April Brings Botanical Illustration and Herbalist Series, Art History Class to Garvan Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Cherry trees bloom by the koi pond at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – April at Garvan Woodland Gardens is packed with activities that include a bonsai workshop, tai chi classes, an art history class and two series focused on botanical illustration and herbs.

The annual "Tulip Extravaganza" will be in bloom into April, if weather allows. The display includes more than 150,000 Dutch tulips in brilliant hues, along with spring annuals such as dogwoods and azaleas. Up-to-date photos and peak bloom times can be found at the Garvan Gardens Facebook page.

The April art exhibit, featuring wall sculptures by Lori Arnold, will be on display from April 1-30 in the Magnolia Room. Arnold, a Hot Springs sculptor specializing in porcelain clay and fired glass, has created contemporary wall sculptures with a focus on the garden for this exhibit.

The Tai Chi Series "Strength in Motion" will feature three classes this spring. "Qigong Tai Chi" will meet from 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays from April 3 through June 26. "Beginner Short Staff" will meet from 1-2 p.m. Thursdays from April 4 through June 27, and "Advanced Short Staff" will meet from 2-3 p.m. Thursdays from April 4 through June 27. The Oaklawn Center on Aging leads this ancient, low-impact practice that increases flexibility, balance and strength. Loose, comfortable clothing and comfortable footwear are recommended. Classes will meet on the Great Lawn or near Garvan Pavilion.

A "Bonsai Series: Yamadori" workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 6 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. Participants will collect trees from nature and start them in pots as Bonsai specimens. Each student will locate, harvest, pot, wire and prune a tree from nature, under the direction of Bryan Carlan, Garvan Gardens horticulturist. Participants will be walking through the woods on uneven terrain. Appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn.

The "Spring Herbalist Series" led by Tami Sain will continue with two sessions April 7 and 28 in the Magnolia Room. "Identify and Grow!" will take place from 2-4 p.m. April 7 and focus on common culinary herbs. Following a discussion on herb propagation, participants will create a basic kitchen window herb garden. Locally grown herbs and all materials will be provided. "Uses & Recipes," held from 2-3:30 p.m. April 28, will conclude the series with an investigation into practical uses of herbs. Sain will share recipes ranging from cleaning products to calming teas in this session.

"Homeschool Focus" classes will meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon April 10 and 24. Students will meet in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center and move to the Bob and Sunny Evans Tree House in the Evans Children's Adventure Garden. The topics are is "Peafowl Exploration" on April 10 and "Life Cycles of Animals" on April 24. Each class is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and provides children with a hands-on project to help solidify their learning. Lessons are geared toward children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

An "Art History" class will be held from 2-4 p.m. April 14 in the Magnolia Room. Ginger Ladehoff, a local artist and nature enthusiast, will teach this introduction to 19th century art. The focus will be on Impressionism and Western American art. Students will produce a simple artwork at the end of the lecture.

The Henderson State University "Masterworks Concert" will take place from 7-8 p.m. April 16 in the Anthony Chapel. The Henderson State University Concert Choir and University Chorale will be joined by players from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra for performances of two 20th century masterworks. The first, Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Five Mystical Songs," will feature baritone William Higgins. The second will be the southern premiere of Michael John Trotta's "For A Breath of Ecstasy."

The "Botanical Illustration Series" will continue from 2-4 p.m. April 20 and May 4 in the Magnolia Room. Ginger Ladehoff, a local artist, will instruct students in drawing techniques, and Rush Fentress, Garvan Gardens biologist, will discuss the botany behind the subject matter. All materials will be provided, but students may bring their own pencils if desired. The April 20 class will feature Cornus florida (flowering dogwood), and a May 4 class will feature Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea).

"Spanish Language 102: 12 Weeks" will continue from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays through May 28 in the Magnolia Room. The program picks up where the fall introductory class left off, covering chapters 7-14 of Exploraciones by Mary Ann Blitt and Margarita Casas. The curriculum features keys to pronunciation, vocabulary and phrase building, verb conjugation, listening skills and cultural differences among Spanish-speaking countries.

"Group Health Walks" will continue at 9 a.m. three days a week through May 31. On Mondays, Sharon Turrentine will lead a three-mile walk in 52 minutes. On Wednesdays, Ginger Ladehoff and Dee Garrett will lead a two-plus-mile "Halfway Hike." On Fridays, Rush Fentress will lead a two-plus-mile walk called "The Weekender." Walks will be held rain or shine. Participants should meet in the Welcome Center, and pets and strollers are welcome.

The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will present Design Camp the week of June 24-28. Early registration for the camp runs through April 8, at a cost of $225 for Garvan Gardens members or $325 for the general public. The cost increases by $50 for the regular registration period, which ends May 24. 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, presentations and discussions led by architecture, landscape architecture and interior design faculty of the Fay Jones School. For more information, visit the Fay Jones School website, or contact Ansley Higinbothom at higinbot@uark.edu or 479-575-4907.

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.