Living Spaces

Artful Apartment

Joe Campbell celebrates style and color in his BTV apartment with a small but mighty collection of artwork carrying rich personal meaning. The collection of pottery, paintings and wall art packs a punch of bold color, texture and design. It was curated by Joe and his late wife Joan Campbell, who had a passion for art and went back to school later in life for an art history degree. “We collected for our own pleasure and ended up with a houseful of art,” Joe said.

Connecting with the Natural World

Ozark Highlands Nature Center Opens in Springdale

Ozark Highlands Nature Center For those who are passionate about the outdoors, native plants or the environment — or simply enjoy a quiet place to connect with nature — a visit to the new Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale is most definitely in order.

The J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center opened December 11, 2020, as the newest connection to the natural world and outdoor recreation in Northwest Arkansas.

Located in the heart of the Ozarks, the nature center is set on 61 acres at 3400 N. 40th St. in northwestern Springdale and is the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s fifth and largest nature center in the state.

The city of Springdale donated the land for the center, along with a $5 million donation by the Hunt family. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony last year, Johnelle Hunt herself described the nature and education center as a way to keep alive the spirit of the outdoors she once enjoyed as a child.

Outdoor experiences are everywhere on the property: a 3D archery range, a bobwhite education pavilion along with native plant gardens. Guests may relax in a pavilion or take a walk along the trail. Much of the property is dedicated for tallgrass prairie restoration. Soon, a spur of the Razorback Regional Greenway will literally bring visitors to the nature center’s back door.

Inside the center, interactive exhibits depict the four seasons. Visitors can feel what it’s like to stand in Arkansas’ famous flooded timber during waterfowl season, and learn about the relationship between area wildlife and their preferred habitats. The Ozark Highlands Nature Center is surely a gift to the community that will be realized for generations to come. Admission is free, with reserved entry tickets. For more information, visit agfc.com.

Compton Gardens in Bentonville Recognized for Excellence

The only Level 2 arboretum in Arkansas, Compton Gardens is a stunningly beautiful oasis of picturesque woodlands, native plants and impressive greenery over seven acres in Bentonville.

Located at the restored home of the late Dr. Neil Compton, a noted Bentonville physician, writer, photographer, founder of the Ozark Society and hero of the Buffalo River, Compton Gardens surrounds the Peel Compton Foundation and The Conference Center.

Visitors at Compton Gardens can find multiple champion trees as designated by the Arkansas Forestry Commission. A champion tree is the largest individual of a species of tree – and Compton Gardens has five: the American Chinese Chestnut Hybrid, Bitternut, Black Willow, Pagoda Dogwood and American Yellowwood.

The gardens include beautiful magnolias, maple trees and larger-than-life oaks. The property has a lovely meadow, multiple bridges, bike and pedestrian walkways and several pieces of art, and serves as a gateway to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

In October, Compton Gardens was awarded a Level 2 Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum — the only such designation in the state — representing excellence in standards and practices for arboreta and botanic gardens. For more information, visit peelcompton.org.