Botanical garden in Hot Springs stays open with visitor restrictions

HOT SPRINGS — Garvan Woodland Gardens has instituted new policies and procedures in an effort to keep patrons safe during the covid-19 pandemic.

Bob Bledsoe, the executive director, said the botanical garden’s officials have been searching for “ways to make a better” experience for visitors while enforcing social distancing.

“Turnout has been really supportive,” he said, noting that while he doesn’t have final numbers, he speculates the garden has had “around 3,000 folks through the gate” since garden officials initially began making changes related to the novel coronavirus.

Bledsoe said most of the garden’s visitors have been from Hot Springs and surrounding areas, but he noted the overall number of visitors is low for this time of year.

“Probably off a pretty good percentage,” he said, noting they aren’t seeing a lot of outof-state visitors.

“In the past, during spring, we’d see” visitors from Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, he said. There aren’t quite as many this year, he said — “which is understandable.”

A big draw for the botanical garden this time of year is the Tulip Festival, Bledsoe said, and there is “probably another seven to 10 days of Tulip Fest.” If there is a hard rain, the tulips’ petals could fall off more quickly, he said.

In recent days, Garvan has begun keeping guests 6 feet apart and has closed all of its buildings except for the restrooms. Bledsoe said closing those buildings “keeps our disinfectant supplies healthy.”

The closures affect Anthony Chapel and the Chapel Complex, the Welcome Center and Gift Shop, and the Bonsai Learning Center. The golf cart tours are closed until further notice.

Bledsoe noted that, as far as he knows, all weddings at the garden have been rescheduled.

Another change they have implemented involves membership. Customers who want to become a member, or to renew their membership, must now either do it over the phone or online.

To enter the garden, guests have to pay admission at a booth out front. To lessen the amount of money being passed back and forth, guests must now pay either with a credit card, or with the exact amount of money for admission.

Garvan’s hours have also changed from the usual 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to only being open noon until 6 p.m., which Bledsoe said happened “just because of staffing” shortages.