Holiday Lights, Concert, Workshops Among November Events at Garvan Woodland Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Chrysanthemums and other plants border the Great Lawn at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A new art exhibition, botany and vermicomposting workshops, and a concert to kick off the Holiday Lights season are among the fall activities planned in November at Garvan Woodland Gardens.

The November art exhibit, "Two Artists - Two Mediums," will be on display Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 in the Magnolia Room. Brenda Bennett is an award-winning oil and acrylic painter, whose canvases depict a variety of subjects, including landscapes and wildlife. Darlene Garstecki is an award-winning contemporary fiber art designer from Hot Springs Village, whose passion for nature, travel and photography inspires her artwork.

A "Hands-On Botany and Taxonomy" workshop will take place from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Magnolia Room. Joyce Hardin, a plant physiologist and Hendrix College botany professor, will present a hands-on class covering basic botany and plant taxonomy. Participants will receive a copy of Trees of Arkansas by Dwight Moore and Eric Sundell.

An "Aquaponics and Hydroponics System Design" workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 11 in the Magnolia Room. Nolen Buffalo, of The Water Buffalo in Little Rock, will present a lecture on the benefits, limitations and design aspects of hydroponic and aquaponic gardening systems. Following the lecture, participants who wish to construct their own systems will receive guidance, materials and tools to make a basic "bubbling bucket" hydroponic system that they can take home. Construction will take some extra time.

"Advanced Health Walks" will take place from 9-10 a.m. every Monday through Nov. 13, starting in the Welcome Center. Sharon Turrentine will lead participants on 3-mile hikes along various garden landscapes, with a different route taken each week. Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and good walking shoes are recommended.

"Mrs. Garvan's Tea" will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Magnolia Room. Afternoon tea will feature a living history presentation of Verna Garvan, Garvan Gardens' benefactress. Susan Harper will portray Verna Garvan and tell the story of America's first female industrialist. Traditional tea fare will be available.

A "Vermicompost Bin Design" workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 15 in the Magnolia Room. Betsy Spetich, the recycle/reuse specialist for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, will present a demonstration and lecture on composting with worms, or vermicomposting. Participants will have the opportunity to construct a vermicompost bin for indoor use. These systems produce a soil amendment that is rich in nutrients and great for the garden. Bin construction includes worms.

The "Tai Chi Series: Strength in Motion" will take place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. every Thursday through Nov. 16 on the Great Lawn. The Oaklawn Center on Aging will teach this ancient, low-impact practice that helps to increase flexibility, balance and strength. Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended. Participants can check in at the Welcome Center.

"Casual Health Walks" will take place from 9-10 a.m. every Thursday through Nov. 16, starting in the Welcome Center. Dee Garret, a local hiking enthusiast, will lead participants on 1- to 2-mile hikes throughout the garden. The hikes will be at a conversational pace. Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and good walking shoes are recommended.

"The Village Big Band Holiday Lights Opening Night Concert" will take place at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 in Anthony Chapel. The Village Big Band will kick off the Holiday Lights season with a concert of seasonal tunes.

"Holiday Lights" will be on display from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 18 to Dec. 31, except on Nov. 23 and Dec. 25. The garden will be aglow with more than 4.5 million lights in a myriad of natural settings. Features include the luminescent Garden of the Pine Wind, the Parterre garden on the Great Lawn, traditional holiday scenes in the woodlands and the 50-foot tall holiday tree, which plays holiday tunes animated to a light show. Visitors can conclude their walking tour with free hot chocolate. The Chipmunk Café, open each night until 9 p.m., will be serving soups, sandwiches and snacks.

Visitors can check the Garvan Gardens website for more details about free concerts and events during the seven-week Holiday Lights event. Weekend nights are very crowded, and visitors can expect long wait times to park and enter the garden. Visitors are encouraged to visit the display Monday through Thursday nights, if possible. Holiday Lights is open when it rains, however, the garden closes in the case of inclement weather that would threaten the safety of visitors, such as lightning, ice or hail. Dogs are not allowed in the garden during Holiday Lights, except for the Jingle Dogs Pup Parade on Dec. 4.

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 4-12 and free for children ages 3 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.