Garvan Woodland Gardens Welcomes Spring with New Blooms, Myriad of Events

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Tens of thousands of daffodils will bloom during "Daffodil Days" at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas.

As spring weather nears, many outdoor events and displays will be available at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. More than 250,000 daffodils in various shades of yellow and more than 135,000 vibrant tulips are expected to bloom in the coming months.

“Daffodil Days” will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-February to mid-March on the garden grounds. Although bloom times vary according to temperature and rainfall, tens of thousands of fragrant hyacinths and daffodils will make an annual appearance for this display.

The annual “Tulip Extravaganza” will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting in mid-March through mid-April. Hundreds of red, pink, violet and white azaleas, and thousands of delicate dogwood blossoms will be on display.

The “Fabulous Fibers” Art Exhibit will remain on display through March 30. Darlene Garstecki, an award-winning fiber and jewelry design artist, incorporates her photographs into realistic fiber art. Garstecki’s work has been shown at the Houston International Quilt Festival, the American Quilters Society in Paducah, Ky., and in other juried state and local competitions.

“Ms. Garvan’s Tea” will be held at 3 p.m. March 11 in the Magnolia Room. The afternoon tea will feature a living history presentation of Mrs. Verna Garvan, the garden’s benefactress, by Susan Harper.

“The Muses Spring Concert: Celtic Spring” will be held at 3 p.m. March 16 in Anthony Chapel. In celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, beautiful Celtic music will be played in the unique setting of a glass chapel in the woods. Tickets, at $25 and $35, are available online at www.themusesproject.org or by calling The Muses Cultural Arts Center, (501) 609-9811.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Concert will be held at 3 p.m. March 23 at Anthony Chapel. This encore performance, with Maestro Phillip Mann, will include Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The concert is sponsored by the Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild, in cooperation with Garvan Woodland Gardens.

As the weather warms up, the garden also will offer a number of fitness opportunities, including guided health walks, moderate to advanced fitness hikes, a strength and balance building class on the art of Tai Chi, a stroller strut for young families and a 5K run/walk.

Two of the garden’s most avid walkers continue to lead weekly, guided health walks. Sharon Turrentine, a local fitness fan and regular performer in Anthony Chapel, will lead a three-mile moderate walk at 9 a.m. on Mondays. Paula Wallace, a staff member at the garden, will lead a one-mile beginner walk at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays. Participants can meet at the Pratt Welcome Center for these walks, which begin in March and go through June 30. They should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes.

Darlene Molloy will lead moderate to advanced fitness hikes from 10-11 a.m. every other Friday, from March 7 through May 30, with participants meeting at the Pratt Welcome Center. A Garden Stroller Strut will take place from 10:30-11 a.m. every Friday, from March 7 to Sept. 26, with participants meeting at the Pratt Welcome Center. And the Lakeside Friends of the Fine Arts will host a 5K run/walk at 7 a.m. March 15 on the Garden Trails.

Kathy Packard will lead “Garden Tai Chi” from 1:30-2:30 p.m. every Thursday, from March 6 through May 29, on the Ellen Edmondson Great Lawn.

Two different gardening workshops will be offered this month. The first, “Spring and Summer Annuals,” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19 in the Magnolia Room. Janet Carson, U of A extension horticulturist, and Bob Byers, landscape architect at the garden, will discuss seasonal colors that work well in Arkansas’ heat. They’ll cover new varieties on the market, designs that use the plants effectively, and ways to grow them successfully.

The second, Gardening 101 Workshop: “Winter Weed Control & Prevention,” will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. March 25 in the Magnolia Room. Dormant lawn and landscapes continue to utilize nutrients in the soil during winter months. Therefore, the control of weeds in lawns and in landscape beds is as important during the winter and early spring months as it is any other time of the year. Janice Boyes, a local gardener and experienced horticulturalist, will discuss ways to identify winter weeds, preventative measures, and tools and equipment used to remove weeds in the spring.

In March, there also will be various children’s programs and opportunities for families. The First Wednesday Children’s Program: “Color Crazy” will be held from 10-11 a.m. March 5 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Education Center. Children will learn how animals use coloring and markings as survival tools and will have the chance to create their own colorful creature to take home.

The Drop-In Family Program: “Tulip Time!” will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 8, March 15 and March 22. On these three dates, the garden will host interactive children’s activities in which children can learn more about the array of tulips and take home a handmade craft.

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

The garden is 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, while some require a fee, advanced registration or prepayment.

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