The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing

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The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing To learn more, go to https://www.thelearningfields.org/our-mission.

The Learning Fields is home to more than 28 demonstration gardens and a wide range of programs that promote gardening, beautification, environmental stewardship, and lifelong learning.

Save the Date!We’re already planning for two big spring events in 2027, and we can’t wait to see you there!• Plant Sale ...
10/11/2026

Save the Date!
We’re already planning for two big spring events in 2027, and we can’t wait to see you there!

• Plant Sale & Market
Saturday, April 24, 2027
• 3rd Annual Through Your Neighbor’s Garden Gate Tour
Saturday, June 5, 2027

We are working behind the scenes to make both events bigger and better than ever. From beautiful plants and local vendors to inspiring gardens and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow garden lovers, there will be something for everyone.

In the meantime, enjoy a few of our favorite photos from last year’s events.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.

Scarecrows, sunshine & a little fall magic await!The 2nd Annual Scarecrow Trail is happening now at The Learning Fields ...
10/09/2026

Scarecrows, sunshine & a little fall magic await!

The 2nd Annual Scarecrow Trail is happening now at The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing, 7300 Gardener Avenue, Fort Smith (across from the Chaffee pickleball courts).

Our gardens are filled with whimsical scarecrows just waiting to be discovered until October 31. You never know who—or what—you might meet along the trail.

Bring the kids or grab a friend, and take a leisurely stroll through the gardens. Enjoy the crisp fall season, explore the gardens, and see all the creative scarecrows along the way. Make a little fall adventure out of it and come see our scarecrow friends.

Open daily from dawn until dusk.

CHRISTINE DAVIS1. When did you become a Master Gardener? (If you are not a Master Gardener, tell me how you became invol...
10/08/2026

CHRISTINE DAVIS

1. When did you become a Master Gardener? (If you are not a Master Gardener, tell me how you became involved with The Learning Fields.)

I started the Master Gardener program in 2025, right after I retired. It has been my goal for some time to improve my gardening skills! The program taught me a lot about topics that I had never considered before, like turf management and how to properly use pesticides and fertilizers. I also really appreciate the many continuing education opportunities the Master Gardeners and Learning Fields offer.

2. How long have you volunteered at The Learning Fields?

I’m still very new! Just this season. And somehow, I have found myself in the position of garden chair, just as our local weather has entered a period of record heat. This summer has been a challenge, both at home and in the Labyrinth Garden.

3. What garden, project, or activity are you involved with at The Learning Fields, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I currently serve as the Chair of the Labyrinth Garden. It’s a beautiful meditative space and I’ve enjoyed learning about the history of this garden and how it was built. It’s also made me research other labyrinths in the area and I hope to get us registered on the Veriditas website (a Worldwide organization of labyrinth builders). Did you know that there are three other labyrinths in Fort Smith and one in Van Buren?

4. What is your favorite part of The Learning Fields, and why?

There are always people around to ask questions and learn from. The Learning Fields is a sunnier space than I am used to gardening in, and the plant needs are pretty different from what I am used to. It’s good to have a lot of experienced gardeners around to consult with.

5. What have you learned through your experience at The Learning Fields?

I’ve worked in a few of the gardens so far, but I would eventually like to know what is going on in each of them!

6. Why do you volunteer at The Learning Fields and what do you enjoy most about it?

I thought that it would be the best way to continue to learn about various types of gardening, composting, my career was in an experimental field in academics, so I am interested in the experiments that are going on there.

7. Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you or your experience at The Learning Fields? No

Some Like It HotOur tabasco pepper plant certainly does!Growing in the Vegetable Garden at The Learning Fields, this pla...
10/07/2026

Some Like It Hot

Our tabasco pepper plant certainly does!

Growing in the Vegetable Garden at The Learning Fields, this plant has sailed through the Arkansas summer heat and continues to look healthy and productive. That’s not too surprising since tabasco peppers (Capsicum frutescens) are warm-season plants that thrive in plenty of sunshine and heat.

Here are a few fun facts about this fiery garden favorite:

Tabasco peppers grow upright on the plant instead of hanging downward.
As they ripen, the peppers change from pale yellowish-green to yellow and orange before reaching their familiar bright red color.
They pack some serious heat! Tabasco peppers measure about 30,000–50,000 units on the Scoville heat scale. For comparison, a jalapeño typically measures only about 2,500–8,000 units. That means a tabasco pepper can be many times hotter than a jalapeño.
Fully ripe tabasco peppers can have a slightly fruity flavor beneath all that heat. But don’t let that first taste fool you. The heat can build, so you might not want to overindulge.

Our Vegetable Garden is one of the demonstration gardens at The Learning Fields where visitors can see what grows well in our area and perhaps discover something new to try at home.

And, like all of our gardens, it doesn’t take care of itself. Our dedicated volunteers plant, water, w**d, harvest, and tend the Vegetable Garden throughout the growing season, even through the hot Arkansas summer days.

Apparently, our tabasco pepper plant didn’t mind the heat one bit. It may have been the happiest one out there!

10/07/2026

Join us for the MIND Your Diet program next week!

We will be introducing the MIND Diet and the benefits that it may have for adults. The program is FREE, but we ask that you call to let us know you will be there.

GROWING MORE THAN PLANTSThere’s a lot growing at The Learning Fields and we don’t just mean what’s planted in our garden...
10/06/2026

GROWING MORE THAN PLANTS

There’s a lot growing at The Learning Fields and we don’t just mean what’s planted in our gardens!

Take a look at some of the numbers from our 2025-2026 year:

2,803 recorded visits*
21 educational opportunities, including 16 classes and workshops and 5 youth and school field days
9 community, outreach, and fundraising activities
3 UAFS RoarCorps students serving and learning alongside our volunteers

And behind those numbers are the volunteers who share their time, knowledge, and talents to maintain our gardens, support programs, welcome visitors, organize events, and keep The Learning Fields growing.

Our gardens are more than beautiful spaces. They are places to learn, explore, volunteer, connect, and share knowledge with others.

At The Learning Fields, we are growing more than plants. We are growing knowledge, skills, connections, and community.

*Recorded visits are from November 2025 through August 2026.

A BIG ROAR AT THE LEARNING FIELDSWe were excited to welcome UAFS students Ali and Nathaniel for their first day of RoarC...
10/05/2026

A BIG ROAR AT THE LEARNING FIELDS

We were excited to welcome UAFS students Ali and Nathaniel for their first day of RoarCorps service at The Learning Fields recently.

The rainy weather didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Ali and Nathaniel didn’t hesitate to get started, and although their first day was cut short by the rain, they accomplished a lot, and with smiles on their faces!

After a brief orientation, they got right to work pulling the towering Russian Mammoth sunflower stalks from our Sunflower Room. Instead of being thrown away, the stalks were added to our dead hedge, where branches, stems, and other woody garden material are stacked to create a natural habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife as the material slowly breaks down.

UAFS RoarCorps is an AmeriCorps program that connects students with community partners throughout the River Valley. At The Learning Fields, this partnership provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience while contributing to garden-based education, environmental stewardship, and service to the community.

Their first day gave us a glimpse of what this partnership can accomplish. As Ali and Nathaniel serve alongside our volunteers in the months ahead, they’ll be helping care for our gardens, contributing to our educational programs, and becoming part of the volunteer team that makes The Learning Fields possible.

UAFS sums up the spirit of RoarCorps with the motto “Small acts. Big roar.” A few hours of service, even on a rainy day, showed just how much can be accomplished when people are willing to jump in and help.

Welcome to The Learning Fields, Ali and Nathaniel! We’re looking forward to growing, learning, and serving together.

What a great year of horticultural education at The Learning Fields! We’ve been blessed with an abundance of knowledgeab...
10/04/2026

What a great year of horticultural education at The Learning Fields!

We’ve been blessed with an abundance of knowledgeable presenters and fascinating gardening topics throughout the year. Gardeners throughout the River Valley have learned about irrigation, plant propagation, growing themed herbed gardens, harvesting and using healthy herbs in cooking, and so much more! We’ve also had fun exploring our creative side, learning to make mosaic tiles and barn quilts to add beautiful garden décor.

A big thank you to all of our presenters, instructors, volunteers, and everyone who joined us to learn and grow!

NOTE: VOLUNTEER NEEDED! Do you love gardening education and enjoy bringing people together to learn? The Education Program Coordinator plans, schedules, coordinates and promotes educational classes and workshops to support The Learning Fields’ mission of providing gardening education to our community.

This is a wonderful opportunity to use your organizational skills, connect with knowledgeable presenters, and help gardeners of all experience levels learn and grow. If you are interested in helping with this position, please send an email to [email protected] for more information.

Please help us continue The Learning Fields’ mission of inspiring and educating gardeners in our community!

KEEP YOUR SUMMER FLOWERS BLOOMING! What do you do with your garden or market flowers when they start to fade? Don’t toss...
10/02/2026

KEEP YOUR SUMMER FLOWERS BLOOMING!

What do you do with your garden or market flowers when they start to fade? Don’t toss them just yet! Drying flowers is a wonderful way to preserve that summer beauty and enjoy it for months to come.

Many flowers are easy to dry. Simply gather them into small bundles and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place for a couple of weeks. Once they’re completely dry, the possibilities are almost endless!

-Create dried flower wreaths, garlands and bouquets
-Add flowers to resin projects and coasters
-Make fragrant potpourri and sachets
-Experiment with different colors, textures and arrangements

For the longest-lasting color, display your dried flowers in a spot away from direct sunlight, drafts and humidity. Avoid placing them directly under an air conditioner.

Have you tried decorating with dried flowers? Share your ideas and photos in the comments below! We’d love to see how you’re preserving your garden’s beauty.

DALTON COUNCIL1. When did you become a Master Gardener? (If you are not a Master Gardener, tell me how you became involv...
10/01/2026

DALTON COUNCIL

1. When did you become a Master Gardener? (If you are not a Master Gardener, tell me how you became involved with The Learning Fields.)

I became involved because my mom is a Master Gardener.

2. How long have you volunteered at The Learning Fields?

2 years

3. What garden, project, or activity are you involved with at The Learning Fields, and what do you enjoy most about it?

Vegetable garden, Children’s garden, and Greenhouse.

4. What is your favorite part of The Learning Fields, and why?

I get to play in the dirt.

5. What have you learned through your experience at The Learning Fields?

That gardening is a lot of work.

6. Why do you volunteer at The Learning Fields and what do you enjoy most about it?

I get to dig in the dirt and take vegetables home.

7. Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you or your experience at The Learning Fields?

There are a lot of gardens and a lot of different things to do.

Address

7300 Gardener Avenue
Fort Smith, AR
72916

Telephone

+14794621713

Website

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