Garvan
Woodland Gardens is
the love child of Verna Garvan, whose father bought the land in
the 1920s for its timber. Verna had a more romantic vision for the
210 acres left to her and in the 1950s began plotting out her dream
garden. Surrounded by the woodlands of the Ouachita Mountains and
the sparkling Lake Hamilton, she wanted to showcase the natural
beauty of Arkansas. In 1985, she made an agreement with the University
of Arkansas to operate the Gardens as a service to the people of
Arkansas. Major development didn't begin until 2000 and it's amazing
to me that so much has been done in such a short time.
The
paths are perfect places to stroll and savor the peaceful surroundings.
I
especially appreciated how you could take little spur paths and
get down to stream level.
The
Chinese Full Moon Bridge was one of my favorite spots. It's found
in the Garden of the Pine Wind with over 300 varieties of Asian
ornamental plants and 60 types of Japanese maple trees.
Koi
add a touch of color to this tranquil pond.
Malia's
2 cents: Beautiful
blossoms, pleasing to the eyes and senses, trickling streams,
cascading waterfalls, colorful koi gliding through the ponds,
sweet sounds of songbirds and tapping woodpeckers - definitely
a day well spent!
Address:
550 Arkridge Rd.; Hot Springs, AR 71913
Location: 9 miles from downtown Hot Springs; 9 miles from Lake
Catherine State Park
Phone: (501) 262-9300 or (800) 366-4664
Email: gardeninfo@garvangardens.org
