth Japanese Gardens. Your surroundings are outstanding. See?

 Even the ducks love it.

 And the monkeys, too.

Our first stop was the carnival games set up in the pavilion benefitting the Fort Worth Japanese Society. Here we’re using a rice-paper net to scoop up as many balls as possible before the net disintegrated. (The balls were then summarily placed in mom’s purse. How do I always become the pack mule?)

Then it was time for Mom to be a plant voyeur. I’ve always got to check out the display created by the Fort Worth Bonsai Society. I ogled this Japanese Maple…

 This evergreen beauty—a great starter plant for beginners…

 And several cleverly potted Jade plants…

 As you might have guessed, the kids were ready to move on to some action. We saw a cool sword re-enactment before the Fort Worth Dondoko Taiko Drummers took the stage—our favorite!

Inspired by the performance, the girls immediately began drumming practice once they got home. The racket was legendary.

I’d love to hear more about YOUR favorite garden getaway. Leave a comment and we’ll be sure to cover it on the blog.