Many Classes, Exhibits Planned for July at Garvan Woodland Gardens

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Hydrangeas are in bloom at the top of Singing Springs Gorge at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The mid-summer heat won’t keep Garvan Woodland Gardens from packing its July schedule with exhibits, workshops and other activities.

Continuing this month, the “Mystic Creatures” exhibit is a collaborative project between the garden’s design and fabrication teams and landscape architecture students from the Fay Jones School of Architecture. The designers have challenged the traditional art of topiary in this display that features four main pieces, each of which was first crafted from light metal, then filled with soil and planted with colorful foliage and flowers. It remains on display through Aug. 31.

The Brush Stroke Fine Art Club of Hot Springs Village will display members’ paintings from July 1-31 in the Magnolia Room. The club’s paintings have made their way across the state and the country – in arts shows and in homes – and they represent many mediums, including oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics and mixed media.

In a weekly “Self-Management of Diabetes” class, instructor Kathy Packard provides tips and information for monitoring personal health and addresses all aspects of living a happy, healthful life with diabetes. Her class meets from 1-3:30 p.m. every Wednesday through July 16 in the Millsap Bride’s Hall.

A Sicilian cooking class will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 15 in the Magnolia Room. Through demonstrations, participants can learn how to make ricotta, Sicily’s signature agrodolce sauce, and others recipes.

Gardening expert Janet Carson and landscape architect Bob Byers will lead a workshop on basic landscape design from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 28 in the Magnolia Room. Participants should arrive with a site in mind, and the instructors will discuss how to prepare a base map, the basics of selecting the right plants, how to design for beauty and low maintenance, and the basic rules of success from the great gardening traditions of the world.

Children are the honored guests at “Fairy Tea for Children,” a popular summertime tea held at 3 p.m. July 8 in the Magnolia Room. Food and beverages will be served in the traditional English tea style with patrons enjoying assorted scones, finger sandwiches and desserts, all accompanied by a variety of flavorful hot teas. The garden’s own “Tea Fairy” will offer a short lesson in tea etiquette and tell stories to the young guests.

Two summer classes for children ages 5-12 also will be held at the garden in July. In a July 9 class, “Succulent Secrets: Water and Plants,” children can learn the various strategies plants use to deal with water, from flooding to drought conditions. They will use succulents to create low-maintenance gardens to take home. In a July 23 class, “Hand-Made Papers,” children can learn about papyrus, the original source of paper, and how trees are transformed into paper today. Staff members will help them create their own hand-made paper cards that grow when planted. Both classes begin at 10 a.m. and meet in the Magnolia Room inside the Welcome Center.

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.