Mission

Clark Gardens inspires and demonstrates the many rich horticulture and nature-based possibilities of North Texas to tourists and residents alike.

Vision

To create a vibrant destination garden oasis in the rugged North Texas landscape:

• Welcoming all visitors with high-quality, vibrant experiences throughout the year;
• Showcasing beautiful architecture, gardens, and landscape features harmonizing with the native landscape;
• Offering gardens where visitors learn about adaptable and native North Texas plants, specializing in daylilies, iris, cannas, roses, and trees; and
• Celebrating the history of Clark Gardens and the region.

Guiding Principles

• We honor Mr. and Mrs. Clark’s examples of family, hard work, creativity, and respect for people, plants, and wildlife;
• We follow Mr. and Mrs. Clark's vision of a beautiful and peaceful North Texas retreat
• We maintain a pleasure garden showcasing plantings, architecture, and native and adaptable species;
• We welcome diverse audiences through high quality displays, programs, and events;
• We create dynamic opportunities to engage people actively throughout the year;
• We operate within our financial means.

The Max and Billie Clark Foundation / Clark Gardens is a 501(c)3 organization. If you believe in our mission and would like to help us move forward click here to donate.

Your gift truly has the power to make us grow!

Clark Gardens mission is to inspire and demonstrate the many rich horticulture and nature-based possibilities of North Texas to tourists and residents alike.

Your generous donations and continued support to Clark Gardens gives us support to continue providing the very best visitor experience and outdoor education to our community. Your gift is 100% tax deductible and will provide funds for programs, plants and ongoing operations. Your support is critical to our success.

Your belief in and support for Clark Gardens propels us forward. With your help, this will be another year of milestones and awesome memories!

Clark Gardens is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We appreciate your support.

Early Giving for North Texas Giving Day!

North Texas Giving Day is Thursday, September 19, but you can make a difference starting today with Early Giving!

Donate for North Texas Giving Day

This annual day of giving is an incredible opportunity to support local nonprofits like Clark Gardens.

This year, we are excited to focus on revitalizing Shady Alley, an important part of our garden's history. Shady Alley allows us to demonstrate shade gardening for pollinators and host classes on pollinator education. Thanks to your support, we're also able to provide pollinator education at no charge to local first graders, many of whom may not have the chance to experience the wonders of nature elsewhere.

We are truly grateful for the ongoing support and friendships we've built with our community. Every member, visitor, group tour participant, and school-aged child who attends our programs inspires us to continue working to create an unforgettable experience. Your involvement and enthusiasm are the heart and soul of Clark Gardens.

2024 Annual Fundraising Campaign Newsletter

Open Letter from the Director

Dear Friends,

As Max and Billie Clark built the garden, they poured their hearts, souls, and money into the endeavor. Their legacy is an inspirational botanical garden. For the past 18 years guests have come to relax, take in nature and leave their hectic lives behind them, if just for a while. Our guests come from all walks of life and from all over the world and have described the garden as peaceful, tranquil, and beautiful.

But, now, the long-term economic sustainability of the garden is at risk.

Managing a privately funded garden is very challenging. We rely on donors, members, and grants to provide the funding for the garden along with our earned income from events, admissions, and sales. Clark Gardens does not receive government funding-not from the county, city or state.

We can't do this alone. Here is how you can help.

Membership! Members allow the garden to fulfill its mission. They inspire us. They push us to be better. Individual members spread the word about the garden increasing visitation. Membership has benefits for members too. Members may enjoy the garden year-round, admission free (even in off season); they are included in exclusive members-only events, and they may enjoy perks at over 250 other botanical gardens. But, most importantly our members share with us a mutual commitment to the garden, striving to see the garden as a lasting institution for generations to come. See membership details/Become a member

Volunteers! The future of the garden is dependent on increasing the number of volunteers. In the past ten years, we have cut our staff by half due to economic constraints. We need volunteers who love roses, daylilies or irises to help maintain our collections. We need youth groups, scouting groups, and community organizations to volunteer their time maintaining specific areas of the garden. There are many volunteer opportunities: working in the gift shop, helping with the education program, driving cart tours, or running the trains. If you have as little as 4 hours a week, we can use your help. More volunteer information and application form

Donors! Our earned income makes up about 1/3 of the revenue needed to maintain the gardens. The other 2/3's must come from donors—individuals, community groups, foundations, and grants. If you are interested in seeing the garden continue to thrive, please consider donating. Donations may be designated to a particular project, or an area of the garden may be named in honor of a loved one. You may donate directly to the education fund. Purchase a bench or a tree to honor a milestone birthday or the birth of a new grandbaby.

In closing, I ask that you consider donating your time or financial resources to the gardens. Purchase a membership and become part of the Clark Gardens family. We need your support. Our long-term financial sustainability depends on it.

Sincerely,
Carol Clark Montgomery

Clark Gardens Is Grateful for Every Contribution

ANNUAL GIVING is the lifeblood of the garden. By giving to the annual fund you touch all aspects of the garden. You help maintain the trains, fountains, infrastructure and horticultural displays.

PLANNED GIVING gifts help ensure the long term financial security of the garden. Consider making plans to give to the gardens beyond your lifetime. Contact us for more planned giving information: 940-682-4856

Your donation to the MAX E. CLARK EDUCATION FUND allows the garden to offer quality education programs to area school children. Children in Palo Pinto County and Parker County benefit through either no cost or low cost programs. Currently programs include: pollinators, the impact of trees on our environment, Texas history and ecosystems.

Through our CELEBRATIONS, MEMORIALS & TRIBUTES program you may honor a loved one with a tribute tree, bench or naming rights to an area in the garden. These gifts may honor a loved one, or recognize a birth or marriage, or be special recognition such as to commemorate a colleague's retirement, or a way to promote your business. These are fully tax-deductible. Multiple donors (family, friends, co-workers) may contribute through honorary and memorial funds. See details about this program.

(TB) Tall Bearded

Tall Bearded iris have stalks with a height of 70 cm (27 1/2 inches) and above, with branching and many buds. Each stalk, in itself, makes a stately arrangement in the garden or in a vase. In addition to a wide variety of colors and patterns, the TBs display other qualities (such as ruffling and lacing) more frequently than do the other classes.

(LA) Louisiana

Louisiana Irises are a horticultural class of Iris that is equivalent to the botanical series Hexagonae. They range across the US Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida and up the Mississippi River to Iowa. They are called Louisiana Irises because the large diversity present in that state. They can be grown almost anywhere in the United States and even into Canada provided a few easy requirements for cultivation are met. The blooms are usually very wide petaled and open, showing brightly colored style-arms and sharp signal-crests. Some of the most spectacular Iris flowers are in plants of this group.

(SIB) Siberian

Siberians perform best with cooler conditions, regular moisture and a slightly acid soil. The blooms can be blue, purple, red-violet or yellow with newer cultivars in brown and orange shades, and can have a variety of forms from upright to flat and round. They are most attractive in established clumps that develop a bouquet effect and grow to a height of 2 to 4 feet, although some dwarf varieties are also available. Their grass-like foliage after bloom is one of their attractive garden features. They tend to bloom slightly later than the TBs. Cultivation of Siberians is easy.

(SPU) Spuria

Spurias are tall (2 to 5 feet in height) and elegant, and have very attractive foliage. The shape of the bloom often suggests orchids and the colors range from white and yellow through blue, wine and brown, often with bright yellow signals. This horticultural class is equivalent to the botanical Series Spuriae.

Clark Gardens is a participating garden in the American Horticultural Society (AHS) Reciprocal Admissions program. Garden guests who are members of a participating garden will receive free daily admission to the garden. Reciprocal admissions may not be used on ANY festival or special events day, such as Holiday Festival, Train Show, Summer Solstice or any other special event. We strongly recommend that individuals planning to use their AHS Reciprocal admission call ahead before their visit to inquire about exclusions.

Upon arrival to the garden all visitors please proceed to the Admissions Booth. A current membership card from the AHS or a participating garden entitles the visitor to a complimentary admission for one to the gardens. Each person using the reciprocal membership must show photo identification with current home address and a membership card in their name from their originating garden.

No discounts are given for tours, classes, or member only events.

Exclusions:

The AHS program allows for a 90 mile exclusion policy. However, Clark Gardens will allow members of both Dallas Arboretum and the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens reciprocal admission unless the visitor is a resident of Parker or Palo Pinto County.

Thank you for your Garden a Glow ticket order.

Tickets will called and held at the Admission booth.

Call Storie 940-682-4856 if you have questions.

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Let your staff recharge at Clark Gardens!

We can do a little or we can do it all; from catering and decorating to planning and facilitating activities, Clark Gardens can help you plan a day out of the office that will refresh your mind and recharge your batteries.

All-inclusive corporate retreat packages consist of breakfast and lunch, the use of our sandstone chapel for meetings, one of our spacious, permanent tented facilities for lunch, tables and chairs, linens, decorations and centerpieces, as well as team-building activities in the Gardens.

Call us today to learn more about how we can help
make your corporate event unforgettable!

Ansley
Clark Gardens Assistant Director of Events
940-682-4856

We are located 45 minutes from Fort Worth, Granbury, Stephenville and surrounding cities.

Being respectful and caring of the gardens and all who visit...

Smoking and Litter

• Smoking and tobacco products and devices are strictly limited to designated areas at the History House and the Admissions Area Public Restrooms. Smoking is not allowed in any other area including pavilions, tents and open areas throughout the garden. This policy is strictly enforced.
• We care about the environment. Please dispose of waste in recycle bins when appropriate. Do not litter.
• During private events and weddings certain areas of the garden will be off limits.
• Tour groups may reserve pavilions in advance. Non tour garden guests may not use these pavilions during the allotted reservation time.
• Train station: please do not allow children to climb on or touch any of the G Scale Trains or tracks.
• Garden guests are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes. The garden is home to spiders, insects, wild animals and snakes. We encourage caution while walking through the garden.
• The hours of operation are strictly enforced. Guests are expected to observe those hours. Garden gates are locked at 5:00 pm (Sunday) and 6:00 pm (Monday-Saturday).
• Tripods may not interfere with other guests or block garden pathways.
• To protect the plant collections Please do not stand or walk in garden beds or on rock or brick borders. Active sports and games are not permitted. Prohibited games and activities include, but are not limited to: kites, Frisbees or other plastic discs, roller skating, bike riding, footballs, baseballs and soccer balls.
• Do not pick flowers, leaves or collect seeds.
• Do not take or harm any of the wildlife. Please do not feed wildlife (this includes squirrels).
• Bicycles are not allowed in the garden. There is a designated bicycle stand in the parking lot.
• Please do not get into or play in the water features.
• Non aggressive dogs are permitted but must remain on leashes at all times. Dogs are not permitted to swim in water features including lakes. All pet waste must be removed by pet owner.
• Firearms are prohibited.
• Strollers and small wagons may be used in the garden to transport small children.
• All outdoor flames are prohibited including candles.
• Balloons are prohibited.
• Amplified music and noise-making devices are prohibited, unless pre-approved by Garden staff.

Accessibility

Many of the garden paths are suitable for wheel chairs or motorized carts for the disabled. (Clark Gardens does not have wheelchairs nor individual carts for rent).