Activities Continue Through Summer at Garvan Woodland Gardens

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“Splash of Glass: A James Hayes Art Glass Installation” is on display through Sept. 30 at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Workshops and other activities geared for adults, children and entire families continue this summer at Garvan Woodland Gardens, in Hot Springs, the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas.

"Splash of Glass: A James Hayes Art Glass Installation" is on display through Sept. 30. Art glass creations by Hayes, a Pine Bluff artist, have been splashed across the 210-acre peninsula of the garden. The exhibit features about 225 unique, multi-colored pieces placed in 13 areas of the garden. These creations include traditional works such as bowls and chandeliers, as well as fanciful pieces shaped like flowers, onions, mushrooms and vines.

"Botanical Illustrations of Native Plants," an exhibit of drawings by Bart Soutendijk, will be on display through July 31. The display may be viewed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in the Magnolia Room. Soutendijk, originally from Holland, creates full-color drawings of native Texas plants from photographs he's taken.

Two of the gardens' most avid walkers continue to lead weekly, guided health walks in the gardens. Sharon Turrentine, a local fitness fan and regular performer in Anthony Chapel, will lead a three-mile walk at 9 a.m. on Mondays. Paula Wallace, a staff member at the garden, will lead a one-mile walk at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays. Participants can meet at the Welcome Center. They should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes.

A workshop titled "Introduction to the Sentinel Plant Network" will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 27, in the Magnolia Room. (This event was rescheduled from May.) Participants will learn how to help experts on a national scale manage insects and diseases that threaten gardens, fields and forests. Experts will explain how to identify and report possible threats. Lunch may be brought from home or purchased at the Chipmunk Café.

"Macroinvertebrate Mayhem," a First Wednesday Children's Program, will be held from 10 -11 a.m. July 3 on the Great Lawn. Garvan Woodland Gardens is located on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Hamilton, and water quality affects the living organisms in and around it. Megan Bradshaw, education director, will lead a game of tag to simulate how macroinvertebrates play an important role in the ecosystem.

"Fairy Tea for Children" will be held at 3 p.m. July 9 in the Magnolia Room. The tea will be served in traditional English style and young patrons can enjoy assorted scones, finger sandwiches and desserts, all accompanied by a variety of flavorful hot teas. Children are welcome to dress up for this fantasy-filled afternoon. A "Tea Fairy" will entertain with a short lesson in tea etiquette, followed by stories to delight the young attendees.

Janet Carson and Bob Byers will present "Cooking with Herbs" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11 in the Magnolia Room. Carson, U of A Horticulture Specialist, will spearhead this hands-on workshop with Byers, resident landscape architect, and Eve Baum Alven, from Chiffonade Chef Services. They will discuss the basics of starting an herb garden and preparing herbs for use in cooking, as well as how to preserve and store herbs for future use.

The "Smokin' In Style Beer and BBQ" event will be held from 6-8 p.m. July 11. It will feature award-winning Southern barbecued pork, brisket and chicken, all the fixings and the "nearly famous" banana pudding from Smokin' In Style BBQ in Hot Springs. Beer will also be served.

The Gardening 101 Workshop: "Rain Gardens" will be held from 1-3 p.m. July 15 in the Magnolia Room. Mark Boyer, interim associate dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and professor and department head of landscape architecture, will talk about how to site, design and install a home rain garden. A rain garden consists of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. Rain gardens are designed to temporarily hold and absorb rainwater runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns, and they are effective in removing a large portion of chemicals and sediments from the rainwater runoff.

Alan Vandenbergh will continue his monthly yoga classes from 10-11:30 a.m. July 20 in the Klipsch Amphitheater. The quiet spot provides views of Lake Hamilton through the trees. Vandenbergh is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. Sessions will be limited to 15 participants to enable hands-on instruction.

"Egg Carton Gardens," part of the Weekend Garden Children's Series, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon July 27 at the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Education Center. Bradshaw, education director, will lead this hands-on class as participants create their own egg carton gardens. Registration deadline is July 17.

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.

Some events and activities are free. Some require a fee, advanced registration or prepayment.

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, please visit the Garvan Woodland Gardens website.