Nancy Hallman’s connection to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is inextricably linked with memories of visiting there with her children and, later, grandchildren.
“The Japanese Garden is a favorite spot,” she says. “We always feed the fish, and those fish are so used to being fed that they follow you like a little herd.”
On one memorable occasion in the Japanese Garden, Hallman’s daughter upset plans for a family photo—and a favorite dress—when she slipped off one of the stepping stones into the pond.
Hallman supports the new Baker Martin Family Garden because she wants to help introduce the next generation to nature. She’s excited that the garden will combine space for both education and unstructured outdoor play.
“I certainly spent my childhood outside—I was a little ragamuffin tomboy, always scruffy and dirty,” says Hallman. “The family garden will have hills that children can roll down and streams where they can get all wet. We’ll need to remind parents to bring towels because they’ll be taking them home a lot messier than they went!”
