September Brings Beekeeping Course, Photo Safari, Yoga Series at Garvan Woodland Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens

The three-story Evans Tree House recently opened at Garvan Woodland Gardens. It was designed by Modus Studio.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Garvan Woodland Gardens welcomes the return to cooler weather in September with activities such as a golf cart photo safari, an introduction to beekeeping and an annual trash cleanup along regional shorelines and roads.

The Traditional Art Guild of Hot Springs will present the People's Choice Award Show in the Magnolia Room throughout the month of September. The exhibit will feature paintings of nature subjects in oil, acrylic, pastels and watercolor. The art will be for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to garden projects. Visitors will vote to determine the winners.

"Spanish Language for Beginners: 10 Weeks" will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 4 to Nov. 15 in the Magnolia Room. The program will feature keys to pronunciation, vocabulary and phrase building, verb conjugation, listening skills and cultural differences among Spanish-speaking countries. Textbooks and/or workbooks will be provided, and no previous experience is needed.

Julia Mann, a local photographer, will lead a "Golf Cart Photo Safari" from 3-7 p.m. Sept 8. The event is geared toward beginner and intermediate level adult photographers, but all skill levels are welcome. The class will start in the Magnolia Room with a brief introduction to photography composition and some tips for finding and making better images. Then participants will board golf carts and capture images in the garden's most picturesque spots. Students should bring their own DSLR, point and shoot, camera phone or tablet. A basic understanding of how to operate the camera is required.

"Group Health Walks" will be held at 9 a.m. three days a week from Sept. 10 to Nov. 16. On Mondays, Sharon Turrentine will lead a three-mile walk in 52 minutes. On Wednesdays, Ginger Ladehoff will lead a two-plus-mile walk at a challenging pace. On Fridays, Dee Garrett will lead a two-plus-mile walk at a comfortable, conversational pace. Groups meet first in the Welcome Center, and pets and strollers are welcome.

A "Landscape Drawing Series" will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 15, Oct. 11 and Nov. 10 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. Using the garden as inspiration, each student will produce an original nature still life drawing. Local artist Ginger Ladehoff will lead the classes. Participants are encouraged to bring their own pencils.

"Indoor Gardening with Hydroponic Systems" will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 15 in the Magnolia Room. Nolen Buffalo, with The Water Buffalo Brewing and Gardening Supply in Little Rock, will discuss starting seeds, transplanting seedlings, caring for an adult plant and cloning a plant. Background experience with indoor gardening is helpful for this introductory to intermediate level class.

A "Vinyasa Yoga Series" will be held from 2-3 p.m. Sept. 22, Oct. 20 and Nov. 10 on the Great Lawn, led by Audra Ladehoff. Vinyasa yoga is a flowing practice linking breath to movement in a continuous sequence of poses. Many people feel stronger, more energized and grounded as they practice.

"Bonsai Series: Beginner's Specimen Start" will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 29 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. Bryan Carlan, Garvan horticulturist, will discuss plant selection, container and materials sources and techniques for producing a healthy specimen. Participants will take home a potted bonsai-style tree.

The annual "Trash Bash" event will be held Sept. 22, with a free lunch at the Klipsch Amphitheatre from 11 a.m. to noon. Participants should check in at one of the following stations between 8 and 9 a.m. — Lake Hamilton: Hill Wheatley Park, Hulsey Fish Hatchery, Sunnybrook Landing, Sunset Cove Marina; Lake Catherine: Carpenter Dam Park, Munro Shoe Factory Boat Ramp, Lake Catherine State Park; Ouachita River: White Water Park in Malvern — to pick up trash from nearby shorelines, roads and ditches. Participants will earn prize-drawing tickets based on the amount of trash collected. The morning will end with a barbecue lunch at the garden, along with a free T-shirt, entertainment and a drawing for prizes. Admission to the garden is free.

"Fly Fishing 101" will be held from 10-11 a.m. Sept. 22 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center and on the Great Lawn. Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters will present the introductory class for beginning fly fishers. Following a brief discussion of commonly used flies, participants will be instructed in proper casting technique.

"Introduction to Beekeeping" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 in the Magnolia Room. The staff of Bemis Honey Bee Farm will lead the course. No experience or materials are required. The course will touch on honeybee biology, history, beekeeping practices, hive components and honey harvesting, and it will feature a hands-on experience with beehives. Safety gear will be provided.

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.