Upcoming Events

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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).

What the Billie Y. Clark Fund Does

The purpose of the fund is to help educate and offer assistance to our neighbors impacted by Alzheimer's Disease in the rural areas of North Central Texas... in memory of Billie Y. Clark.

Each year, several free educational seminars will be offered to citizens living in Parker and Palo Pinto Counties and neighboring communities. These events will be funded by the Billie Y. Clark Fund.

Visit the North Central Texas Alzheimer's Association website: www.alz.org/northcentraltexas

ASLA Associate

Mr. Fromme is Studio Outside’s leader for public garden collaborations and brings a vast knowledge of horticulture, garden precedents, aesthetics, and design to each project. Degreed in both horticulture and landscape architecture, he can identify, recall, and specify a diversity of plants on any given project, adding a layer of texture and sensory aspect to landscape site work.

Fromme is known for his expertise with facilitating team-based creative group process to create compelling and memorable places that invest participants in the outcomes. His designs all creatively innovate within the traditions and diverse contexts of the project. A proponent of experiential design, he choreographs relationships among people, spaces, and plants. Fromme communicates eloquently through graphics, writing, and verbal formats.

For a decade Fromme led planning and design at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and traveled throughout Europe touring grand gardens and parks. He has lectured extensively in the United States and teaches communications in the University of Texas’ graduate landscape architecture program. His published articles have appeared in Landscape Architecture Magazine, American Gardener, the UAE Landscape Magazine and the journal, The Public Garden.

Education

• University of Georgia, Master of Landscape Architecture, 1996
• University of Delaware, Honors Bachelor of Plant Science; concentration in Ornamental Horticulture Summa Cum Laude, 1993

Experience

• MESA Design Group 2006 – 2010
• Longwood Gardens, Inc. 1996 – 2006
• The American Gardener Magazine’s “Gardening by Design” series, 2003 – 2005
• University of Texas Arlington Graduate Course Lecturer, 2009-present

Professional Societies

• Founder and Chair of the American Public Garden Association Design Professional Section, 2004 – 2007
• American Horticultural Society, Garden Design Advisory Board, 2004
• American Society of Landscape Architects, 2006-present

Awards and Honors

• Texas ASLA
• TEXAS ASLA
• Interiorscape Maagazine
• Food and Wine Magazine’s 2004 “35 Tastemakers Under 35”
• National ASLA Merit Award in Communications, 2006

Selected Public Garden Projects

• Atlanta Botanical Garden Edible Garden, Storza Woods Master Plan, Spring Bulb Show Master Plan, and Orchid Daze 2007-2011
• Bryant Park Children’s Area Concept Designs
• Carleen Bright Arboretum Master Plan and Event Pavilion
• Callaway Gardens Design Consulting
• Cleveland Botanical Garden Spring Bulb Show Master Plan and Orchid Mania 2011
• Hall Family Generations Garden
• Huntsville Botanical Garden Planning and Design Staff Development Workshops
• Garvan Woodland Gardens 2008 Averill Master Plan
• Longwood Gardens 2000 Master Plan, East Conservatory, and Indoor Children’s Garden
• NorthPark Center Seasonal Displays Red Butte Garden Hillside/Conservation Gardens and 2010 Master Plan Update
• Saint Marks School of Texas North Quadrangle and Teaching Greenhouse/Science Courtyard
• San Antonio Botanical Garden Master Plan and Seasonal Displays
• Toledo Botanical Garden Master Plan and Children’s Garden United States Botanic Garden Terrace Gardens

Terri Cage is a horse loving photographer! Among her favorite subjects are nature, wildlife and equine.

Terri says, “I always had some type of camera and slowly upgraded. I grew up in a photography loving family and we even had a dark room in our house. I never stopped taking photos even after working a regular 8 to 5 job for 20+ years. It was finally time to do what I love and help others build memories. Haven't looked back and am constantly learning and building my photography business.”

She loves to use natural and artificial light in her style of photography.  “ I am constantly learning new techniques on the use of light and how it improves my photography.  I do not over edit my photos, I prefer to only enhance colors, details and retouch. I like my photos to look natural without overblown colors.

Her specialties are equine photography, ranch calls, equestrian events, nature, wildlife, senior portraits, fashion, model portfolios, photography lessons and an occasional wedding.

Photography lets the creative side of me tell a story and help bring memories to those on the other side of the camera. Meeting a wide variety of people and seeing new places is a big plus too!

You may visit her website at terricagephotography.com

Mary Otto is an advocate for her business as well as the need for people to know some basics on canning and natural health care. Being Amish/Mennonite, growing up on a working farm, and learning how to grow, cook, bake, & preserve food comes naturally for her. Mary has also taken courses at Toastmasters to learn public speaking. She enjoys teaching groups and individuals to be more self sufficient.

As a working entrepreneur/mother she has learned some timesaving methods to get canning done quicker and most times also healthier. Mary believes that learning should be fun and easy to understand.

Mary lives on a hobby farm in Decatur, TX with her husband, Merle, and 4 healthy, creative, and lively boys ranging from 9 yrs. - 3 yrs. They have sheep, goats, chickens, a donkey and a few other critters.  She may be contacted at .

History comes alive at Clark Gardens with new interpretive displays!

If only trees could talk,
what a wonderful story they would tell...

The Clark Gardens Historic Tree Trail is truly one of a kind.

The trail, one of the largest in the United States, is home to 86 historic trees, ranging from a Weeping Willow which shaded Napoléon's grave site, to the Berkeley Plantation, the ancestral home of all Americans, Sycamore, to a tree from Graceland, Elvis Presley's home.

Other trees represent the Revolutionary War, Civil War and World War II. Trees honor our countries' literary heritage including Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edgar Allen Poe, and Alex Haley. Famous people and places including John F Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Clara Barton and Juliette Gordon Low are among the famous people represented with a tree.

Grown from a seed or cutting by the American Forest Historic Tree Nursery, each tree is a direct descendant of the original. Many of the historic witness trees are no longer living, having succumbed to old age, weather damage and development. The trees at Clark Gardens were planted 12-15 years ago and have grown to be substantial trees.

With a grant from the Brazos Foundation and a donation by Mac Shafer, Clark Gardens Historic Tree Trail recently installed informative, interpretive displays for each tree. The displays inform the reader of the type of tree, type of foliage the tree has and the historic significance of the tree. Future plans for the tree trail include audio tours providing the visitor to learn even more about the trees.

As you stroll along the Historic Tree Trail paths, you may read imagine and learn as each tree's stories unfold. Imagine how it must have felt to be part of history in the making.

For 4th Graders
Dates: November 4-6, 2025
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm

Registration

Registration Deadline:
October 1, 2025

The 2025 Registration Form

Dear Educators:

Clark Gardens invites you and your 4th grade students to participate in Clark Gardens Historic Tree Trail and Arbor Day Field Trip combining science activities and Texas History. 

The purpose of the program is to increase knowledge about the importance of tree diversity in our community.

The curriculum is adapted from the Texas Forest Service.

Teaching objectives of the curriculum involve the following five concepts:

1. Trees come in different sizes and shapes.
2. Trees have specific growing conditions including soil, location and temperatures.
3. Without a variety of trees one insect or one disease could kill all the trees.
4. A greater diversity of trees means a greater diversity of wildlife.
5. Tree diversity provide beauty in our communities.

Each concept has a 45-minute lesson plan, designed to be taught by the classroom teacher.  

All participating teachers will receive four one-time admission passes to Clark Gardens.

The Clark Gardens Texas Historic Tree Trail and Arbor Day Field Trip is available for 6 classes daily with a maximum of 22 students each.

Students will arrive no later than 8:45 with activities beginning at 9:00 am and conclude by 1:00 pm. Picnic lunch breaks are built into the program (Schools are encouraged to bring picnic lunches.). Students will tour the Historical Tree Trail and discover the history behind the following Texas historical trees: Alamo Live Oak; LBJ Winged Elm; Sam Houston Kissing Bur Oak; Goose Island Live Oak; and the Moon Sycamore. Along the way students will participate in field study activities studying leaves, bark, and measurement of trees.

Sincerely,
Carol Clark Montgomery                    
Executive Director, Clark Gardens

The 2025 Registration Form

Clark Gardens birds as reported by the bird watching group in 2010.

Eastern Bluebird

Mississippi Kite

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Northern Cardinal

Northern Mockingbird

Canadian Goose

Mute Swan

Black-Bellied
Whistling Duck

Eastern Phoebe

Egyptian Goose

White-Winged Dove

Trumpeter Swan

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Chippiing Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Carolina Chickadee

Blue Jay

Inca Dove

Mourning Dove

Mallard Duck

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

Cliff Swallow

Black-Crested Titmouse

Peacock

 

Observations made on the Friday Gulls field trip, 9 am to 1:30 pm, May 7, 2010.
Legend: actual number seen, or  a= abundant (too many to count), or  c= common (20-25+).

Cabbage White
(Pieris rapae) c

Checkered White
(Pieris protodice) 2

Orange Sulfur
(Colias eurytheme)  c

Black Swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes)  3

Hackberry Emperor
(Asterocampa celtis)  2

Questionmark
(Polygonia interragationis)  3

Painted Lady
(Vanessa cardui)  c

American Lady
(Vanessa virginiensis) a

Red Admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)  a

Variegated Fritillary
(Euptoieta claudia)  1

American Snout
(Libytheana carinenta)  1

Grey Hairstreak
(Strymon melinus)  3

Red-Banded Hairstreak
(Calycopis cecrops) 1

Dusky-Blue Groundstreak
(Calycopis isobeon)  1

Best nectaring plants this day
Ligustrum  species
Cotoneaster species.

Oviposition (eggs) on
parsley or plants.