Howdy Y’all! It’s been a hot minute since I last posted on my blog. I have a good excuse, I promise! I had hand surgery! Carpal Tunnel Release to be exact. Needless to say, typing has been out of the picture for a while (at least unnecessary typing). However, I am back now, and want to share a Botanical Travel post that I’ve been dying to type for a while! Back in May, I went to Oklahoma City. It’s not very far from Denton, and it made for a perfect weekend getaway! Now, I used to only share general, fun things to do in cities on my blog, but since I re-branded to the Botanical Texan, I want to focus on what to do in Oklahoma City with a botanical twist! If you’re a plant or nature lover, then hop along for the OKC botanical travel express!
Myriad Botanical garden
If you find yourself in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City and don’t know what to do, look no further than the Myriad Botanical Garden. This was my biggest must see item when I came to OKC. The Myriad Botanical Garden is a 15-acre botanical paradise. There are 16 specific gardens around the entire site, including the picturesque Crystal Bridge. Unfortunately, the Crystal Bridge Conservatory was closed for renovations while I was there. Darn, guess I’ll have to go again! The Crystal Bridge is home to over 750 plants. While I may not have experience it for my self, I’ve been told you feel emersed in a tropical rainforest once inside! Definitely something, I want to go back and see in person.
As for the rest of the grounds, there is a water-wise plant demo area, cascading water features, and a pleathera of cute ducks! Even with the main feature being closed, I still stayed at the Botanical Garden for easily 2 hours! The park is open from 6am to 11pm daily and once the Cyrstal Bridge is back open it’s hours of operation are 10am to 5pm. For the low cost of zero dollars, you really can’t skip this on your trip to OKC.
Scissortail park & farmer’s market
This destination was not on my initial itinerary for Oklahoma City, but after stumbling upon this amazing park, I can’t rave about it enough! If you want spectacular views of downtown Oklahoma City, Scissortail Park is a great place to get them! You may remember the name Haregravaes Jones from my last post on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Well apparently, I’m their biggest fan, because they designed Scissortail Park! Scissortail Park is a 70-Acre park that emphasis the city’s “core to shore” plan. This plan was proposed to bring economic vitality and a strengthened sense of place through the downtown core to the rivers edge. There is a little of everything in the park from wetlands, children’s playground, dog park, to my favorite, the pollinator gardens!
The 40-acre “upper” park and 30-acre “lower” park are separated by the iconically instagramable Skydance Bridge! This bridge, much like the park, is inspired by the Oklahoma state bird, the Scissortail! You absolutely have to take a picture at this bridge!
Other than a stunning city backdrop and artistic bridge, Scissortail park also has a stage & great lawn where evidently farmers market’s are held! I just happened to find this park while the market was ongoing, and couldn’t help myself from exploring. There was music and vendors galore! The farmer’s market is held every Saturday during April thru October from 9am to 1pm.
Flower & Flour Coffee Shop
Now what is more iconic than a coffee shop that doubles as a flower store?! If you said the Skydance Bridge I will accept the answer, although I was looking for “Nothing”! Flower & Flour is tucked away among apartment buildings in the Deep Deuce district. The store is divided into two sections, both having a distinct boho vibe atmosphere. The coffee shop side has all the classic caffeinated beverages and delicious baked goods ready to order. I came here for breakfast and got a latte & butter crescent. It did not disappoint!
The flower shop side is a plant person’s dream! They have premade bouquets of flowers, vases, botanical books, and much more available around the store. However, if you are feeling a little more extravagant, the florist can help you make a bouquet! Petite wrapped flowers run $35, large wrapped flowers are $75, and dried wrapped flower bouquet is $45.
Flower & Flour is open 8am-3pm Monday thru Thursday & 8am-5pm Friday and Saturday. Thank me a latte after you check this place out! (Bad pun, I know…)
the Plant shoppe
Some people judge cities on how many superb coffee shops there are. Others judge cities on pedestrian accessibility. Me? I judge cities on the quality of plant shop. Don’t worry, Oklahoma City did not disappoint. The Plant Shoppe (very direct name, am I right?) is home to a curated selection of indoor plants, plant supplies, and even floral arrangements. Not only do they sell amazing plants, they also host workshops, like terrarium making, through out the year! Additionally, if you decide that the pothos you saw really does belong in your home after you’ve already left Oklahoma City, The Plante Shoppe offers online shopping! What’s even neater about The Plant Shoppe? After you buy your plant friend, you can mosey on over to the coffee shop that is in the same building! Talk about a win!
The Plante Shoppe is located on 835 W. Sheridan Avenue and is open Monday thru Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Wheeler Riverfront Plaza
Want to ride an iconic California structure and take a picture at the insta-famous OKC Letters? Why not do both at the same time! Located in the Wheeler District urban development village, Wheeler Riverfront Plaza is home to the original Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel. For only 6 dollars, you can ride the Ferris wheel and see spectacular views of the Oklahoma City skyline as many times as you’d like! Being adjacent to the Oklahoma River, having hammocks & swings to relax in, and lawn games to play, the Wheeler River front Plaza is honestly so relaxing. After riding the Ferris Wheel, (which they give you like a solid 10 minute ride each time!), I hung around on a hammock for an hour just taking in the scenery and relaxing!
My landscape architect self enjoyed this plaza and urban development. It very much echoed the new urbanism idea that my field really advocates for! Speaking of aspects of the plaza I enjoyed, apparently the Wheeler district is home to the Wheeler Crit Cycling festival! I’ve been getting back into bike riding more seriously this past summer, and thought that was too cool! If you’re also a cyclist be sure to check that out!
The hours vary day to day, but during the week the plaza is open from 4pm to 7pm and on the weekends from around 8/11pm to 7pm!
Pocket Park
The final botanical thing to do in Oklahoma City is to stroll through downtown and discover all of the beautiful, urban oasis pocket parks. One big take away from my trip to OKC was just how much green space is within the city. If you read my blog, you know I love to share all about parks within cities because I believe that having a vibrant urban core brings so much character and chrisma to a city. OKC has done a phenomenal job at activating their downtown through such place-making.
After researching a little on OKC’s pocket park I learned that they emphasized community involvement in the revitalization of the space. Talk about letting citizens have ownership of their city!
Hightower Park, Pioneer Park, Pedestrian Plaza, and Kerr Park were a few pocket parks that I stumbled into while meandering through OKC. Kerr Park in particular was my favourite, because there was table tennis! Am I good at table tennis? No. Is it fun? Yes! Also, I knew what brands all the site furnishings were… Am I a nerd? Anyways…
Rather than giving these specific locations, I want you to walk around and discover these park on your own. Its pretty fun to go from concrete jungle to park! You won’t believe the unique details of a place that you miss when you spend all your time traveling in a car rather than on foot.
Summary
Obviously, there are many more fun activities and things to do in Oklahoma City, such as the bricktown river walk, zoo, the Memorial (not fun but important to see), Pops Soda, and so much more! I hope however, if you’re a plant lover like me, you’ll be thrilled with how botanical of a city Oklahoma City is! OKC definitely ranks in one my top 10 places I’ve traveled to, and I’ve had tea at Highclere Castle, so that’s saying something! If you go to OKC and go on botanical adventures, definitely let me know! Or if you know of more botanical things to do please share! I can’t wait to go back to OKC to check them out!
