When you go to the State Fair this year, be sure to stop by Texas Discovery Gardens (TDG). Dallas County Master Gardeners with advanced tree care training have put together a self-guided tour of “Great Trees for North Texas.”

The tour features 17 trees that do well in North Texas soils and conditions. Most are native to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Each tree is identified by a sign with the tree’s common and scientific names. The trees are located throughout the gardens and visitors are invited to “Find These Trees.”

A free take-one sheet in the lobby of the main TDG building, contains a list of the 17 trees and provides key information such as mature size, sun requirements, and outstanding characteristics. Most of the trees are readily available at local nurseries.

“October is a great time to see the trees,” said Zandra Faris, the project leader. “Many will be showing their fall colors.” Fall is also the perfect time to plant a tree.

The “Great Trees for North Texas” tour is the culmination of a year-long project by the Master Gardener tree team to identify, photograph, and document every tree in Texas Discovery Gardens. Working under the guidance of Kerry Gray-Harrison, TDG’s Botanical Director, the team recorded 359 trees representing over 100 different species.

Plan to spend at least 20 – 30 minutes to explore the grounds and find the trees.