Historic Tree Trail
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.
Texas Arbor Day Activities
Dates: November 13th and 14th, 2024
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:
- Trees come in different sizes and shapes.
- Trees have specific growing conditions including soil, location and temperatures.
- Without a variety of trees one insect or one disease could kill all the trees.
- A greater diversity of trees means a greater diversity of wildlife.
- 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 (school provided sack 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
Bird Guide
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
Butterfly Guide
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.
Tour the Gardens
From self-guided tours to group tour programs, at Clark Gardens you will find the perfect fit for your visit. The group tour programs are great for your garden or nature club, school, church, family, business or other organization. A variety of menu options are available to compliment your trip. See general admission and group tour information. Guided cart tours are available (reservations required).
Visit us on a School Tour
Learn more about our School Group Tours.
Clark Gardens was selected as the Official Best Public Garden in Texas for 2014 and featured in a TV segment about the Gardens airing on 3 different networks. The Official Best Of also created a brief preview video about the Gardens. Check it out...
Garden Happenings
Your Event
Clark Gardens provides a variety of rental facilities and offers many benefits that other locations do not.
With nine diverse venues from which to choose, you are sure to find the ideal place for your special event.
Whatever the occasion: garden wedding, reception, party, prom, club meeting, business meeting, family reunion, celebrations of all kinds, Clark Gardens has the perfect venue to help make your event a success.
Check-out our many event venues and indoor facilities.
Visit the Clark Gardens Weddings website.
Physical Address [map]
567 Maddux Road
Weatherford, Texas 76088
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 276
Mineral Wells, Texas 76068
Phone: (940) 682-4856
Fax: (940) 682-4078
Email: