Thousands of pumpkins, gourds and squash are sprouting in the Texas Panhandle this summer, in preparation for “Autumn at the Arboretum“. The fall festival takes place at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas, from September 23 through November 22, 2017.

This year’s festival theme is “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.

For the 12th year, “Autumn at the Arboretum” includes a Pumpkin Village featuring pumpkin houses and displays using more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash, along with hay bales and cornstalks. Themed “Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds, Oh My!”, the Pumpkin Village includes a Yellow Brick Road spiraling through Pecan Grove with stops at each major scene in the story of Dorothy and her adventures in the “Land of Oz” — reimagined with pumpkins, squashes and gourds.

The Dallas Arboretum opens a new year-round destination named “A Tasteful Place” October 3, 2017 (pictured, right). This edible display garden is designed to mirror an ornamental kitchen garden or “potager” as it is called by the French. A $12 million project, the 3.5-acre garden was inspired by the movement toward growing and eating sustainable, fresh, locally-grown food. A Tasteful Place is comprised of a pavilion with event space and a teaching kitchen, an orchard, beds of ornamental display vegetables, herbs, flowers and a lagoon.

Many activities take place through the garden during the autumn festival including children’s activities, Harvest Tea, concerts and live music, gardening demonstrations, book signings and more.

(Photos courtesy of Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden)