Mission and History

azaleas

About

Our mission

Education     Inspiration     Conservation     Innovation

Our vision

  1. Promote the conservation, selection and use of the native plants of Texas. 
  2. Acquire, evaluate and promote new and adapted landscape plant materials while promoting plant diversity in the landscape. 
  3. Serve as a living laboratory for SFA students and faculty and the nursery and landscape industries. 
  4. Provide an aesthetic and educational environment for students, visitors and local citizens. 

Our history

It began with a single quarter-acre teaching garden. Established by Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens in 1985, this small patch of land near the Agriculture Building originally served as a living classroom for SFA’s horticulture students.

Since then, SFA Gardens has expanded to encompass 138 acres of native plants, trees, display gardens and educational facilities, including:

  • Kingham Children’s Garden
  • Hinds Park
  • Mast Arboretum
  • Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden
  • Gayla Mize Garden
  • Pineywoods Native Plant Center

Today, this small teaching garden has blossomed into a regional resource that provides students of all ages an opportunity to connect to nature and learn the trees, plants and flowers of East Texas.