Garvan Woodland Gardens Welcomes Spring With Daffodil, Tulip Displays, Bridal Show, Workshops

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Hyacinths in shades of pink, purple and blue bloom near Garvan Pavilion at Garvan Woodland Gardens. The pavilion was designed by the late architects Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Garvan Woodland Gardens comes alive with color in March and ushers in a schedule full of special events and classes for all ages. 

The annual "Daffodil Days and Tulip Extravaganza" events celebrate the transition from winter to spring at Garvan Gardens. From March through April, thousands of daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths will bloom, along with more than 150,000 Dutch tulips in brilliant hues. Other spring annuals and azaleas will also bloom. This display of spring color is the biggest between Memphis and Dallas. Up-to-date photos and peak bloom times can be found at the Garvan Gardens Facebook page.

"Beauty and the Bride," the 2018 Hot Springs Bridal Expo, will take place from 1-4 p.m. March 11 at the downtown Hotel Hot Springs. This event, a joint presentation by Garvan Woodland Gardens, Arkansas Bride magazine, Hotel Hot Springs and Signature Events, will feature dozens of wedding vendors. A wedding package will be given away to one lucky bride the day of the expo. 

The Muses Creative Artistry Project "Celtic Spring" Concert will be held at 3 p.m. March 11 in Anthony Chapel. The concert will feature a blend of Irish and English ballads, including settings of Shakespearean sonnets and Robert Burns poetry, along with traditional favorites performed in the style of the group Celtic Woman. 

"Mrs. Garvan's Tea" will be held at 3 p.m. March 13 in the Magnolia Room. This afternoon tea will feature a living history presentation of Verna Garvan, the garden's benefactress. Susan Harper will depict Mrs. Garvan while guests enjoy traditional tea fare. 

The garden will host "Celebrate Spring!" from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 24. The day will begin with a ribbon-cutting and grand re-opening of the Garden of the Pine Wind at 9 a.m. John Powell, garden designer, will lead a walking tour of the newly redesigned garden. Children's activity booths will be open throughout the entire garden from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities will include face painting, rock decorating, wand making, origami and paper flowers/wishes. A beer garden will open at Garvan Pavilion at 11 a.m., with Bubba Brew's Brewing Company and Buffalo Brewing Company serving custom drafts made especially for Garvan Gardens. Other beverages and food will also be available for purchase. 

A "Horticulture 'Minnie' Series" is slated to start in March. Minnie Shelor, Garvan horticulturist, will present "Introduction to Landscape Design" from noon to 1 p.m. March 6 in the Magnolia Room. Other sessions will be "Foundations of Container Gardening" on April 17 and "Application of Container Design" on June 12. Participants will create their own container gardens in the last session. 

An "Estate Planning and Wealth Management Seminar" will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 8 in the Magnolia Room. Representatives from Bobby Brown Private Wealth Advisors will present the informational sessions. ​

"Fly Fishing 101" will be held from 1-3 p.m. March 10 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters will present a class for the beginning fly fisher. Participants will learn about commonly used flies, and then be instructed on proper casting technique. 

The Arkansas Forestry Commission will present a lecture series starting March 15 in the Magnolia Room. The first topic is "Forestry in the Ouachita Mountain Region" from 10-11:30 a.m. Subsequent topics are "Fruit Tree Planting and Care" from 10-11:30 a.m. April 19 and "Tree ID Lecture and Hike" from 2-4 p.m. May 24.

Nolen Buffalo will present a lecture on "Hydroponic and Aquaponic System Design" from 9:30-11:30 a.m. March 24 in the Magnolia Room. He is with The Water Buffalo Brewing and Gardening Supply in Little Rock. Following the lecture, participants can construct their own basic "bubbling bucket" hydroponic systems. 

"Gardening 101: Spring Edition" will be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 26. Master Gardeners will lead new gardeners in a hands-on lesson in the Southern Inspiration Garden. The group will first meet in the Magnolia Room.

"Concepts in Irrigation" will be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 31 in the Magnolia Room. Master Gardener James B. Moore Jr. and friends will present a practical dissection of common irrigation kits available at local retailers, and they will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various systems. 

"Homeschool Focus" classes will be held in the Bonsai Learning Center in coming months. Each class is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and provides children with hands-on learning. "Build an Herb Garden" will be held from 10-11 a.m. March 14 and from 2-3 p.m. March 17. "DIY Earth Day Eco Bags" will be held from 10-11 a.m. April 21. "Build a Butterfly Garden and Feeder" will be held from 10-11 a.m. May 16 and from 2-3 p.m. May 19. 

Two sessions of "Garvan Rocks!" will be held March 19, from 9-11 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m., in the Magnolia Room. Sissy Hubbard, local artist, will share the tradition of drawing on stones. Participants will create their own Garvan Rocks and hide them in the garden for others to find. The program is geared toward children 12 and younger.

"Natural State Ecology Day Camps" will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 20-22 in the garden. The camps will feature hiking, art projects, journaling and sharing. Students will explore the ecology of the Natural State with an emphasis on stewardship of natural resources. The camps are for children ages 8-12. Early drop-off and extended care are available.

"Group Health Walks" will be held at 9 a.m. three days a week from March 19 to June 29. On Mondays, Sharon Turrentine will lead a three-mile walk in 52 minutes. On Wednesdays, Dee Garrett will lead a two-plus-mile walk at a comfortable, conversational pace. On Fridays, Ginger Ladehoff will lead a two-plus-mile walk at a challenging pace. Groups meet first in the Welcome Center, and pets and strollers are welcome.

The art exhibit, "Two Artists – Two Mediums," will continue to be on display through March 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.

The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will present Design Camp in the Garden the week of June 25-29. Early registration for the camp runs through April 13, at a cost of $200 for Garvan Gardens members or $300 for the general public. The cost increases by $50 for the regular registration period, which ends May 25. Need-based and partial scholarships are available. The camp is open to students going into ninth through 12th grades this fall. Design camp offers students the opportunity to learn through hands-on projects, tours, presentations and discussions led by architecture, landscape architecture and interior design faculty of the Fay Jones School. For more information, contact Judy Stone at jkstone@uark.edu or 479-575-2399.​

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.