Not all State Fair of Texas ticket holders realize that the Texas Discovery Gardens (TDG) and Butterfly House is open during fair hours and just a few steps from the Texas Star Ferris Wheel. TDG’s mission is to teach effective ways to restore, conserve and preserve nature in the urban environment, with a focus on organic and sustainable gardening. The not for profit garden houses thousands of unique butterflies in an enclosed environment designed to educate young and old alike. Texas Discovery Gardens is an organically maintained urban garden and the first public garden in the state of Texas to be certified 100% organic by the Texas Organic Research Center. The gardens are maintained using sustainable methods that conserve water and help to protect the environment. The grounds feature a two-story Butterfly House and a 7.5 acre organic botanic garden with native and adapted plants. This year TDG offers a change in scenery for those seeking a breather from the bustle.
Butterfly Tag & Release: All ages can have a rare chance to safely tag and release Monarch butterflies before their long migration to Mexico. 10:30 and 3pm daily. 10:30 and 3:00 pm on the TDG front lawn daily (free).
Air-Conditioning: An air-conditioned Grand Hall and lobby where guests can cool off while perusing a gallery of live critters and creatures, an art gallery, a gift shop and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the 7.5 acres of botanic organic gardens with native, adaptive and pollinator plants.
Zen: New to TDG during the State Fair are the indoor and outdoor Ikebana exhibits from the Ikebana International Dallas Chapter – Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers which is known for its beauty but also for its meditative qualities. Guests can take a break from the daredevil Midway rides and recharge here.
Quiet Culture: TDG’s air-conditioned art gallery will feature ‘Silent Dialogue’ by Du Chau throughout the fair displaying the Vietnamese artist’s combined interests in pathology and the visual arts.
Low-priced, Cash Treat: Nola Snowballs can’t be found anywhere but the TDG grounds during the fair, driven in from New Orleans especially for the State Fair of Texas fun. If guests want to skip the coupons and use cash they can try a powdery, fluffy ice treat doused in made-from-scratch syrups.
Nursing Station: A private and air-conditioned nursing station for all new mothers and their babies. The TDG ‘Bride’s Room’ will be outfitted to accommodate moms who need a quiet, discreet and comfortable area to breastfeed.
Other activities and sites at TDG during the 2017 State Fair:
- Butterfly Release: 12 pm inside the Butterfly House daily
- Critter Encounter: 2 pm in the lobby
- Snake Feeding: 2:30 pm Thursdays in Snakes of Texas exhibit
