Totally Texas -- Summer -- going, going, go!

Can there only be one more week of summer? The start of school August 27 leaves only one more week of fun. But with school clothes and supplies, even on sales tax-free weekend, how can we afford fun? Some suggestions, listed from the not very expensive to the absolutely, totally free!

Dallas Arboretum -- Okay, it’s not totally free, but the Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road in Dallas, has slashed daytime prices to $5 a person through August 31. The Chihuly glass sculptures are beautiful day or night. And with temperatures for the coming week forecast to stay only in the 90’s (practically a cold front for Texans), it’s a good time to get out during the day. Check the website, www.dallasarboretum.org/,for details.

Trinity Audubon Center -- Take a tour of the sleek, eco-friendly building and its indoor, interactive exhibits at 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way (formerly 6500 S. Loop 12) just outside Dallas, for $1 per person through August 31. Then go outside for a variety of hiking options and a play area. Wear sturdy shoes! See http://trinityaudubon.org/.

Interurban Railway Museum -- Electric trains are nothing new to North Texas -- before DART there was the Texas Electric Railway, memorialized at 901 E. 15^th St., in Plano (adjacent to a DART stop). The museum, with model trains and interactive exhibits, is open Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. Preschool story time, 10:30 a.m. Admission is free, but they’d love a dollar or two donation. See http://plano.gov/Departments/parksandrecreations/recenters/Interurban/ .

Family movies at the library -- Allen Public Library, 300 N. Allen Dr., screens Hunger Games this Saturday, August 18, at 2 p.m. For teens, ages 12-18. Free, bring your own snacks. Also, the library’s Elvis film series continues August 21 and 28. See www.cityofallen.org/index.aspx?NID=900/.

Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair -- It’s August 24-26, at the African American Museum at Fair Park, 3536 Grand Avenue. Free, but some events require advance registration. While you’re in the museum, check out the galleries housing exhibits on the Freedman’s Cemetery and Fair Park sculptures, among others. See
http://tulisoma.org/ for details.

Spray parks -- Most public swimming pools are now closed for the season, but Dallas spray parks are open through September 4, for that last splash of summer. Free, of course. See www.dallasparks.org/Downloads/spraygroundschedule2012.pdf/.

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While you’re having fun, get the kids looking good with free children’s haircuts through August 31 at all JC Penney salons. Reservations strongly recommended because of high demand. Call 1-855-JCP-KIDS or go to www.jcpenney.com/FreeHaircuts/

Totally Texas -- Fall into beauty at Japanese Garden

Fall Festival in the Japanese Garden

Fort Worth Botanical Garden

3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth

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It’s all too easy for me, living in East Dallas, to make quick trips to the Dallas Arboretum and overlook the metroplex’s other great public garden to the west -- the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. This is almost a sin anytime, but especially during the fall festival in the Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth location.

Descending the pathways into a world of lush plantings, with pavilions overlooking waterfalls and koi-filled ponds makes me forget I’m in Texas -- in the best possible way. The annual festival this coming Saturday through Sunday, October 22-23, adds events that make the setting come to life like a scene out of traditional Japan.

Amid displays of flowering chrysanthemums, visitors can see sakura dancers moving to traditional music; watch martial arts demonstrations; and attend a tea ceremony. Children’s activities include calligraphy, origami, face painting and paper making.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 22, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 23. Admission is $3 for those age 13 and older and $1 for children ages 4-12. Admission is free for children under four. Remember also to bring plenty of quarters for the fish food dispensers located strategically near the garden’s ponds. The huge, colorful and sociable resident koi are so used to being fed they head straight toward shore when they see visitors.

Free parking for this year’s festival parking is in the Linden Avenue lot off the Montgomery Street entrance closest to the Japanese Garden. See http://fwgarden.com or call 817-871-7677 for additional information.

The remaining outdoor portions of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden are open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. during daylight savings time, so visitors may extend their stay to enjoy the other garden attractions.

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Also this week -- October’s Free Third Thursday at the Trinity River Audubon Center, October 21, has an Owl-O-Ween theme. The day’s 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all-owl activities include close-ups of live native owls and more, at 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way (formerly South Loop 12), Dallas. See www.trinityriveraudobon.org/

Also free on Thursdays this month, the Dallas Angelika Film Center at 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane (in Mockingbird Station), screens classic Hitchcock films 8 p.m. in the outdoor atrium. See http://www.angelikafilmcenter.com

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Upcoming -- Halloween at the Heard Museum in McKinney. It’s this Saturday, October 22.  Tickets available online at www.heardmuseum.org