Garvan Woodland Gardens Presents 'Mystic Creatures' Summer Display

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This image shows some of the plant materials being used to create a sculpture that is part of the "Mystic Creatures" display, which opens June 1 at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Among the most ambitious projects at Garvan Woodland Gardens, this summer’s “Mystic Creatures” display of mythical creatures showcases the ancient art of topiary. It opens to the public June 1 and will remain on display through Aug. 31.

Three major topiary pieces will be on display at the Koi Pond, the Dierks Promenade and Garvan Pavilion. A fourth creature will be moved around to various locations throughout the garden, leaving behind clues for children to look for him as a type of a treasure hunt.

Mystic Creatures is a cooperative project of the garden’s in-house design and fabrication teams and the landscape architecture department in the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas. Designs were developed by landscape architects at the garden and Fay Jones School students, who studied design, plant materials, and structural systems required to create living sculptures during a fall 2013 studio.

These living sculptures are based on a modern technique called mosaiculture. This art form combines centuries-old formal European parterres of clipped shrubs and annuals with the vertical character, size, and three-dimensional form of traditional topiary figures. The resulting pieces feature carefully manicured plants covering structural steel frames that tower over visitors, wind through lawns and plantings, and reappear throughout the forest.

The sculptures range in size, with the largest one standing over 13 feet high. Combined, the pieces are covered in nearly 20,000 plants. In addition to the mythical storylines given to each creature, the Sasquatch, the Fairy Gourdmother, the Magical Sea Serpent and the Shroom family all incorporate valuable lessons about nature or specific aspects of the environment into their displays.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden, which hosted the “Imaginary Worlds” mosaiculture international display in 2013, played a big role in assisting the garden in creating Mystic Creatures.

This event is free for members, or $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, free for children ages 5 and younger, and $5 for dogs.

A members-only preview event for the Mystic Creatures display will be held May 29. This event features a preview of the display before it opens to the public, as well as a reception in Garvan Pavilion. Members are invited to begin touring at 4 p.m. Wine and light hors d’oeuvres will be served at the pavilion starting at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person, and advance reservations and prepayment are required. The rain date is June 1.

In addition, a special Mystic Magic Night Gala will be held from 6-9 p.m. June 3 in Garvan Pavilion. This event will celebrate the opening of Mystic Creatures. Appetizers, an elegant seated dinner and dessert, along with cocktails and wine, will be served. Special entertainment will be presented by magician Maxwell Blade, along with dance music by Dean Agus and the Legacy Band. The cost is $75 for members of the garden and $85 for non-members. Tables for six and eight also are available. Advance reservations and pre-payment are required. The rain date is June 4.

Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

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