The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing

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Andrew Barnes, Farnam Tammy, Dustin Blakey

Bringing Our Greenhouse Back to Life

Our greenhouse has been out of use since it was damaged by hail earlier this year, but there is plenty of progress—and some exciting news—ahead!

We have already held cleanup days, with more workdays planned as our volunteers continue bringing the greenhouse and surrounding area back into shape.

A big thank you to Becky and Jerry Ward, Carla Stephens, Denise Weakley, Dianne Heinrichs, Gail Wald, Jennifer Council, Jennifer Kistler, Kenya Harbin, Mary Minor, and Susan Horton for rolling up their sleeves and helping with the cleanup. We appreciate every hour of work that is helping move this project forward!

And we have received a fantastic offer from a local business to repair the greenhouse and help beautify the area. We aren't quite ready to share all the details yet, but we look forward to telling you more very soon. Stay tuned!

There is still work ahead, but we are excited to see this important area of The Learning Fields taking shape again. We are incredibly grateful for our volunteers and for the generosity of the local business stepping forward to help us bring our greenhouse back to life.

The greenhouse is making a comeback. We can't wait to show you what's next!

Tree Care & Identification Workshop
Wednesday, August 19th
10:00 AM
The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing
Witt building

Join Sebastian County Extension Agent Zeb Gattis for a free and informative Tree Care & Identification workshop at The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing!

Learn how to properly manage and care for landscape trees while gaining a better understanding of the fascinating world of trees. Zeb will discuss the proper management and care of landscape trees, a brief history of tree evolution, common tree diseases and how to recognize them, and how to identify trees in both the landscape and the wild.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply want to learn more about the trees around you, this class will provide valuable information you can use in your own landscape.

While many gardeners are enjoying the beauty of summer blooms, the Cutting Garden crew at The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing is already planning for spring 2027!

Late summer is the perfect time to start seeds for cool-season flowers such as snapdragons, feverfew, baby's breath, scabiosa, and other hardy favorites. We sow these seeds indoors now and will transplant the seedlings in September, giving them time to establish strong root systems before our first frost.

These cool-season flowers tolerate our mild winters remarkably well and reward us with an abundance of colorful blooms in early spring—providing nectar for early pollinators and beautiful flowers for bouquets long before most summer annuals begin to bloom.

Gardening is always about looking ahead, and we're excited to watch next spring's garden begin with the tiny seeds we're planting today!

It Takes More Than Gardening

When people visit The Learning Fields, they often notice the flowers, vegetables, and peaceful walking paths.

What they don't always see is everything that happens behind the scenes to keep the gardens welcoming for everyone.

Our volunteers spend countless hours:
Mowing
Trimming
Maintaining irrigation systems
Repairing fences and garden structures
Pulling weeds
Making repairs throughout the gardens
Cleaning paths and gathering debris
…and so much more.

Every hour of work helps preserve The Learning Fields as a place where our community can learn, explore, and enjoy nature.

This photo is a reminder that caring for The Learning Fields isn't always glamorous, but it's always worthwhile.

What behind-the-scenes task do you enjoy the least in your own yard or garden?

Surviving the Arkansas Heat

Even demonstration gardens feel the effects of August.

During stretches of hot weather, our volunteers focus on keeping plants healthy, knowing that even the most beautiful gardens take a break during the heat of summer.

A few ways gardens survive the heat:

Deep watering
Mulch to retain moisture
Watering early in the morning
Accepting that some plants simply take a summer pause

How are your gardens holding up this summer? Share your successes, or your challenges, in the comments. We’d love to hear how you’re helping your plants beat the heat!

Help Us Grow Our Educational Programs

At The Learning Fields, we’re always looking for new ways to inspire gardeners of all ages and we’d love your input!

If you could attend a class or workshop at The Learning Fields, what topic would you be most excited to learn about?

Here a few ideas to get you thinking:
Growing vegetables
Rose care
Butterfly types
Native plants
Seed starting
Houseplant care
Succulents
Garden art
Phenology
Pruning
Flower arranging
Rock painting
All things berries

Or maybe you have something completely different in mind. We’d love to hear your ideas as we plan future classes.

The mission of The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing is to provide a wide range of educational programs, including hands-on demonstrations, workshops, lectures, and seasonal events that promote gardening, beautification, environmental stewardship, and lifelong learning. Over the years, we have offered a variety of engaging workshops, including Greenhouse Controlled Environment Agriculture, Propagation techniques, Nature Mandalas, Rock Art Painting, Culinary Gardens and the popular Barn Quilt Painting class.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just getting started, there's something for everyone. Visit our Calendar of Events at thelearningfields.org/coming-soon to see what's coming up next. Learn proper tree care, create a beautiful French-inspired fall garden centerpiece, discover how to harvest and use fresh herbs in the kitchen, explore the therapeutic art of working with pressed flowers, and much more.

Our knowledgeable instructors are passionate about sharing their expertise and inspiring a love of gardening and lifelong learning throughout the community.

Bluebirds in the Garden

Bluebirds are a welcome sight in gardens and open landscapes and are one of the most beloved songbirds in North America. Three species of bluebirds live in North America: Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds. The Eastern Bluebird is most common in this region. Male bluebirds are vivid blue with a warm, rusty-orange breast. Females are softer in color with gray-blue tones. The blue color of their feathers is created by the structure of the feathers reflecting light, rather than by blue pigment.

Ten nesting boxes are placed about The Learning Fields, always ready to welcome bluebird families. Prior to the nesting season, four boxes were replaced and three others received new roofs to ensure safe and suitable nesting sites. Each box is clearly labeled with a number for easy identification and ongoing monitoring.

Throughout the nesting season, Master Gardener Jennifer Kistler tracks activity in every box, recording the species using the nest, the number of eggs and the dates they were laid, the number of nestlings, how many young successfully fledged, adults observed at the site, and any signs of damage or predator interference. This careful record-keeping helps us better understand nesting success and provides valuable data to support healthy bluebird populations.

Bluebirds typically begin looking for nesting areas in late February, with scouting intensifying as warmer weather approaches. Male bluebirds are often seen singing from high branches, defending territories, and bringing nesting materials to potential cavities to attract females. Some pairs may start building nests as early as mid-March, with egg-laying occurring in late March or early April. Bluebirds may continue to search for and use new nesting sites for second or third broods through July or even August. These beautiful insect-eating birds also contribute to natural pest control, helping maintain a healthy garden ecosystem while adding color and activity throughout the gardens.

Bluebirds built nests in three boxes at The Learning Fields early in the first nesting season of 2026. One box was abandoned before any eggs were laid and the other two boxes housed five eggs each. The nests were monitored 1-2 times weekly throughout the nesting season. Interestingly, the adult bluebirds at each nest box displayed very different behaviors during monitoring visits. The parents at one box were rarely seen nearby, while the adults at the other box were extremely alert and protective, often vocalizing loudly and watching from nearby trees or utility wires overhead. As I approached that nest box, the female would frequently dive-bomb me in defense of her nest, so I always wore a hat and gathered information as quickly and calmly as possible to minimize disturbance.

The female bluebird incubates the eggs for approximately 12-14 days after the last egg is laid. Hatching typically occurs over a 24-48 hour period, with all eggs usually hatching within a half hour to one day of each other. At The Learning Fields, five eggs hatched in one nest box and three eggs hatched in the other.

The young usually fledge, or leave the nest, in 17–18 days, although they may leave as early as 12 days. To avoid premature fledging, it is recommended not to open the nest box when the nestlings are about 12 days old. I am happy to report that all eight nestlings successfully fledged.

Once bluebirds leave the nest, they do not return to it. For the first 7-10 days after fledging, the young typically remain hidden nearby, calling to their parents and begging for food. By about 28 days old, they can fly well, and by 3-4 weeks after fledging, they are able to feed themselves after learning important foraging behaviors from their parents.

Bluebirds typically have 2-3 broods (or clutches) per year, depending on location, food supply, and weather. Just as the first young bluebirds became independent, the next chapter of the nesting season was already underway. Three nest boxes at The Learning Fields soon held new nests and a second round of eggs, offering another opportunity to observe these remarkable birds up close. Interestingly, two of the second broods were laid in the same nest boxes used earlier in the season.

While the first nesting cycle was remarkably successful, the second broods reminded us that nature doesn’t’ always follow the same path. Each nest told a different story, from loss to survival to complete success, and together they offered valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of raising young bluebirds.

In one nest, four eggs were laid, but only one nestling successfully hatched and fledged. In another, four eggs hatched, but sadly all four nestlings died within a day of hatching, making it necessary to remove the nest. The third nest had a much happier outcome, with five eggs laid and all five hatching and successfully fledging.

Bluebird nesting season spans from March through August, so there is still time to spot more bluebird activity. Keep an eye on the nest boxes (but please don’t open them), nearby fence lines, and garden pathways, you may catch a glimpse of bright blue feathers, hear the soft chatter of hungry fledglings, or watch devoted parents busily gathering insects for their young. Every visit to The Learning Fields offers the chance to witness another small chapter in the story of a bluebird family.

Have you spotted bluebirds during your visits to The Learning Fields? We'd love to hear about your experience. Let us know in the comments below!