Garvan Woodland Gardens Welcomes Summer with Activities for All Ages in June

Garvan Woodland Gardens

The Sunrise Bridge at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs

Garvan Woodland Gardens kicks off its summer season with a trio of special events in June - a garden color party, children's water sprinkler days and a tie-dye-themed celebration.

The June art exhibit will feature work by Brush Strokes, a visual arts club with members in Hot Springs Village and surrounding areas. The club aims to foster community and encourage artistic growth among its members, who range from beginners to professional artists. The exhibit is on display from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 1-30 in the Magnolia Room.

The garden will host a series of "Summer Photowalks" for participants of all skill levels. Any camera, including smartphones and tablets/iPads, is welcome. Each walk will begin with a brief classroom session to discuss lighting, composition and focus tips. The walks will last from 90 minutes to two hours. Here's the summer calendar:

• Summer Annuals - 3:30 p.m. June 1, Magnolia Room
• Flowering Border and Southern Inspiration Garden - 3:30 p.m. June 15, Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center
• Perry Wildflower Meadow - 9 a.m. June 29, Magnolia Room
• Waterfalls and Cascades - 9 a.m. July 13, Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center
• Dusk and Sunset - 6 p.m. July 27, Magnolia Room
• Shooting in the Shade - 9 a.m. Aug. 10, Magnolia Room

The five-part series "Intro to Digital Photography" will be held from 3-5 p.m. June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 in the Magnolia Room and garden. This series is for beginning digital photographers with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Julia Mann will help participants learn the basics of manual mode, including F-stops, ISO, depth of field, composing with some kind of triangle, shutter speeds and histograms.

The three-part series "Smartphone Photography" will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. June 3 and 17 and July 1 in the Magnolia Room and garden. The first session will help beginners learn more about their smartphones' capabilities and how best to use them. The second session will go deeper into composition, exposure and lighting, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of smartphone cameras. The third session will allow students to put their learning to use in the garden, with an optional critique session at the end.

"ADLS Stations" will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon June 5 and 19, July 3, 17 and 31 and August 14 in the Magnolia Room. These drop-in learning sessions are for children ages 8-12. Each station has an indoor learning component and an extension project to take to the Evans Children's Adventure Garden. Focuses include arts, design, literature and science. Extended projects are available for students attending multiple consecutive sessions.

"Thirsty Thursdays" will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Sprinklers will be running all day in the Children's Garden and at the Ellipse.

A "Garvan Color Party" will be held from 6-8 p.m. June 7 at the Garvan Pavilion. The event will include music and dancing. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beer will be served. Dress is casual and guests are asked to dress in their favorite colors.

"Concepts in Irrigation" will be held from 2-4 p.m. June 8 in the Magnolia Room. Master gardeners Ross (Doc) Sedler, Jeff Finney and James B. Moore Jr. will present a practical dissection of common irrigation kits available at local retailers. Following the discussion, the crew will demonstrate the assembly of an irrigation kit. 

"Gardening 101: Summer Edition" will begin at 8:30 a.m. June 10 in the Welcome Center. Master gardeners will guide students in a hands-on lesson in the Southern Inspiration Garden.

"Tie-Dye Fri-Dye" will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 21 on the garden grounds. Guests are invited to don their tie-dye attire to celebrate summer with a beer garden and live music. Food options will include Flossie's Funnel Cakes, Blue Elephant Shaved Ice and Chipmunk Cafe pop-up snack stations. Designated "sprinkler stations" in the Children's Garden and at the Ellipse will allow guests to cool off.

"Garvan Rocks!" for children and families will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. June 22 in the Magnolia Room, while "Garvan Rocks!" for adults will be held from 10 a.m. to noon June 29. Sissy Hubbard 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.

"Bonsai Essentials - Fertilizer" will be held from 10-11 a.m. June 22 in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. The class will cover why and how to fertilize bonsai and some easy and affordable ways to make fertilizer.

A "Botanical Illustration Series" will take place from 2-4 p.m. June 29 and July 27 in the Magnolia Room. Ginger Ladehoff and Rush Fentress will co-teach the series, providing a short botanical lecture and one-on-one instruction with drawings. All materials are provided, but students are encouraged to bring their own pencils if desired. The focus for June is Plectranthus sp. (coleus) and the focus for July is Hemerocallis sp. (daylilies).

An "Everyday Meditation Series - Relax, Breathe and Feel Better" will be held at 11:15 a.m. June 1, 8 and 15 at Serenity Circle. Meet at 11 a.m. to walk to the location. Martien Carroll, a clinical psychologist with a practice in Hot Springs, will introduce the practice of meditation. People of any age or level of activity can relieve stress,  improve health and practice wellness with simple meditation.

The Tai Chi Series "Strength in Motion" will have several options available in June. Qigong Tai Chi will meet from 1-2 p.m. June 5, 12, 19 and 26. Beginner Short Staff will meet from 1-2 p.m. June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Advanced Short Staff will meet from 2-3 p.m. June 6, 13, 20 and 27. All classes meet on the Great Lawn. 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.

"Yoga at the Gardens" will take place from 10-11 a.m. June 1, 15 and 29 at the Klipsch Amphitheatre. Yoga instructor Diana Esanu will teach the series, incorporating stretches, gentle poses, breath work and affirmations. A 10-minute guided meditation will follow. Participants are asked to bring their own mats.

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.