May Brings Cinco de Mayo Celebration, 'Brushwood Dance' Art Installation to Garvan Woodland Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Hardy amaryllis and dianthus are in bloom at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Garvan Woodland Gardens is hosting several events in May, including gardening workshops, an exhibit of watercolor and acrylic paintings and a Mother's Day concert.

The "Artsy Two" art exhibit will feature watercolor and acrylic paintings by Millie Steveken and Cynthia Schanink of Hot Springs Village, showing their landscape, portrait, floral and abstract works. It will be on display from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in the Magnolia Room. These artist have been painting most of their lives and have received numerous awards in many different art shows. They are members of the art group Brush Strokes, the Fine Arts Center and Traditional Art Guild in Hot Springs and the Mid-Southern Watercolor Society.

"Brushwood Dance: An Art Installation by W. Gary Smith" is on display daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting in May. Smith is a nationally known landscape architect and artist who employs a collaborative design process to create site-specific art installations crafted from materials harvested from the site. Made of tree trunks and limbs, the 400-foot-long art installation piece will wind along Warren's Woodland Walk, ripple along rock walls, arch over trails and undulate through the bulb meadow to its crescendo at the Three Sisters of Amity Daffodil Hill. The installation will be on display through spring 2017 and will be incorporated into and highlighted in the garden's seasonal displays such as Holiday Lights and Tulip Extravaganza.

The Cinco de Mayo FUNraiser will be held from 6-8 p.m. May 5 at Garvan Pavilion. Traditional Mexican foods and margaritas will be served, and there will be live musical entertainment.

National Public Gardens Day, held May 6, is an annual day of celebration to raise awareness of America's public gardens and their role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education in communities nationwide. Garvan Gardens is offering a 25 percent discount for purchases in the GardenShop on that day.

The Ouachita Hills Academy Mother's Day Handbell Concert will take place at 3 p.m. May 8 in Anthony Chapel.

 The "In the Garden: Tropicals with Janet Carson" workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 12 in the Magnolia Room. Janet Carson, a horticulture specialist, and friends will present seasoned tips shared by local and regional Master Gardeners. Registration and refreshments will begin at 9 a.m.

The "Survey Says! with Gena Stout" workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14 in the Magnolia Room. Gena Stout, Master Gardener County 76 speaker, will discuss a range of topics, including companion plants, edibles in the landscape, phrenology, shade gardening and square foot gardening.

The "Meet the Horticulturist" workshops will continue from 10-11 a.m. on select Thursdays through May in the Magnolia Room. Minnie Shelor, Garvan Gardens horticulture specialist, will share seasonal and topical gardening tips. Presentations will be offered indoors with some portions presented outdoors among various Garvan Gardens landscapes.

• May 19 - Your Mum is Hungry workshop: Participants will learn fertilizer basics.
• May 26 - Cut it Out workshop: Shelor will discuss flowers that do well as cut flowers and share basics on flower arranging, pressing and drying.

The Tai Chi series "Strength in Motion" will take place from 2-3 p.m. Thursdays on the Great Lawn. The Oaklawn Center on Aging will host this workshop that teaches the low-impact practice of Tai Chi, which can increase flexibility, balance and strength. Participants are advised to wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes.

Sharon Turrentine will lead a three-mile hike from 9-10 a.m. each Monday through various garden landscapes. Participants should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes.

Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas and part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.

Garvan Gardens 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.