Garvan Woodland Gardens sprang from the fertile imagination of Verna Cook Garvan, a construction mogul who wanted to spare the trees on a verdant, 210-acre swath on the shore of Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Touring the renowned botanical gardens is a must-do for visitors to the Spa City. Bequeathed by Mrs. Garvan to the University of Arkansas, the garden has blossomed in only 10 years into a center for both recreation and research.
Among its many delights is the Garden of the Pine Wind, an Asian-inspired setting with a 12-foot waterfall, tranquil reflecting pond and plantings of Japanese maples and cedars, azaleas and dogwood. Warren’s Woodland Trail meanders for one mile through seasonal plantings of flowers and ferns, punctuated by occasional glimpses through the trees of the sweeping Ouachita Mountains on the other side of the lake. The 160-seat Anthony Chapel, with walls of glass and a ceiling of wood trusses, rises majestically in a tranquil stand of trees.
Through September, Garvan is celebrating Splash of Glass, a special event in which brilliantly colored pieces of art glass are interspersed like vivid flowers throughout the property, suspended like chandeliers from trees and bridges, bobbing in ponds and erupting from meadows. There are 225 pieces in all, the work of Pine Bluff artist James Hayes.
The trails are wide and gently sloped, the better to serve people with disabilities. Visitors have the option of exploring on foot or renting a golf cart for an additional fee.
Garvan offers tours led by docents every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., March through May and September through mid-November. Visitors can learn about the history of the gardens, as well as plants garden lovers can grow at home.
No reservation is required but groups are limited to no more than 20 people. Tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free for members. Rates for non-members are: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $5 ages for children age 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.