October at Garvan Woodland Gardens Features Fall Festival, Photo Walks and Other Activities

Garvan Woodland Gardens

The landscape frames Garvan Pavilion, the centerpiece of Garvan Woodland Gardens. Designed by Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings, the open-air redwood and sandstone structure features a one-of-a-kind, faceted steel and glass ceiling centered around a classical oculus.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Garvan Woodland Gardens marks the return of shorter days with classes focused on night and low-light photography, a fall and winter herbalist series and the annual fall festival, which this year features an inaugural seed swap.

The art exhibit for both October and November will feature work by two prominent pastel artists, Robin Hazard and Charles Peer. Hazard has exhibited work throughout the United States and in China. Her work hangs in many corporate and private collections and is represented by galleries in Arkansas, Florida and Texas. Peer is a professor of visual arts at John Brown University in Siloam Springs and director of the Fine Arts Gallery at the university. His work has been included in numerous juried exhibitions and featured in several fine art magazines, as well as winning numerous awards. The exhibit will be displayed in the Magnolia Room from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 22 and from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 23-30.

"Garvan Rocks!" for children and families will be held from 9:30-11 a.m. Oct. 1 in the Magnolia Room, while "Garvan Rocks!" for adults will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 19. Sissy Hubbard will share the tradition of drawing on stones. Participants will create their own Garvan rocks and hide them in the garden for others to find.

"Landscape for Life" is a five-session series scheduled from 1-3 p.m. each Wednesday from Oct. 2-30 in the Magnolia Room and Millsap Bride's Hall. The series will teach participants to embrace sustainable practices while improving or developing a property. Participants will design their own projects with help from instructors. Local industry professionals will serve as guest speakers. More information can be found at landscapeforlife.org. 

The final session of the five-part series "Intro to Digital Photography" will take place from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Magnolia Room. Julia Mann, a photographer on the garden staff, has been helping participants learn the basics of using a digital camera in manual mode, with a technique designed to build confidence and knowledge in every student.

The annual "Celebrate Fall!" event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 on the garden grounds. Children's activities will last until 1 p.m. and include train rides, a haunted depot and a pumpkin patch, along with children's craft booths and festival games. The Chipmunk Café will serve fall treats. There will be food trucks and a beer garden for adults. The garden will be decorated with mums and pumpkins, and visitors are invited to wear costumes.

A "Seed Swap" will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 12 during the Celebrate Fall event. Gardeners are invited to bring their open-pollinated, non-hybrid plant seeds to exchange at this inaugural event.

The garden will host "Fall Photowalks" at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12 and 26. The first will focus on the garden's colorful display of mums, pumpkins and gourds during Celebrate Fall day. The second will focus on the children's garden and tree house, with a rock maze, waterfall, tree tunnel and a variety of moss and lichen. Participants of all skill levels are invited, and any kind of camera, including smartphones and tablets, may be used. Walks last from 90 minutes to two hours, with a brief classroom session to discuss lighting, composition and focus tips.

"Getting Started with Night and Low Light Photography" will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Magnolia Room and garden. This introductory class is for beginning photographers who are familiar with the basic functions of their cameras. The class will cover camera settings, how to focus at night and other basics. A tripod is required.

Docent training classes will be held from 12:30-2 p.m. Oct. 15 and Nov. 5. The classes are designed to prepare and refresh volunteer tour guides. Participants will meet in the Welcome Center. The focus for October is mums and early fall interest. The focus for November is forestry and late fall interest.

A three-part "Herbalist Series" will be held from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 in the Magnolia Room. Tami Sain, a local natural herbalist, will lead the classes. The topics are:

• Oct. 20 – Fall Herbs, with a focus on growing and the uses of sage, goldenrod, sumac and fennel
• Nov. 3 – Herb Harvesting, Drying and Storage
• Nov. 17 – Plant Now for Winter Bliss, with a focus on growing winter savory, rosemary, sage, thyme and horseradish

The "Botanical Illustration Series" will continue from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 in the Magnolia Room, with a focus on Acer sp. (maples). Ginger Ladehoff and Rush Fentress co-teach the series on creating meaningful botanical illustrations, providing a short botanical lecture and one-on-one instruction with drawings. All materials are provided, but students are encouraged to bring their own pencils if desired. 

"Beginning Light Painting" will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Magnolia Room and garden. Light painting is an imaging technique that uses a moving light source to add light to an under-illuminated subject while taking a long-exposure photograph. Participants will begin with classroom instruction and then move outside to experiment. A tripod is required.

"Group Health Walks" will take place at 9 a.m. three days a week through Nov. 22. On Mondays, Sharon Turrentine will lead a three-mile walk in 52 minutes. On Wednesdays, Ginger Ladehoff or Dee Garrett will lead the two-plus-mile "Halfway Hike." On Fridays, Rush Fentress will lead a two-mile walk called "The Weekender." Walks will be held rain or shine. Participants should meet in the Welcome Center, and pets and strollers are welcome. No reservations are needed.

The Tai Chi Series "Strength in Motion" will have several options available this fall. Yang Tai Chi will meet from 10-11 a.m. each Wednesday from Oct. 2 through Nov. 20. Beginner Tai Chi will meet from 1-2 p.m. each Thursday from Oct. 3 through Nov. 21. Advanced Tai Chi will meet from 2-3 p.m. each Thursday from Oct. 3 through Nov. 21. All classes meet on the Great Lawn. The Oaklawn Center on Aging leads this ancient, low-impact practice that increases flexibility, balance and strength. Loose, comfortable clothing and comfortable footwear are recommended.

"Yoga at the Gardens" will be held from 10-11 a.m. Oct. 12 and 26 and Nov. 2 and 16 at the Klipsch Amphitheatre. Diana Esanu, a yoga instructor, will teach the series, incorporating stretches, gentle poses, breath work and affirmations. A 10-minute guided meditation will follow. Participants are asked to bring their own mats.

Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas and part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12 and free for children ages 3 and younger. Some events and activities are free. Some require a fee, advance registration or prepayment.

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