Clark Gardens
567 Maddux Rd Map
Weatherford, TX 76088

There is a charge for visiting Clark Gardens.

In January 2004, the PCMGA began volunteer work at Clark Gardens, located three miles east of Mineral Wells off Highway 180 in Parker County.

Clark Gardens Botanical Park encompasses 30 cultivated acres with 50 different gardens. There are over 1,200 varieties of irises alone. A Historic Tree Trail was added in 2002. These young trees are the genuine offspring from trees that have a special significance in the history of the United States.

Plant selection has been a continuous experiment in determining species that will thrive in often adverse conditions such as winds, droughts and temperature extremes. Well-adapted plants including iris, nandina, and crapemyrtles, along with native Texas plants, are the backbone of this garden. Unexpected treasures such as azaleas can be found thriving in their niche in Clark Gardens.

Clark Gardens, in partnership with the Parker County Master Gardener Association and Texas A&M, is participating in a three-year study of roses using the EarthKind approach. Two studies are being conducted. The first is a part of a statewide field trial known as "The Texas Rose Brigade."

The second is a national field trial in conjunction with other States’ Extension offices and private gardens that span from Mexico to the Canadian border. In both trials the plant are placed in organically amended soil, mulched, and watered regularly for the first year. After the establishment year, only mulch is reapplied, and then the plants are to fend for themselves. Only the top performers from each trial will be given the distinguished title of EarthKind and presented to the public as a rose that can be grown by even the most inexperienced gardener.

Clark Gardens is a non-profit educational and scientific facility that has been open to the public since 2000. The gardens have been featured on garden television shows, as well as in several magazine and newspaper articles. They have been described as "unbelievable beauty," a "hidden treasure," and a "magnificent secret garden."