Daffodil Days

February 1 - March 15 2019

Members free, $15 adults, $5 ages 4-12, free ages 0-3.

Check the Gardens Facebook page for current status of the Gardens blooms.

Introduction to Knitting

February 17 

March Art Exhibit: Paintings by Dolores Justus

March 1 - March 31 2019

Inspired by the natural world, Dolores Justus’ paintings reflect a sensitive and intuitive view that distills patterns of light and form into compositions that engage and inspire. Blurring the line between abstraction and representation, her painterly style also contributes to the interactive quality of her art. In her exploration of the confluence of optics and painterly abstraction, Justus’ work belongs to the “new landscape” movement of contemporary American art.

“I’ve always had a strong identification with nature and am continually in awe of the depth of inspiration that it offers. Despite all its variety, there are essential elements in it and in us all, that we respond to. It is those universal, underlying truths that I seek to communicate in my own work.” - Dolores Justus

Justus’ work has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the nation and abroad for more than 20 years. Collections include: the Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR; the University of Arkansas, Health and Sciences Center, Fort Smith, AR; the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff, AR; Iberia Bank, Little Rock, AR; the Alluvian Hotel, Greenwood, MS; Delta Trust Bank, Little Rock, AR; CASA Women’s Shelter, Pine Bluff, AR; Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR; UAMS?Hospital, Little Rock, AR; CARTI Foundation, Little Rock, AR; Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR; Arkansas College of Health Education, Fort Smith, AR; and many others. Her work was also recently featured on the cover of Elegant Homes Magazine (Fall/Winter 2017, Jan. 2019).

Justus is currently represented by Greg Thompson Fine Art in North Little Rock, Arkansas; the Degas Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana; Art Ventures in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and at her own gallery, Justus Fine Art in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In addition to painting, Justus is also an accomplished art director/designer operating the Justus Design & Marketing firm. Her strong design and literary skills have been employed in a variety of advertising and commercial mediums.

Art Exhibits in the Magnolia Room are free and open to the public during regular operating hours.

Tulip Extravaganza

March 1 - April 1 2019

Daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
DATES ARE APPROXIMATE! This event is highly weather-dependent. Dates will be revised as needed depending upon bloom time. Dates cover the entire bloom season, with peak usually in the middle.

Celebrate the end of winter at the Gardens during Tulip Extravaganza! There are thousands of beautiful blooms – starting in February with crocus, daffodils, and hyacinths; followed closely or perhaps concurrently depending on weather by over 150,000 brilliant Dutch tulips. In addition, spring annuals and azaleas bloom, making it the biggest display of color between Dallas and Memphis all season. For up-to-date photos and peak bloom times, check the Gardens’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/garvangardens

Free Members | $15 adults | $5 ages 4-12 | Free ages 0-3 

Bonsai Series "Tsugiki"

March 2 

10 a.m. – 11 a.m., Millsap Bride’s Hall

Bryan Carlan demonstrates techniques used to graft scion (a shoot, branch, or root) to a tree (also called the stump or rootstock). This approach is often used to combine strengths of two different plants together in one new plant.

For Bonsai, grafting is used for a variety of purposes: to add a branch on a specific place to a Bonsai, to replace foliage with a more delicate plant variety, to add roots to enhance the Nebari (root flare or surface roots) or to cultivate a new tree combining desired characteristics of both plants.

Free Members | $15 Non-Members | Registration Required | Register online or call 800-366-4664

Group Health Walks - Pets and Strollers Welcome!

March 4 - May 31 2019

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Meet in Welcome Center

Stimulate your heart and senses as you take in the beautiful grounds on organized health walks in the Gardens! Walks are held rain or shine; join all three each week and meet your fitness goals at Garvan!

• Mondays – 3 miles in 52 minutes with fitness buff Sharon Turrentine
• Wednesdays – 2+ miles- “Halfway Hike” co-led by Ginger Ladehoff & Dee Garrett
• Fridays – 2+ miles – “The Week-ender” with Rush Fentress

Free Members | $15 Non-members | No Reservations Required!

Spanish Language 102: 12 Weeks

March 5 - May 28 2019

Tuesdays from March 5 – May 28
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Magnolia Room

The Education Department at Garvan Gardens offers a 12-week program for members who are interested in learning or practicing the Spanish language. This program will pick up where the Fall introductory class left off, and will cover chapters 7-14 of Exploraciones (2e) by Mary Ann Blitt and Margarita Casas, ISBN – 1305252470. Classes are held on Tuesday mornings, and will feature keys to pronunciation, vocabulary and phrase building, verb conjugation, listening skills, and cultural differences among Spanish-speaking countries.

$100 Members | $125 Non-Members | Registration Required | Register online or call 800-366-4664

Botanical Illustration Series

March 9 - May 4 2019

Local artist Ginger Ladehoff and Garvan biologist Rush Fentress co-teach a series of classes focused on creating meaningful botanical illustrations. Ginger will instruct students on drawing techniques, and Rush will discuss the botany behind the subject matter. Each class will focus on a different plant (or group of plants). These classes include 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.

• March 9 – Tulipa sp. (tulips)
• April 20 – Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
• May 4 - Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea)

$25 Members (per class) | $40 Non-Members | Registration Required | Register online for classes separately or call 800-366-4664

Mrs. Garvan's Springtime Tea-Sold Out

March 12 

3 p.m., Magnolia Room

This delightful afternoon tea features a living history presentation of Mrs. Verna Garvan, the Gardens’ benefactress. Enjoy traditional tea fare, be entertained by Susan Harper’s expert depiction, and take a stroll through the Gardens’ spring blooms before or after the tea.

$32 Members | $37 Non-members | Reservations Required | Seating is limited | Includes admission to the garden

This event is sold out.  Please call the office to be put on the waiting list.

Homeschool Focus: Kid's Workshops

March 13 - May 29 2019

Kids will love these classes beginning in the Bonsai Center and then moving to the Bob & Sunny Evans Tree House in the Evans Children’s Adventure Garden. Each of the Homeschool Focus sessions is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and provides children with a hands-on project to help solidify the learning. Lessons are geared toward grades K-5.

• March 13 – Seeds!
• March 27 – Conservation of Natural Resources
• April 10 – Peafowl Exploration
• April 24 – Life Cycles of Animals
• May 15 – Pollinators & Plant Reproduction
• May 29 – Macroinvertebrate Stream Study

$10 per child (or participating adult) per class | Registration Required | Register online for each class separately | Call 800-366-4664 to register for multiple classes.