This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Dallas Arboretum's nationally-acclaimed floral festival Dallas Blooms, presented by Capital One Bank. The festival begins March 3 and continues through April 8. With MSN’s notation that the Dallas Arboretum is “One of the Top 14 Places in the World to See Spring Flowers,” plans are underway to make this year’s Dallas Blooms even more appealing.

“Capital One Bank is pleased to sponsor 2012 Dallas Blooms with its theme, 'It’s a Work of Art,' Capital One Bank Dallas Market President Jorge Calderon said. “Families throughout Texas and surrounding states will again make this beautiful festival their spring destination. At Capital One Bank, we’re proud to support programs like the 2012 Dallas Blooms that provide Dallas residents the opportunity to come together and experience something unique.”

Dallas Blooms features 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs including tulips, daffodils, Dutch Iris and hyacinths, in addition to 100,000 pansies, violas, poppies and thousands of other spring-blooming annuals and perennials.

During the festival, more than 100 Cherry Blossom trees bloom for a 10 day period.

The finale of this spring celebration is the mass flowering of the garden’s collection of 6,000 azaleas that bloom through the end of April.

"The beauty of Dallas Blooms is why MSN says we are one of the 14 most beautiful gardens in the world to visit in the spring. Year after year guests visit our garden and are in awe at the spectacular floral displays." Dave Forehand, Vice President of Gardens at the Dallas Arboretum, said.

As part of Dallas Blooms – “It’s a Work of Art,” the Dallas Arboretum also launches its “Small Houses of Great Artists” exhibit built and designed by Bob Hoebeke of Hoebeke Builders, Mona Crider of LaFoofaraw, and four other Dallas-area architects.

The exhibit will open to the public during Dallas Blooms and will run through Dec. 31.

During the Blooms celebration, ArtScape, a fine art show and sale, will take place in the garden over three days – Fri., March 16 through Sun., March 18. It will feature nearly 100 artists from around the country and has become a highlight for all fine art enthusiasts over the last seven years.

The featured artists work in various mediums like painting, watercolor, pastel, drawing, photography, fiber, jewelry, glass, wood, sculpture and 2-D and 3-D mixed media.

Capital One Bank’s "Buy One Get One Free Tuesdays" will offer coupons available at area Capital One Bank locations beginning March 1. Additionally, AT&T Senior Citizen Thursdays will offer admission tickets for $11.00 and a 20 percent discount at the Hoffman Family Gift Store to those 65 and over. $1 off admission tickets are available at area Tom Thumb locations.