Garvan Woodland Gardens Hosts Fly Fishing Expo, Photography Workshop, Tai Chi Series

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Tulips in many varieties and hues are in bloom at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Garvan Woodland Gardens celebrates the return of warmer weather with a fly fishing expo, a tai chi series and a slate of classes and activities for all ages.

The first Hot Springs Fly Fishing Expo will be held from 1-4 p.m. April 22 in the Garvan Pavilion. Hosted by Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters, the event will feature casting and new product demonstrations, fly tying demonstrations, lectures on fly fishing destinations and information about statewide guide services. Vendors from various fly fishing companies will be on hand, along with representatives from local Trout Unlimited chapters and other nonprofit organizations. Participants will receive a free raffle entry with registration.

"Macro Photos and Tulips" will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 5 in the Magnolia Room. This photography workshop is sponsored by the Oaklawn Center on Aging and led by Taylor Bellott, a professional nature photographer. The class will meet for instruction and then go into the garden, where participants will have one-on-one time with Bellott. Students need to bring their own cameras and tripods and should wear comfortable shoes and clothing for walking.

"Bonsai Essentials: Spring Edition" will be held from 10-11 a.m. April 5 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. Bryan Carlan, Garvan horticulturist, will present a quarterly review of seasonal care, tips and techniques for budding bonsai gardeners.

"Art and Wine" will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. April 6 in the Magnolia Room. Dee Garrett, a local artist, will lead this acrylic painting workshop for beginning artists, with the subject reflecting the seasonal blooms. Participants will create an 8-by-10-inch finished piece on canvas. All materials will be provided. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served, and participants must be 21 or older.

"Gardening for Birds" will be held from 9-11 a.m. April 11 in the Magnolia Room. Local naturalists will teach participants how to attract birds with their gardening, and discuss the importance of native shrubs, trees and grasses in supporting a local ecosystem. An introduction to bird identification and a short bird walk led by the Audubon Society will follow.

"Fire Ant Biology and Management" will be held from 2-3 p.m. April 11 in the Magnolia Room. Kelly Loftin, professor and extension entomologist, will discuss the biology of imported fire ants and the various control methods used to rid property of the pests.

The "Horticulture 'Minnie' Series" continues this month, as Minnie Shelor, Garvan horticulturist, leads "Foundations of Container Gardening" from noon to 1 p.m. April 17 in the Magnolia Room. The final session, "Application of Container Design," is slated for June 12, when participants will create their own container gardens.

The Arkansas Forestry Commission lecture series continues with "Fruit Tree Planting and Care" from 10-11:30 a.m. April 19 in the Magnolia Room. Next month's topic will be "Tree ID Lecture and Hike" from 2-4 p.m. May 24.

"Children's Art Days" are scheduled to begin in April. Ginger Ladehoff, local artist and nature enthusiast, will provide individualized instruction in various painting techniques, with students drawing inspiration from the garden. The monthly classes will meet from 9 a.m. to noon April 7, May 5 and June 2 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. The class is geared for children 12 and younger. Children younger than 8 require parental supervision.

A "Critter Crawl" will be held from 7-9 p.m. April 20 and May 18 in the garden. Lydell Lively, Garvan naturalist, will lead a night hike observing the sights and sounds of the garden's nocturnal community.

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

A tai chi series on "Strength in Motion" will start April 5. The weekly classes will meet from 2-3 p.m. Thursdays through June 28 on the Great Lawn and Garvan Pavilion. The Oaklawn Center on Aging will host the series on the ancient, low-impact practice of tai chi, which increases flexibility, balance and strength.

"Group Health Walks" will continue at 9 a.m. three days a week through 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.

"Tulips for Two," an art exhibit of work by Nina Louton and Jan Briggs, will be on display in April in the Magnolia Room. The works feature a colorful medley of flora, fauna, and water found in and around the garden. Louton uses acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolors to express her feelings through color, light, shape and shading. Briggs creates mainly in oil, watercolor, pen and ink and miniatures, and her subjects often include barns, old churches and other Arkansas scenes.

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 full 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 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.