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Searching for info on Arkansas? Welcome to Arkansas Websites, an Arkansas directory on Arkansas websites from Arkansas covering Arkansas and Arkansas businesses, Arkansas schools, Arkansas news and Arkansas events.

Arkansas, The Natural State, became the 25th state to join the Union when she gained statehood in 1836. First explored by Europeans in the 16th century, Arkansas attracted settlers in search of fertile lands and fresh waters.

Popular visitor destinations include Hot Springs National Park, one of the country's oldest and most visited parks; Eureka Springs, a resort since the 1880's; a water theme park- Wild River Country, and numerous restorations and museums, including Mid-America Science Museum, a "hands on" look at life, energy, matter, and perception. The Buffalo National River was the country's first national river park, and Blanchard Springs Caverns is the major cave find of the 20th century. The Great River Road links eastern Arkansas on a marked route that parallels the Mississippi.

Arkansas' state park system is one of the finest in the country, preserving and interpreting special features of the state's scenic, historic, geologic, and archaeological heritage for this and future generations. Unusual parks include the Ozark Folk Center, where the mountain culture of the pioneers is on display; Crater of Diamonds, where visitors may search for precious stones and keep what they find; Old Washington, one of the state's most historic towns; and Village Creek, the largest park in the system at just under 7,000 acres. Queen Wilhelmina, DeGray, Petit Jean, Devil's Den, Crowley's Ridge, Lake Chicot, and Lake Catherine are other major parks. Impressive new visitors centers at Lake Dardanelle and Mountain Magazine are just some of the improvements and expansions taking place at various Arkansas state parks.



Arkansas Gardening Organizations


Arkansas Daylily Society — For information, contact Bob Stassen, [email protected].

Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.
501-663-5289 week days 1-4 p.m.
e-mail [email protected]

The Garden Club movement began in Athens, Georgia, in 1891, and the National Council of State Garden Clubs was formed from that in 1929. It is today known as National Garden Clubs. The Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. was formed in June of 1931. The current AFGC, Inc., includes 92 clubs with a membership of 2,208 in all areas of Arkansas. AFGC's objectives are: to aid in the protection & conservation of our natural resources, to encourage civic beauty & roadside beautification, to study in all aspects the fine art of gardening, to cooperate with other agencies furthering the interest of horticulture & conservation, to disseminate information, and to further horticultural education, conservation, and landscape design through gift scholarships.

Garden Club projects include sponsoring youth in environmental poster, poetry, speech & essay contests; sponsoring flower and garden shows; promoting recycling and historic preservation; and offering opportunities for the study of flower designing & judging, as well as for landscape design & horticulture education.

For information in forming or joining a garden club in your area, e-mail the above address or call 501-663-5289 weekdays between 1-4 p.m.

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Arkansas Native Plant Society

The Arkansas Native Plant Society was formally organized in 1980. Its purpose is to promote the preservation, conservation, and study of the wild plants and vegetation of Arkansas, the education of the public to the value of the native flora and its habitat, and the publication of related information. ANPS has two general meetings per year and many field trips. Those meeting and field trips are held in various locations around the state so members can become more aware of the great diversity and natural beauty of Arkansas. The educational purpose of the society is also met by providing a number of scholarships and research grants to worthy students. (Donations to support those funds will be gladly accepted.)

ANPS honors people who have contributed to meeting our purpose in a significant way. The Dwight Moore Award is given for outstanding achievement in either research or publication concerning Arkansas botany. The Carl Amason Conservation Award is given to those who have helped conserve our state's natural heritage. The society also is involved in helping other state and local organizations when their purposes overlap those of ANPS, and the society is a member of the Arkansas Conservation Coalition. ANPS is also a sponsor of the Vascular Flora of Arkansas Project.

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Botanical Garden Society of the Ozarks
44 North School
Fayetteville, Arkansas 71702-5122
Phone 479-443-6638

The Mission of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is to be a source of knowledge and inspiration that will heighten people's understanding and appreciation of plants, and further preservation and enhancement efforts of the natural world. Please help us turn this vision into a reality. Contact us today! Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm.

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Camden Daffodil Festival Organization
P.O. Box 693
Camden, Arkansas 71701

Get involved in this festival, which is held in mid March. The festival includes tours of many gardens with lots of different varieties of bulbs in bloom, tours of local historic homes and a log cabin village, a pancake breakfast, luncheon, poker run and 5K run, herbs and perennial sale, and more.

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Central Arkansas Beekeepers Association

The group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the back meeting room at Wild Oats (northwest corner of I-430 at Rodney Parham — behind Chili's) in Little Rock, Ark. Visitors are welcome.

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Central Arkansas Iris Society
e-mail [email protected]

This Central Arkansas Iris Society meets at Hillcrest Hall (formerly The Garden Clubs Center of Little Rock), 1501 Kavanaugh Blvd., on the corner of Kavnaugh and Lee Streets in Little Rock, Ark., the third Sunday of each month at 2 p.m., unless otherwise announced. There is a program, a short business meeting, and then visiting and refreshments. Meetings usually last an hour and a half to two hours. Expect door prizes, warm friendship, and lots of information about irises — visitors are welcome.

CAIS was organized in 1959 as an affiliate of the American Iris Society and is open to everyone who shares its goals of spreading knowledge about growing all kinds of irises, encouraging research, improving the quality of irises grown in this area, exchanging ideas and encouraging and helping those who are starting to grow irises.

CAIS maintains a library of reference books and publishes a quarterly newsletter, a yearbook with membership roster, and a basic culture booklet. CAIS encourages members to join the American Iris Society, which produces many excellent references. CAIS provides inexpensive plant labels for sale to members. The society maintains beds of bearded irises on the south lawn at the Arkansas State Capitol, and has planted Louisiana irises at War Memorial Pond in War Memorial Park in Little Rock. Also, see the cgp Calendar page for information about the Iris Show and Competition May 1, and the Rhizome and Plant Sale July 31.

January 2005 — No meeting this month
February 20 — Slides from the 2004 AIS Convention
March 20 — Preparing Your Iris for Bloom Season
April 17 — Grooming Your Iris for the Show
May 15 — No meeting this month
June 19 — Choosing the Best Iris for Your Garden
July 17 — How to Dig and Label Iris for the Sale
August 21 — Gardens of Hamamatsu, Japan, and Rochester, New York
September 18 — Best of Color
October 16 — Heirloom/Historic Iris
November 20 — What's New in the Iris World
December 18 — Christmas Party/Potluck Lunch (time to be announced)

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Central Arkansas Rose Society

The Central Arkansas Rose Society is an affiliate of the American Rose Society. Meetings are held monthly, except July and December, and alternate between Little Rock and Conway.

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The Flower, Garden, and Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas
Lynn Rogers, 479-521-9090

The society, organized in 1995, is open to anyone with an interest in flowers, gardening, or nature. Levels of expertise range from novice to expert and all are welcome. Meetings are Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., in rooms 217-221 at the Jones Center for Families, Emma Avenue and Highway 265, Springdale, Ark. Coffee and snacks at the beginning, with the program usually starting at 10. There are a plant raffle, a catalog swap, a library and a plant give-away at each meeting. Membership $10. The annual 'Through the Garden Gate' tour benefits the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, donating more than $18,000 by 2005. The 2005 program schedule includes:

February 19 — Joyce Mendenhall, Master Gardener and FGNS member, 'Heirloom Gardening'

March 19 — Harry Harnish, State Parks Interpreter at Devil's Den, 'The Truth about Bats'

April 16 — Lynn Rogers, Master Gardener, FGNS Program Chair, 'Devil's Ears and Fairy Candles: Wildflower Life and Lore'

May 7 — 'Ready, Set, Grow' at the Jones Center for Families

May 21 — Jenny Harmon, Director Ozark Science Center, 'Program Overview of OSC Services'

June 4 — 'Through the Garden Gate' Tour

July 16 — James and Cyndi Orr, wildlife rehabilitators, 'Witter Wildlife Refuge Mission and Animals'

August 20 — All-Day Workshop, Mary Ann King, owner of Pine Ridge Gardens Nursery in London, Ark., 'Native Plants: Gardening with Arkansas Native Plants, morning; Attracting Butterflies, Hummers and other Birds,' afternoon

September 17 — Jack Singleton, Director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful and Master Gardener, 'Butterfly Gardening and Keep Arkansas Beautiful Programs'

October 15 — Steve and Cathy Marak, FGNS members and plant enthusiasts, 'Atlanta Botanic Garden and Chihuly Glassware Exhibit'

November 19 — Tim Ernst, trailblazer and nationally known nature photographer, 'Arkansas, Wild and Free'

Fieldtrips: a wildflower walk on part of Mud Creek Trail off of Old Missouri Rd. in Fayetteville — TBA.


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Little Rock Council of Garden Clubs
1501 Kavanaugh Blvd.
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Phone 501-663-7515

The council is a on-profit organization made up of 18 garden clubs and 5 affiliates orgaizations (The Arkansas Judges Council, Central Arkansas Horticultural Society, Arkansas Unit Herb Society of America, Central Arkansas Iris Society, and Little Rock Rose Society). Some of these groups meet at the Council's building, and it is also frequently rented for rehearsals and other community activities.

The Council's annual activities include a Spring Tour of area gardens late each April, a fall lecture, and various plant and bulb sales throughout the year. Clubs within the council also sponsor many projects within the community, including the Rose Garden at the Pulaski County Courthouse, Blue Star Memorial honoring servicemen, the Garden of Exploration at the Arkansas School for the Blind, community gardens, monthly floral arrangements and the Butterfly Garden at the Decorative Arts Museum, the Herbery at the Governor's Mansion, neighborhood beautification programs around greater Little Rock, free public educational garden seminars, Garden Therapy at the Arkansas State Hospital and retirement centers, Junior Garden Clubs at schools, and scholarships for horticulture majors.

The LRCGC purchased its Hillcrest location in 1972. Since 1999, both the interior and the grounds have been beautifully renovated. The building is now a convenient meeting place for many of its garden clubs, as well as an attractive space that can be rented for special events, dinners, weddings, birthday parties, receptions, and business or corporate meetings. It was recently renamed Hillcrest Hall, in honor of its historic location.

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Master Gardeners — Arkansas
Contact Your Local Office for More Information

The Master Gardeners are a group of volunteers that is coordinated by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service through local county extension offices. The mission of the Master Gardeners is to increase the availability of horticultural information and improve the quality of life with horticultural projects.

Master Gardeners receive horticulture training from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. In return for this training, they volunteer their time and skills to assist the local county extension office with various beautification and educational projects. Master Gardeners work to improve their communities by establishing and maintaining demonstration gardens, holding gardening seminars, conducting school enrichment programs, responding to requests for horticultural information, and implementing many other community improvement projects.

The Master Gardener program is open to all gardening enthusiasts with a desire to learn and teach others about the joy of horticulture.

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Master Gardeners — Baxter County
213 E. 6th Street, Suite 111
Mountain Home, AR 72653
Phone 870-425-2335

Baxter County Master Gardeners are affiliated with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. The Arkansas State Master Gardener Program is offered by the U of A Cooperative Extension Service and is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and improve quality of life with horticultural projects.

During monthly meetings, these MGs have an educational program related to some aspect of horticulture or gardening. They also examine and discuss horticultural specimens brought in by members and frequently share gardening problems and solutions. A short business meeting is also conducted and of course, refreshments are served.

In addition to monthly meetings, there are several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which meet from time to time. There are SIGs on vegetables, roses, and wildflowers. Other areas of interest where SIGs have been or could be formed include annuals/perennials, composting, herbs, organic gardening, propagation, pest control, etc. Interested members can join an existing SIG anytime, or contact the board to form a new SIG.

Project involvement is a very important part of the group. The first year, new members contribute a minimum of 40 hours (50 percent of the working hours must be on BCMG sanctioned projects) plus 20 learning hours. These hours are earned October 1 through September 31. Thereafter, MGs desiring to continue must recertify with 20 hours of volunteer work (half on sanctioned projects) and 20 hours of continuiing education learning activities. A complete description of each project with contact information and locations can be found on the BCMGs Projects page (site linked above), and many pictures of each are in the Photo Gallery. Other sanctioned projects include propagation of plants for the annual plant sale, working in the Horticulture room at the Baxter County Fair, answering questions and providing information to the public at the KTLO Home and Garden Show, and being a mentor to new Master Gardeners.

The largest and perhaps most notable sanctioned project is their annual all-day gardening seminar for the public which includes knowledgeable speakers on various gardening topics. Extensive gardening information is provided, and members provide horticultural specimens from their gardens for display.

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Master Gardeners — Pulaski County
Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Service
2901 West Roosevelt Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204
Phone 501-340-6650
Fax 501-340-6669
Horticulture Hotline 501-340-6660

Pulaski County Master Gardeners maintain many public gardens in the county. You're probably already familiar with many of them — the landscaping at City Hall in Jacksonville; the Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood; the Old Mill, the restoration of the grounds at Park Hill Water Works, and some gardens at the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Center in North Little Rock; and the formal gardens at the Old State House, Curran Hall, and the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock.

Master Gardeners maintain the wildflower and butterfly areas at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, the Contemplation Garden in MacArthur Park, formal planters in the courtyards of the Arkansas Arts Center, and the heritage roses at Mount Holly Cemetery. They assist with education and plant care at Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. They work in demonstration gardens at the state and county Cooperative Extension Service offices, the State Hospital, and the Markham Street entrance to War Memorial Park. Master Gardeners grow world-renowned varieties of blackberries and blueberries at the Cammack - UA Systems garden and tend the Governor's Mansion Vegetable Garden. They also use the State Hospital greenhouse to grow plants for many of the projects.

The Pulaski County Extension Service (a cooperative arrangement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas and county government) coordinates this program. The gardens belong to the public through city, county, or state government. Public personnel do the basic manual labor of preparing a site and furnishing supplies and some plants. For special occasions at project sites, some local nurseries even supply plants. Then, throughout the year, Master Gardeners design and maintain the gardens, planting perennials and seasonal annuals for color and interest.

In addition to hands-on gardening, Pulaski County Master Gardeners speak to groups in local schools and community organizations and help home gardeners solve problems through a River Market Clinic, phone service at the Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Office, and a Horticulture Hotline. Master Gardeners also teach horticulture therapy classes at the Baptist Rehabilitation Institute, offer assistance to gardeners at the Oak Forrest Community Garden, and they often serve as docents for local garden tours at private homes.

Individuals interested in participating in the Master Gardener program must submit an application. If chosen, they attend 40 hours of lecture. After completing the lecture period, Master Gardeners continue their education by participating in the Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Office telephone service, answering questions from the public. Every year, a Master Gardener must complete at least 20 hours on one of nearly three dozen projects/committees of the Pulaski County Master Gardener Program, plus 20 hours of continuing education.

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Maumelle Garden Club — The Maumelle Garden Club was founded in 1994 in Maumelle, Ark. It meets in members' homes the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings consist of a short informative program followed by refreshments and then club business. The club is federated with the Arkansas Garden Club. It is an associate member of the Little Rock Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and is affiliated with the South Central Region of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc.

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The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas
Saving the Last Great Places on Earth
601 North University Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
501-663-6699

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The site includes e-cards and wallpaper, books, events and conferences, international excursions, local information, fun quizzes, videos, and much more.

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