FURTHERMORE
THE DALLAS ARBORETUM PAVES THE WAY
FOR ADVENTURES IN SCIENCE AND NATURE.
BY NANCY MYERS PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL DRIENSKY
The garden’s educational art features include a nine-foot hand-carved ant.
ducation has been at the forefront of the
Arboretum’s mission since its inception, and
with fall comes the unveiling of the eight-acre
Designed by MKW + Associates and Van Sickle
& Rolleri, Ltd., both from New Jersey, and New York
firm Dattner Architects, the garden boasts more than
150 hands-on exhibits and is heavily populated with art
features. The First Adventure area includes a nine-foot
hand-carved ant, a large swallowtail butterfly statue,
and a caterpillar made of plants. The Kaleidoscope
area features a six-foot custom kaleidoscope designed
by artist Steve Riggs of San Diego. Here, says Conroy,
“Children will see the integration of science, math, art,
and architecture and how these are connected to nature.”
A five-foot globe, a wetland, tree canopy, and
waterfall are other attractions. Each of the 17 outdoor
E
and indoor galleries is designed around a core science
theme, and although they’re age-specific, Conroy notes,
“Children of all ages—and adults—are welcome in
any area. From the artistically designed benches to the
pergolas and rooftop gardens, the garden has been
designed to be aesthetically pleasing for all.”
The naming gift was provided by Howard Meyers
and his sons in honor of his wife and their mother,
Rory Meyers, a well-known civic leader and community
volunteer who has been a longtime (and current)
member of the Dallas Arboretum board and chair of its
Education & Research Committee.
The success of the Perot Museum is a testament to the
power of interactive learning, and the forces behind the
Arboretum’s new venture agree that such environments
foster a love of science, art, and nature. Says Conroy, “It’s
one thing to read in a book how to harness the energy
from water, sun, and wind into electricity, but when kids
can have the experience of increasing the force of water
to spin a turbine or channeling the sun’s rays by moving
a solar panel, they will remember the concept more
vividly.”
The garden dedication and opening is set for
Saturday, September 21.
