Garvan Woodland Gardens Transitions From Summer to Fall With Myriad Events

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Mushroom-shaped art glass pieces are nestled near fallen trees at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. The “Splash of Glass: A James Hayes Art Glass Installation” remains on display through Sept. 30.

As the summer days dwindle, many outdoor events continue in September at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. Some activities will help visitors prepare for the transition into fall.

"Splash of Glass: A James Hayes Art Glass Installation" remains 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.

The Glorious Glass Gala "Celebrating the Arts in Arkansas" will be held from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 26 at Garvan Pavilion. This outdoor garden event, featuring cocktails, fine dining with Café 1217 and dancing to music by Clyde Pound, will mark the end of the five-month-long "Splash of Glass" installation at the gardens. A silent auction will feature pieces by James Hayes Art Glass.

An art exhibit featuring Brush Strokes, an art club from Hot Springs Village, will include 40 of the group's most talented artists. The exhibit will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in the Magnolia Room throughout September. Their paintings depict scenes of Garvan Woodland Gardens, flowers, landscapes and other subjects in watercolor, oils, pastels and mixed media.

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.

Kathy Packard, from the Oaklawn Center on Aging, will guide "Garden Tai Chi" every Thursday from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sept. 19 through 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.

Megan Bradshaw will lead the "First Wednesday Children's Program: Garden Stone Painting" from 10-11 a.m. Sept. 4 at the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Education Center. All materials will be provided, and children can take their stones to their garden at home. A parent or other adult must accompany children; adult chaperones are admitted for free. Open to children ages 3-12.

Local artist Kandy Jones will lead the special art series "Hypertufa with Kandy Jones" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 14 on the Train Deck at Suggs Model Train Garden. The workshop will begin with learning the age-old formula and hands-on instruction for creating a hypertufa planter or birdbath. The afternoon session will cover creating textures, sand casting, color and painting techniques. Visitors may bring a lunch or order from the Garden's Chipmunk Café.

There are three different Gardening 101 Workshops this month. The first, "Mushrooms and Wabi Sabi and Beyond: Secrets to an Authentic Japanese Garden," will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 in the Magnolia Room. Ruth Siebels will describe and demonstrate how to grow Shiitake mushrooms and discuss Japanese garden concepts, such as wabi sabi, principles of natural design and intimate scale.

"Ball Seed Company Presents Fall & Spring Annuals and Perennials" will be held from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Magnolia Room. Sabrina Childs, from Ball Seed Company, and Shane Reynolds, from Reynolds Greenhouses, will discuss how to grow and care for fall and spring annuals and perennials. Childs will focus on the most common annuals and perennials, as well as common bulbs, and introduce new seeds and bulbs coming in 2014. Reynolds will discuss the care and maintenance of bulbs and how to ensure the best color for spring.

In preparation for cooler temperatures, Bob Byers, associate executive director, will lead the last Gardening 101 Workshop, "Bringing Your Plants Indoors," from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 23 in the Magnolia Room.

Garvan Woodland Gardens will honor Master Gardeners from across Arkansas with free admission to the garden grounds from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 24. This daylong event will include informative lessons along the garden trails. Master Gardener nametags or current membership cards must be shown. Lunch will be available for purchase.

Carol Scholp will teach the secrets of making holiday liqueurs at the Special Artist Series: "Lively Liqueurs" from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Millsap Bride's Hall. Participants can taste test throughout the class and may leave with recipes to try at home.

The third series concert by the Muses, "The Muses Fall Concert: Opera Classics," will be presented at 3 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Anthony Chapel.

A special concert by performer and composer Raymond Liebau will be presented at 2 p.m. Sept. 29 in Anthony Chapel. Liebau is a classically trained pianist who has played piano for more than 65 years.

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, $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 upcoming events, call 501-262-9300 or 800-366-4664.