Garvan Woodland Gardens Hosts Cooking, Gardening, Art Workshops in August

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The Evans Children's Adventure Garden at Garvan Woodland Gardens offers many paths and boulders for exploring this summer.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — School is almost back in session, and the end of summer is near. For those not quite ready to let go of summer vacation, here are some options when visiting Garvan Woodland Gardens in August.

The "Three Rivers Art Guild" art exhibit will be on display from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 1-31 in the Magnolia Room. Members of the guild hail from Glenwood, and they will exhibit artworks in a variety of media, including watercolor, oil, encaustic, acrylic, pen and ink, carved gourds and fiber materials. Their award-winning works have been collected nationally.

The Artful Ties workshop: "Fun with Tie-Dye," for ages 14 and older, will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Aug. 16 in the Magnolia Room. Roxana Rose, an artist and naturalist, will teach the basics of tie-dye, from folding techniques to choosing and using natural and Procyon dyes. Attendees can practice on handkerchiefs and scarves, and each person will take home three to four tie-dyed items. All supplies are included.

As part of the Gardening 101 workshops, "Gardening for Health" will be held 11 a.m. to noon Aug. 17 in the Magnolia Room. Ryan Johnston of Johnston Chiropractic will teach attendees about the wide range of physical and mental benefits that can be gained by gardening. He will also lead a discussion about alternative growing practices that encourage good body mechanics and how to include them in home gardens.

Another Gardening 101 workshop, "Rainbows in Flower: the Iris," will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 18 in the Magnolia Room. Attendees will learn about various iris types, proper terminology for the flowers named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, how and when to plant and divide, and proper fertilizing, watering and pest control. Hands-on demonstration is included.

The month's final Gardening 101 workshop, "Jungle Beauties," will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Magnolia Room. Jim Shults of Shults Greenhouse will share secrets for success with indoor gardening, from growing Medinilla, a tropical species with weeping panicles, to basic philodendrons.

An Artful Gardens workshop, "Pieces in Time," will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 22 in the Magnolia Room. Artist Kandy Jones, known as the "Garage Sale Queen," uses old dishes and jewelry to create art. Attendees of this workshop will learn how to find recyclable items and to use basic mosaics techniques to create personalized lawn decor.

For the chef in the family, the Culinary Series workshop "I Grew All These Beautiful Herbs ... Now What?" will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Aug. 23 in the Magnolia Room. Experts Debbie Tripp and Cindy Faulk will show attendees how to harvest and preserve herbs featured at other summer workshops. They will also share recipes and provide other uses for herbs to make full use of this summer's garden bounty.

The display of "Mystic Creatures: Topiary Art Takes Flight" continues, featuring six giant Mosaiculture topiary figures — plants in mosaic-like patterns on metal superstructures — scattered throughout the garden. Each figure was created by the garden's artisan welders to fit its designated site and to bring out a sense of imagination and enchantment with the wonder of deep forests and gardens. The 2014 exhibit attracted a record number of visitors to the garden, which makes the 2015 Topiary Art Takes Flight a must-see event. The display is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Aug. 31.

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 $15 for adults, $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.