The East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society "ETABS" (over 100 acres) is an
arboretum
An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...
and collection of botanical gardens and historical buildings located at 1601 Patterson Road,
Athens, Texas
Athens is a city and the county seat of Henderson County, Texas, Henderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city population was 12,857. The city has called itself the "black-eyed pea, Blac ...
in the United States. It is open daily, an admission fee is charged. ETABS is a not-for-profit recognized by the
IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory tax ...
as a 501 (c)(3). Memberships are available and donations are welcome.
The arboretum was established in 1993 on the site of a former
truck farm
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. The diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically from under to ...
, with dry hills, hardwood forest, seasonal
bog
A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; a ...
s, and permanent wetlands along Walnut Creek. Volunteer work is ongoing. At present the site features the arboretum and a variety of gardens, including butterfly, cottage, display, herb, kitchen, native plant, perennial, master gardeners' Dream Garden, and rose gardens. It also contains a collection of historical buildings, water garden, and two miles of hiking trails. Web site features history, maps, photos and brochures.
The office is located in the Women's building where many of the local garden clubs meet and socialize.
Events include fundraisers, gardening workshops, festivals and is available for private events such as weddings and family gatherings.