When international visitors come to the Dallas Arboretum, they are often greeted by Marjorie and Trevor Hylton. Originally from Jamaica, this couple has lived in Canada, England, New York and Texas, which fuels their passion to engage and visit with guests, especially those from overseas. Last year, the Arboretum had more than one million visitors, including from 90 countries and all 50 states. Thanks to the Hyltons, and others, they are welcomed and taken care of while enjoying “one of the world’s most beautiful gardens,” according to MSN.
After living all around the globe, the Hyltons retired in Garland and began looking for something to do. A friend of Marjorie’s recommended volunteering at the Dallas Arboretum because as she said, “I am a people person and like talking to people.” In early 2016, she began volunteering, and soon after Trevor joined as well. Together, they have volunteered more than 5,100 hours.
The Hyltons are this year’s Dallas Blooms co-chairs and look forward to greeting visitors from February 29 to April 12 during the largest floral festival in the Southwest. Dallas Blooms features more than 500,000 spring-blooming flowers and 100 varieties of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, violas, poppies and thousands of other spring-blooming annuals and perennials. With the theme “Sounds of Spring,” Dallas Blooms features six majestic topiaries throughout the garden, each depicting a different musical instrument, including a harp, bass, guitar and saxophone, as well as two topiary musicians. One musician is playing the violin, the other is playing the piano.
Trevor volunteers in the information booth and drives a tram. He said, “We meet lots of people from different walks of life and many from overseas from places where we’ve lived or visited. I like talking to visitors from all over, and they like that I know about their country or state and can connect as I take them around the garden.”
Marjorie volunteers throughout the garden and can be found giving directions in the information booth, signing up members at the membership table, giving samples at A Tasteful Place and serving as a docent in the historic DeGolyer House.
“What I like best about the Arboretum is when you are trained, you can work anywhere and feel comfortable helping visitors,” she said. “There are so many different places to work where you are always in constant contact with the guests. I tell them how beautiful and peaceful the garden is. The Lay Family Garden is so peaceful. You can sit and listen to the water flowing continuously and watch the koi swimming in the pond. The waterfalls remind me of the ones from my home in Jamaica.”
According to Rachel Crawford, Dallas Arboretum senior volunteer manager, “The Dallas Arboretum appreciates our many volunteers including the Hyltons, and invites others to join them. In 2019, the Dallas Arboretum had more than 4,300 volunteers who contributed over 100,000 hours, which is valued at $2.6 million. Those interested in volunteering can visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/support/volunteer/, email volunteers@dallasarboretum.org or call 214.515.6561.
Dallas Blooms is presented by IBERIABANK. Other sponsors include CC Young Senior Living and DFWChild. Media sponsors include The Dallas Morning News and WFAA, Channel 8. For more information, visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/.