East Texas Arboretum

East Texas Arboretum The East Texas Arboretum is open seven days a week. There is a $8 entrance fee for adults. Our mission is to educate and celebrate our community through nature.

Exciting news, we’re thrilled to welcome Kristin Willingham as our new Executive Director! With a strong background in p...
02/10/2025

Exciting news, we’re thrilled to welcome Kristin Willingham as our new Executive Director! With a strong background in parks & recreation and expertise in nonprofit administration, fundraising, marketing, and community engagement, Kristin is ready to lead ETABS into an exciting new chapter.

“Kristin has the talents and skills we were searching for,” said ETABS Board President Emily Heglund. “She is a passionate leader, and we can’t wait to see her vision bring new energy to the Arboretum!”

Kristin officially steps into her role on February 24—join us in giving her a warm welcome!

We are bittersweetly saying goodbye to our Executive Director, Jennifer Garcia, as she embarks on an exciting new leader...
02/08/2025

We are bittersweetly saying goodbye to our Executive Director, Jennifer Garcia, as she embarks on an exciting new leadership role at a children’s museum on the East Coast.

Since joining us in summer 2023, Jenni has led with vision, passion, and dedication—strengthening our community connections, enhancing our beautiful 100-acre woods, and making a lasting impact on nature education in East Texas.

From all of us at the Arboretum, THANK YOU, Jenni, for your leadership and care! 💚 Wishing you all the best in your next adventure!

First Friday Happy Hour is back! All are welcome to come and hang out with friends and flowers. Friday 5:00pm-7:00pm. $1...
02/03/2025

First Friday Happy Hour is back! All are welcome to come and hang out with friends and flowers. Friday 5:00pm-7:00pm. $10 for 2 tickets that can be redeemed for soda, tea, beer or wine. No reservations necessary. Stop by for a wind down before dinner in Athens. See you soon!

Meet the office plants! The guardians of the front desk! The greener greeters! Our plant pets! We love the office plants...
01/31/2025

Meet the office plants! The guardians of the front desk! The greener greeters! Our plant pets! We love the office plants and it’s time for you to meet them too! From Lithops to euphorbias and irises, the office has many botanical buddies to start your day at the East Texas Arboretum. Visit from 9:00am-5:00pm everyday!

Just in time to craft a special gift for a loved one! 💕Join the East Texas Arboretum team as a certified floral designer...
01/30/2025

Just in time to craft a special gift for a loved one! 💕Join the East Texas Arboretum team as a certified floral designer takes us through the ins and outs to the perfect bouquet. 💐All supplies are provided and each registrant will leave with a bouquet of their own design. Please bring your own gloves if you wish to keep your fingers clean.

👉Register online at https://www.easttexasarboretum.org/workshops-and-hikes.html

Do you know someone who would let us borrow a lift? We are looking for a community partner to donate a scissor lift or b...
01/29/2025

Do you know someone who would let us borrow a lift? We are looking for a community partner to donate a scissor lift or bucket truck for a day to help us trim our wisteria arbor. To keep this beautiful plant blooming in the spring, we need to take care of it this winter.
If you want to give back to the Arboretum with this project, please call (903) 675-5630 or email [email protected].

Some of our awesome neighbors in central Texas at the  showed off their bluebonnets, so we immediately ran to our restor...
01/28/2025

Some of our awesome neighbors in central Texas at the showed off their bluebonnets, so we immediately ran to our restoration wildflower meadow to look for our own. Look what we found! Keep a close eye of the Hanson learning Meadow as we get closer to spring. Should be beautiful.

Look at all those turkeys! Turkey tail mushrooms that is. This tree may be dead (often called a snag), but it is still a...
01/27/2025

Look at all those turkeys! Turkey tail mushrooms that is. This tree may be dead (often called a snag), but it is still a vital part of the forest and ecology! The mushrooms are decomposing the tree and this will feed and shelter many other animals in the area. The bugs that come to live in the soft, hollow wood, will be good for birds and small mammals. The owl will then nest in the hollowed trunk where it can look for and squirrels who will then be on the ground planting new trees! Beautiful circle of life. 🤩

Remember our seed starting workshop a couple of weeks ago? Our seeds are sprouting! Are yours? January is the time to st...
01/27/2025

Remember our seed starting workshop a couple of weeks ago? Our seeds are sprouting! Are yours? January is the time to start many seeds. No time like the present than to try growing something new! Maybe your prefer to watch us grow the things. Visit the East Texas Arboretum from 9:00am-5:00pm to see what’s growing.

Oh, to be a cat snoozing in a sunny spot in the garden. People need to soak up the sun too! Visit the East Texas Arboret...
01/24/2025

Oh, to be a cat snoozing in a sunny spot in the garden.

People need to soak up the sun too! Visit the East Texas Arboretum every day from 9:00am-5:00pm. Visit www.easttexasarboretum.org to learn more.

Tune into .talk this morning! We are highlighting two wonderful volunteers!
01/24/2025

Tune into .talk this morning! We are highlighting two wonderful volunteers!

Who is coming to pick up all these leaves!? 🍂 Ok, so we don’t rake the leaves in the forest, but the team has been hard ...
01/20/2025

Who is coming to pick up all these leaves!? 🍂
Ok, so we don’t rake the leaves in the forest, but the team has been hard at work to winterize the 104 acres of trails and gardens. Winter hikes are certainly refreshing! Visit 7 days a week from 9:00am-5:00pm.

Register for our Seed Starting workshop taking place on Saturday, January 18th at 11:00am. Sign up online at www.easttex...
01/10/2025

Register for our Seed Starting workshop taking place on Saturday, January 18th at 11:00am. Sign up online at www.easttexasarboretum.org or call (903) 675-5630.

At first glance, the gardens are pretty grey today, but when you slow down to smell the…winter honeysuckle, you will fin...
01/10/2025

At first glance, the gardens are pretty grey today, but when you slow down to smell the…winter honeysuckle, you will find some delights! Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is native to Asia and provides a welcomed bloom in winter beginning as early as January.

The Arboretum will be closed Thursday, January 9th due to  the potentially dangerous road conditions. We will aim to reo...
01/09/2025

The Arboretum will be closed Thursday, January 9th due to the potentially dangerous road conditions. We will aim to reopen on Friday at 9am. Stay warm and stay safe!

What cold?! A new season of homeschool classes are here and bundled up for chilly adventures in nature. Ok, so we did sp...
01/07/2025

What cold?! A new season of homeschool classes are here and bundled up for chilly adventures in nature. Ok, so we did spend some time inside today, but a brief trip to the woods first got us inspired to learn about poetry in nature. Learn more about homeschool and field trips on our website at www.easttexasatboretum.org

It’s time to get your spring garden seeds started! (Say that 3 times fast!) Join the Arboretum garden team as we learn t...
01/07/2025

It’s time to get your spring garden seeds started! (Say that 3 times fast!) Join the Arboretum garden team as we learn the ins and outs of starting your favorite veggies from seeds. Register online at www.easttexasarboretum.org. Spaces are limited and all supplies are provided. Email [email protected] or call (903) 675-5630 for questions.

It was a beautiful day (yesterday) for a shower! Congratulations to the happy couple! We are so thrilled when we get to ...
01/05/2025

It was a beautiful day (yesterday) for a shower! Congratulations to the happy couple! We are so thrilled when we get to be the background to a beautiful piece of your family history. Visit www.easttexasarboretum.org to learn more about our private rentals.

Address

1601 Patterson Road
Athens, TX
75751

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(903) 675-5630

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Wedding

We have many beautiful spots to have your wedding ceremony. This is the Pine Tree Grove, a very popular venue!