The focus of the Chandor Gardens Foundation is to preserve the heritage of the Gardens and work with the City of Weatherford to further develop the Chandor property, in keeping with Douglas Chandor's artistic vision.
Douglas Chandor was one of the great portrait artists of the 20th Century. Five of his paintings are on display in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. His portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt is displayed in the White House, and his coronation portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, graces the British Embassy in Washington, DC.
His passion for gardening and his artistry intertwined to be beautifully expressed in the gardens he created and named White Shadows. After the untimely death of Douglas in 1953, his wife, Ina, paid tribute to him by changing the name to Chandor Gardens.
Today, Chandor Gardens is a destination unto itself. It is the location of joyous events, memory-making occasions, and pleasant wanderings.
FEATURED SPECIAL PROJECTS:
Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale Style Walnut Piano for Chadnor Gardens
We are excited that we are the proud owners of an exquisite 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale style walnut piano, just like Ina Chandor's original piano. The piano arrived at Chandor Gardens on Feb 1, 2024, and now has a permanent home in the Great Room.
Thank you so much to; all those who personally donated to this project as well as the following; Parker County Historical Society for a $5,000 grant, Weatherford College sponsored concert by Dr Song & Mr Sanders, and the two very successfull Secret Gardens of Parker County Tours in 2023 and 2024 put on by the Friends of Chandor Gardens members.
The fundraising goal for this project was $45,000 which included; the 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale piano, matching Chippendale piano bench, spider dolly, as well as delivery and set up at Chandor Gardens. By June 5, 2024, we were able to pay off the bank loan thanks to a community of supporters who believed in this project.
For more details about this project: CLICK HERE
SNAPSHOT OF UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES:
Friends of Chandor Gardens Meeting - January 21, 2026 @ 11:00 AM, Chandor Gardens
“A bonsai tree can be understood as a physical sculpture, a stationary image, yet its very being as a living tree is ephemeral like a performance or a dance.” Ricardo Nagaoka
Mark your calendar, and plan to attend the Friends of Chandor Gardens meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Great Room at Chandor Gardens.
Mix and mingle time will you from 11:00 to 11:30, and then our guest speaker Dave Manuel, an avid bonsai enthusiast for the last 35 years and who actively cultivates bonsai trees, will give a presentation on "Bonsai - The Art and Horticultre of Growing Trees in Pots". He is also bringing with him a number of his own bonsai trees as examples of the art form and inspiration.
Dave is a part of a team of Fort Worth Bonsai Society members who are working with the Botanical Reaserch Institute of Texas (BRIT) and the Fort Wroth Botanic Garden to establish a permanent public exhibit of bonsai trees in the Fort Worth Japanese Garden. When the exhibit opens in 2026 it will be one of only 26 such exhibits in the U.S.
"To Shape a Tree is to Shape Oneself"
This is a FREE event and everyone is WELCOME!
Friends of Chandor Gardens Members Tour:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing - Western Currency Facility, February 18, 2026
Friends of Chandor Gardens Members are invited to a tour on February 18, 2026 of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) – Western Currency Facility, located at 9100 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, TX 76131, part of the U.S. Treasury, which produces more than half of the nation’s currency order.
Our tour time is booked for 10:30 A.M. However, we need to arrive at the facility at 10:00 A.M. to allow for pre-entry security screening.
During our visit to the facility we will see where billions of dollars are printed via a self-guided tour from an enclosed walkway, which is suspended above the production floor! The experience includes an informative theater film, as well we have the opportunity to walk through two floors of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing currency history and the intricate art of currency manufacturing. Also located in the visitor center is the Moneyfactory Gift Shop where souvenir items including uncut currency sheets and other specialty currency products can be purchased.
Address: Visitors enter the public tour entrance on 9100 Blue Mound Road, Fort Worth, TX 76131.
Parking: The Public Tour Security Screening Center is the designated area for public parking and includes handicapped-accessible parking spaces.
Security Screening: Visitors are subject to security screening prior to entering the Tour and Visitor Center. All visitors are screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building are screened by an X-ray device. Special Note: Cellphones, cameras, backpacks, and food/beverages are NOT allowed inside the facility.
Following the tour, for those who wish, we will arrange to meet for lunch at a TBD restaurant
**IMPORTANT ** - Members please register for this tour by February 15, 2026 with Nancy Wester - 972-746-6078 (call or text)
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For more information about any of our featured events please call 682-268-0102.
