March Brings Tulip Extravaganza, Other Events at Garvan Woodland Gardens

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Thousands of tulips will be part of the Tulip Extravaganza at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

The start of March means it’s nearly time for the annual Tulip Extravaganza at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. The exact timing of blooms depends on Mother Nature, but the display will include 125,000 vibrant tulips; tens of thousands of fragrant hyacinths and other spring bulbs; hundreds of red, pink, violet and white azaleas; and thousands of delicate dogwood blossoms.

This is just one of several events planned this month at Garvan Woodland Gardens, the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas.

An art exhibit called “Mixing It Up” will be on display March 2-31 in the Magnolia Room. The show will feature work by artists Marlene Gremillion, Sheliah Halderman and Linda Shearer. Gremillion paints in water media and create works of art in collage. Halderman is noted for her pastel landscapes and florals. Shearer will present Chinese scroll paintings as well as framed and matted rice paper paintings.

Janet Carson and Bob Byers will lead the “Gardening With Bulbs” workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 5 in the Magnolia Room. Carson, U of A Cooperative Extension horticulture specialist, and Byers, associate executive director of the gardens, will discuss flowering bulbs for spring and summer and how to incorporate them into a home landscape.

Bob Byers will conduct an “Art of Pysanky Eggs” class from 1 to 4 p.m. March 10 in the Magnolia Room. Participants can brighten their Easter celebration by learning to decorate these brilliant, colorful Ukrainian Easter eggs, or Pysanky. They will employ simple batik techniques, which are thousands of years old, to create intricate designs on eggshells using dyes and wax.

Starting March 11, two of the Gardens’ most avid walkers will begin leading weekly, guided health walks in the Gardens. Sharon Turrentine, a local fitness fan and regular performer in Anthony Chapel, will lead a 3-mile walk at 9 a.m. on Mondays. Paula Wallace, a staff member at the gardens, will lead a 1-mile walk at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Susan Harper will present a living history presentation of Mrs. Verna Garvan, the gardens’ benefactress, during “Mrs. Garvan’s Tea” at 3 p.m. March 12 in the Magnolia Room. Participants will enjoy traditional tea fare while being entertained by Harper. Cost is $22 for members and $28 for non-members. Seating is limited, and reservations are required.

Alan Vandenbergh will lead a three-part series on the essence of yoga, which can be applied at home, work or school, in the garden or on the golf course. Classes will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 16, April 20 and May 18 in the Klipsch Amphitheater. Vandenbergh is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. Sessions will be limited to 15 participants to enable hands-on instruction.

The Muses Spring Concert, “Celtic Spring,” will be held on at 3 p.m. March 17 in the Anthony Chapel. This audience favorite will feature music performed by Irish harpist Shana Norton and flutist Adrienne Inglis, with soprano Deleen Davidson and other vocalists.

A Gardening 101 Workshop, “Organic Vegetable Gardening: Japanese Style,” will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon March 19 in the Magnolia Room. Participants will learn to compost and grow plants in the same garden bed, with handout materials and demonstrations. The Japanese, with limited land for gardening, have perfected a simple, effective method for growing intensively in small spaces.

A “Wildflower Walk” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. March 23 for children ages 6 through 12. Megan Bradshaw, garden education director, will lead this walk through the gardens to look for blooming wildflowers and perennials. Participants will receive a package of native wildflower seeds to take home. After the walk, children will also create a wildflower coloring book and field guide to take with them. Children must be accompanied by an adult; adult chaperones are admitted free. The cost is $10 per child for members or $12 per child for non-members. Advance registration is required.

The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. General admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and younger.

For more information about these events or to check on what’s blooming, call 501-262-9300 or 800-366-4664. For a complete list of events, visit the Garvan Woodland Gardens website.