Garvan Woodland Gardens Prepares for Winter Holiday Season

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Fall colors are aglow around this waterfall cascade at the koi pond at Garvan Woodland Gardens.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With the holidays fast approaching, Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs offers many workshops and events in preparation for the festive season.

The "Fall Flower Days" celebration will continue through Nov. 22. A rainbow of colors and shapes are offered from just one type of plant: the chrysanthemum. The blooms last for weeks, not days, and volunteers and staff gardeners have planted more than 8,000 mums in an array of colors and bloom shapes. In addition, there are hundreds of asters, pansies, violas, million bells and petunias, plus the ornamental chard and mustards.

The Jesse Collins Exhibit will be on display daily in November in the Magnolia Room. Jesse Collins, who has lived and worked in the Hot Springs area for the past 11 years, enjoys the area's natural environment. He mostly works in charcoal and pastels and likes to focus on places of historical interest. His exhibit will feature various works, with some pieces highlighting the heritage of Hot Springs' sister city, Hanamaki, Japan. The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1-22 and from noon to 9 p.m. Nov. 23-30.

The First Wednesday Children's Program: "Soda Bottle Bird Feeders" will be held from 10-11 a.m. Nov. 6 in the Magnolia Room. As colder days approach, birds will be in search of food to sustain them. Megan Bradshaw, Education Director, will show how to make affordable bird feeders from recycled bottles.

The Gardening 101 Workshop: "Roses" will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 7 in the Magnolia Room. Ralph Cooper, Fort Smith Rose Society president, maintains 520 rose bushes. He will discuss creating the right kind of soil, planting roses and building beds, and handling diseases and pests. After the presentation, a stroll in the gardens will offer a hands-on approach to rose gardening.

The Children's Series workshop: "Make Your Own Paper" will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 9 at the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Education Center. Megan Bradshaw, Education Director, will show how to use various materials to make paper that can be used for a greeting card, a special letter or a refrigerator decoration.

Mrs. Garvan's Tea will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Magnolia Room. This delightful afternoon tea features a living history presentation of Mrs. Verna Garvan, the Gardens' benefactress. Susan Harper, as Mrs. Garvan, will entertain the group as they enjoy traditional tea fare.

The Ballet Arkansas "Nutcracker" Banquet will be held at noon Nov. 17 in the Magnolia Room. Dancers from the Ballet Arkansas cast of "The Nutcracker," dressed in full costume, will present a short performance and read a portion of the ballet. Lunch is included in the cost of this event.

The workshop, "Holiday Entertaining," will be hosted from 2-5:30 p.m. Nov. 24 in the Magnolia Room. Janet Carson, Bob Byers, artist Suzie Burch and local chefs will share new holiday recipes and easy ideas for table decoration. Participants will take home their own craft project and learn about brightening their homes with holiday plants. The workshop includes sampling beverages and foods, as they are prepared. Holiday crafts and décor will be presented from 2-4 p.m., followed by a cooking demonstration of holiday treats from 4-5:30 p.m.

This year's "Holiday Lights" will be displayed from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 23 through Dec. 31, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days. The 50-foot-tall musical, animated Rose Tree will return to the Rose Garden with new tunes, along with a new musical "Piano," which will be the centerpiece of the Great Lawn display. Some 2 million brilliant bulbs will transform 17 acres of Garvan Woodland Gardens for this annual display. Complementary hot chocolate will be available. Tickets are available online beginning Nov. 15 at: http://www.garvangardens.org/purchase_tickets/default.aspx. Pre-purchased tickets allow visitors to go through an expedited entry booth line for members and ticket holders. Golf cart rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee of $10 per person, in addition to the holiday lights admission, and may not be reserved.

The Village Big Band will be opening the first night of "Holiday Lights" with a concert at 6 p.m. Nov. 23 in Anthony Chapel. They will perform various holiday pieces to kick-off the holiday season. The concert is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

Two of the garden's most avid walkers continue to lead weekly, guided health walks in the garden. 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.

Kathy Packard, from the Oaklawn Center on Aging, will guide "Garden Tai Chi" from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Nov. 7 on the Edmondson Great Lawn. Her class focuses on the art of Tai Chi, which can help relieve stress, strengthen muscles and improve balance. Participants should wear loose, comfortable clothing and soft shoes, or be barefoot. Contact the Oaklawn Center for the Aging at (501) 623-0020 to enroll.

Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas.

The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, free for children ages 5 and younger, and $5 for dogs. Some events and activities are free. Some require a fee, advanced registration or prepayment.

For more information about these events, call (501) 262-9300 or (800) 366-4664.