Garvan Woodland Gardens Hosts Culinary, Gardening, Fitness Events in September

Photo by Garvan Woodland Gardens

The Ellipse at Garvan Woodland Gardens.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The weather is getting cooler, and football season is almost in play. Garvan Woodland Gardens has several interesting events planned in September to welcome the arrival of fall.

The "Mixing It Up" art exhibit will be on display from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 1-30 in the Magnolia Room. The exhibit will feature the works of three award-winning artists Marlene Gremillion, who specializes in water media and collage work, Sheliah Halderman, who specializes in pastel landscapes and florals, and Linda Shearer, who specializes in the Heish-I (spontaneous) style of Chinese brush painting.

Master Gardener Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 on the garden grounds. The garden will honor Master Gardeners from across Arkansas, and vendors will offer useful information and traditional lessons along the trails from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Every Master Gardener will receive a free 2016 Master Gardener calendar when they leave.

As part of the Artisan Series, "Hypertufa, the Basics & Beyond" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Magnolia Room and the Railroad Garden Deck at the Welcome Center. Kandy Jones, the "Garage Sale Queen" and a hypertufa expert, will talk about using simple recipes, mixing hypertufa to proper consistency, the basics of hand building, mold usage and adding decorative materials to create a form of art with this light-weight concrete. Attendees will learn about textures, techniques and armatures and will build a planter, birdbath or stepping stone to take home.

For the chef in the family, the Culinary Series workshop "Savory, Sweet, Sour, Herbal and Spiced Vinegars" will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 16 in the Magnolia Room. Lynn Harris, a professional baker and artisan, will show attendees how to spice up not only dinner but also the vinegar used, to give meals that extra zip. Participants will learn about different types of vinegar and how to enhance them using blends of herbs, spices and fruits, as well as the ins and outs of creating various tastes. Participants will also make a variety of their own personalized flavors to take home. All supplies are provided.

"The Sweet Life," part of the Diabetic Empowerment Series, will be held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 17 and 24 and October 1, 8, 15 and 22 in the Magnolia Room. Kathy Packard from the Oaklawn Center on Aging will share tips and techniques to help make living with diabetes more fulfilling and joyful.

"Strength in Motion," in the Tai Chi Series, will be held from 1:30-2:30 p.m. every Thursday Sept. 17 through Nov. 5 on the Great Lawn. Representatives from the Oakland Center on Aging will show attendees how the ancient, low-impact practice of tai chi can increase flexibility, balance and strength. Loose, comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended.

As part of the Gardening 101 workshops, "A Tree in a Tray" will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sept. 21 in the Magnolia Room. Garden staff members will share secrets of success about the art and culture of the tray specially designed and used for holding carefully sculpted Bonsai trees.

Another Gardening 101 workshop, "Bamboo and Nightingale: Secrets of Chinese Brush," will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 21 in the Magnolia Room. Attendees will learn painting techniques using brush strokes to show light and dark, strong and soft, space and form in the traditional Chinese art form. Linda Shearer, instructor and artist, will provide an overview of the ancient art of Chinese brush using various techniques and approaches.

Compact Family Services will host "Run for the Family 5K" from 7-9 a.m. Sept. 26 on the garden trails to help raise awareness and support for youth to have healthy families. The fun-run is for walkers and runners, and anyone is welcome to participate or support.

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 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.