Discovering Tropical Plants and Saltwater Fish in Little Rock, Arkansas

A trip to a couple of indoor garden centers and a salt water fish store was the perfect cure for the wintertime blues.

January is usually the month that I start craving a warm tropical island. It has been very cold in Arkansas the last few weeks and my body is not liking it! We generally have mild winters with just a few days that are below freezing at night. Well, not this year! It has been down to 14 degrees at night and not getting above 32 during the day.

My mother, daughter, and I decided that a little adventure to some nurseries in a nearby (1 ½ hours away) city would be a perfect “Pick me up”. There is basically nothing to do indoors within 4 hours of my home, so being creative is a must. Never having been to any nurseries in Little Rock before, I did a little research online to see which ones might have something to look at indoors.

Hocott's Garden Center has a beautiful indoor garden with all kinds of tropical plants and trees. 

They also have home and garden decor. I love that you just walk through the jungle and find the plants you want. The air plants were hanging in a tree just like in nature!

Address:

3612 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Little Rock, AR

Botanica Gardens has a beautiful store with nature inspired decor for the home and garden. They have a nice selection of air plants.

Address:

1601 Rebsamen Park Road

Little Rock, Arkansas 72202

Good Earth Garden Center has a cute fairy garden, a very large gift shop, hot houses, and you can grab a quick photo with Bigfoot!

Address:

15601 Cantrell Road

 Little Rock, AR 72223

The Fish Tank is an Aquarium supply store with beautiful saltwater fish and live coral. The staff is super friendly and informative. I am still trying to talk the hubby into letting me get a salt water tank!

Address:

400 N. Bowman Rd, Suite 13

Little Rock, AR 72211

I acquired these beautiful air plants on our trip. I have been fascinated with tillandsias for a while, but am just now starting to collect some air plants. I just wish they were not so expensive! If anybody has some extras they would like to send my way, feel free!😄

The first plant is from Hocott's Garden Center and the second two are from Botanica Gardens.

Hope you enjoined hearing about our little trip! If you have suggestions on any other nurseries or garden centers that I need to visit, let me know. I love anything tropical and can not wait for warmer weather to get out in my garden.

Below is short video from the trip

Going Behind the Scenes of a Historic Photoshoot for HER Magazine

I was excited to get a chance to watch a photo shoot for HER Magazine last week . To even make it more exciting, my daughter-in-law was the model!

HER is a  magazine designed primarily for women with articles about local events, fashion, stories to inspire, and other informative features. It can be found in paper copy at local business or online here.

The photos taken at Historic Washington State Park will be in an upcoming article about the Jonquil Festival. The dress she is wearing is similar to what an upper-middle class woman, of the 19th century, would have worn.

The shooting locations were the Sanders Farmstead barn and 1883 Goodlett Cotton Gin, two of my favorite places in the park. If you are interested in seeing these and other buildings at the park, you can schedule a tour here.

The 49th Annual Jonquil Festival will be held March 17 - 19, 2017. Unique crafts, entertainment, and mouthwatering food (including funnel cakes) are just some of the things that can be found throughout the park during the event. The hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and  9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sunday. 

Ashley's beautiful hair and makeup was courtesy of Paige Martin, a makeup artist and owner of The Lace Anchor online boutique. She is also my daughter. 😊

Be sure and look for Ashley on the cover of the March issue!

Happy Reading! 

Discovering the Little Grand Canyon in Arkansas

There is a little-known geological wonder in Southern Arkansas, often referred to as "The Little Grand Canyon." 

These distinctive sand and rock formations are located at the edge of White Oak Lake in Chidester, and are not well-known beyond the local community. Visitors can hike around the rim of the canyon and explore several trails that lead down to the crystal-clear, blue-green waters below.

The formations themselves are composed of hard-packed sand and shale rocks, with a unique blend of white, dark gray, and rust-colored hues. Hiking trails wind throughout the area, and locals love to cool off in the refreshing waters during the summer months

To access this hidden gem, visitors can drive to the end of the road and park in the clearing just inside the woods

 It's a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty of Arkansas.


Address:

 218 Ouachita Rd 332
 Chidester, AR 71726

GPS cordinates:

33.700436, -93.099361

Enjoy Your Visit!

       Sherri

Garvan Woodland Gardens (Fall ) Hot Springs, Arkansas

Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical garden nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of Southwest Arkansas. It is located along the shoreline of the beautiful Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs.

Every season brings something new to see at the garden. Right now, Autumn in the Woodlands and the Mum Fest are in full swing with thousands of chrysanthemum blooming throughout the gardens.

There are surprises around every corner.

The Fall season is from September 1- November 18 for this year.

 Paved paths will lead you over several unique bridges, around waterfalls, and along ponds filled with large coy fish.

The Christmas season starts in the middle of November, so you can see where they have already started stringing the lights and getting ready for it. Christmas at the gardens is amazing!

Location is:

550 Arkridge Rd, 

Hot Springs, AR 71913

Hours are:

Open Every Day:

February 1 through November 18, 2016

9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Last admission sold at 5:30 p.m.

Holiday Hours: November 19 through December 31, 2016

Noon - 9 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

Admission Fees:

Adults (age 13 and up)   $15.00  

Children 6-12     $5.00    

Children to age 5    Free

Happy Travels!