On Tuesday, I had an adventure in Beaumont, TX when I visited Beaumont Botanical Gardens and Cattail Marsh. This is my second botanical garden visit after Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, Texas. While both Beaumont Botanical Gardens and Cattail Marsh are free to the public and located within Tyrrell Park, the first is managed by Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs, while the second is part of Big Thicket National Preserved and managed by the National Park Service. Tyrrell Park also hosts Henry Homberg Golf Course, a disc golf course, riding stables, and trails for hiking and biking.
Beaumont Botanical Gardens is composed of two sections: a visitor center with an attached indoor garden, and an outdoor garden with several themed areas. The indoor section, Bert & Jack Binks Horticultural Center, has a fountain in the entrance where guests can toss a coin to make a wish. The atrium and hallway are filled with paintings by local artists. The building also has bathrooms and air conditioning. Exit out the back to see the indoor garden, Warren Loose Conservatory, which displays much more than flowering plants. Several animal sculptures decorate the garden, including a longnecked dinosaur, a pterodactyl, a jaguar, and swans. My favorite living animal was a giant yellow koi that lived in the fish pond.
The entrance to the outdoor garden is next to the visitor center. The garden is undergoing extensive renovation after being hit by a hurricane, freezing weather, and a wild hog invasion. A blue fountain stands near the entrance, mirroring the fountain in the visitor center. The nearby rose garden has wooden trellises to support the bushes. Unfortunately, the garden was nearly empty.
The adjoining Monarch Waystation and Pollinator Garden includes plants enjoyed by pollinating insects. The Texas Wildscape Backyard Wildlife Habitat is designed to reflect the natural environment of southeast Texas. Trees are draped Spanish moss, while tall palmettos grow in clumps around the base. A statue of a buck watches over the lawn in front of this area. A small pavilion, a wooden gazebo, and a wrought iron gazebo provide benches. Besides plenty of seating, trash receptacles are located throughout the garden.
Not to be forgotten is the Japanese garden, a staple in many public gardens. The stylized bridge, tiny stone pagodas, and twisted evergreen trees set this section apart.
Finally, the Golden Triangle Rose Society Memorial Garden is entered by passing under wrought iron arches. It's planted beside a pond with several benches, which makes the spot ideal for birdwatching, but the garden currently contains only a few rosebushes.
A short drive down the park road is Cattail Marsh. The marsh serves as the water utilities department for Beaumont. Signage near the pavilion and lookout provides an explanation of how the water is naturally cleaned. The pavilion also contains colorfully painted picnic tables and a blue, metal trash bin with the Beaumont logo cut into the side. Other signage near the parking area and on the boardwalk reminds visitors that alligators live in the area. That being said, I never saw any alligators. I did see blue skies filled with puffy white clouds, the green plants of the marsh, and harmless birds. The wooden boardwalk had two gazebos topped by weathervanes. Birdwatchers could read informative signage about species in the area while resting on benches in the shade.
Visiting the gardens and marsh was a relaxing experience. I rarely saw other people while walking the smooth, easy to navigate paths, although I heard heavy equipment doing renovations throughout my time at the garden. One thing to keep in mind is the heat and humidity, especially during this time of year. The combination of 95 degree heat and 65% humidity created a heat index of 115 degrees, so visitors should take care to stay hydrated and in the shade as much as possible.
Abby Epplett Rating System:
Experience: 7/10 | Accessibility: 8/10