The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing

Garden Highlight - Take a Seat in the Sunflower Room

One of the most cheerful places at The Learning Fields is our Sunflower Room, where towering sunflowers create a living wall of blooms surrounding a whimsical purple butterfly bench.

The idea for this special space came from Master Gardener Gail Wald, who began the adventure in March by carefully measuring and laying out the design to create a room formed entirely by living plants. Gail has been assisted by fellow Master Gardeners Mary Minor and Virgil Wald. They have transformed the area into a unique garden destination where visitors can step inside and experience the beauty of being surrounded by sunflowers reaching toward the sky.

Beyond its beauty, the Sunflower Room serves an important purpose in the garden. The dense vegetation attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it a busy hub of activity throughout the growing season. Later in the summer, the mature seed heads will provide a natural food source for birds, bringing even more life to this special garden space. Currently, Lemon Head, Maximilian, and Russian Mammoth sunflowers are planted throughout the space, offering a variety of heights, bloom sizes, and growth habits.

Whether you're looking for a peaceful place to sit, a beautiful photo opportunity, or a chance to observe nature up close, the Sunflower Room is well worth a visit.

The Sunflower Room is just one of the many unique garden spaces waiting to be discovered at The Learning Fields. We invite you to stop by, explore the gardens, and experience the beauty for yourself.

Arkansas Diamond Trial Comes to The Learning Fields

No, we’re not talking about diamond rings or precious gems. The newest “diamonds” at The Learning Fields are plants!

Zeb Gattis, Sebastian County Extension Agent, was accepted to be part of this year’s Arkansas Diamond Ornamental Demonstration and he partnered with The Learning Fields as the demonstration site.

The Arkansas Diamond Ornamental Demonstration is part of the Arkansas Diamonds Program, a statewide effort to identify, test, and promote ornamental plants that perform exceptionally well in Arkansas landscapes. This year, two strong performers from last season alongside two brand-new industry genetics are included in the trial. The demonstration consists of 36 plants in total, with nine plants of each variety. The plants are:

Salvia Mystical Blue (Mystical™ Blue Salvia) NEW
Dart Red-White Picotee Dianthus (Dart™ Red White Picotee Dianthus) NEW
Solarscape Salmon Punch Impatien (Solarscape® Salmon Punch Interspecific Impatiens)
Bonanza Flame French Marigold (Bonanza™ Flame French Marigold)

Zeb Gattis, and Master Gardeners Dianne Heinrichs and Mary Minor, will be monitoring the plants for heat and drought tolerance, disease and insect resistance, performance in Arkansas soils and climate, overall landscape appearance, and ability to thrive with relatively low maintenance and inputs. They will be following evaluation guidelines established by the program and using standardized data collection spreadsheets to track plant performance throughout the trial period.

Stop by The Learning Fields and see these promising plants for yourself. The Arkansas Diamond trial plants are located in the Cutting Garden where you can follow their progress throughout the growing season.

Thank You for a Wonderful Garden Tour!

On behalf of The Learning Fields, thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and joined us for the 2026 Through Your Neighbor's Gate Garden Tour. We are grateful for your support, enthusiasm, and appreciation of gardening, which helped make this year's event a tremendous success—even with the rain trying its best to dampen the day!

We are deeply appreciative of the homeowners who generously shared their beautiful gardens with our community. Their willingness to open their gates and showcase their creativity, hard work, and passion for gardening made this event possible.

We would also like to recognize the many volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to the tour, including our River Valley Master Gardeners, The Learning Fields Board of Directors, and community volunteers. A special thank you to the garden tour committee, led by Chair Dianne Heinrichs, along with Bev McClendon, Carla Stephens, Denise Weakley, Gail Ward, Jennifer Council, Jennifer Kistler, Kate Maurras, Mary Minor, Susan Grobmyer, Susan Horton, and Valerie Adair, who worked behind the scenes for weeks and months leading up to the event.

Events like this are truly a team effort, and we are fortunate to have so many dedicated individuals who give generously of their time, talents, and resources. Your commitment helps The Learning Fields continue its mission of growing beauty, knowledge, and community.

Thank you for supporting The Learning Fields and for helping us celebrate the joy of gardening. We hope you left with new ideas, inspiration, and wonderful memories. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Photos from the garden tour. Enjoy!

The rain has cleared and there’s still time to enjoy the garden tour. Tickets: the learning fields.org. You can also purchase a ticket at the first garden you visit. More information, including garden addresses can be found on our website.

Looking for Something Beautiful to Do Today?

There is still plenty of time to join us for the Through Your Neighbor’s Gate Garden Tour. Don’t let the rain stop you!

Each garden tells its own story and reflects the creativity, passion, and hard work of the gardeners who lovingly care for these special spaces. This tour has something for everyone.

While exploring the gardens at The Learning Fields, stop by the pavilion to shop for baked goods, succulents, t-shirts, and other garden-related treasures.

Tickets are $20 and admission is free for children 12 and under. Visit thelearningfields.org for tickets and more information.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore gardens that are rarely open to the public.

Garden Tour Day Has Arrived!

The gates are open, the flowers are blooming, and five beautiful private gardens plus The Learning Fields are ready to welcome visitors today!

From colorful flower beds and creative garden features to peaceful retreats and inspiring landscape ideas, every stop offers something unique to discover.

While you're at The Learning Fields, be sure to visit the pavilion. Shop for baked goods, t-shirts, terrariums, succulents, and a variety of garden-themed gifts. Your purchases help support our educational gardens and programs.

Tickets are still available for $20 and may be purchased online at thelearningfields.org or at the first garden you visit. The addresses of all tour locations are posted on our website, making it easy to choose your starting point and begin your garden adventure. Admission for children 12 and under is free.

Gather a friend, grab your camera, and spend the day exploring some of the River Valley’s most beautiful gardens.

Tour hours: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Don’t Let a Little Rain Keep You Away!

A few raindrops can’t diminish the beauty of a garden in bloom! The Through Your Neighbor’s Gate Garden Tour is a rain-or-shine event, and the gardens are looking beautiful.

Bring an umbrella just in case, slip on your comfortable walking shoes, and enjoy a fantastic garden tour today from 10:00 to 4:00.

Tickets are still available for $20 and may be purchased online at thelearningfields.org or at the first garden you visit. Garden addresses are available on our website.

We look forward to seeing you today!

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Look for the Garden Tour signs on Saturday, June 6 from 10 am - 4 pm. We will be there rain or shine!

If you purchased your ticket online, please check in with the volunteers at the first garden you visit and they will have your ticket for you.

All locations and garden descriptions can be found at thelearningfields.org. Thank you!