The botanical genus Rhododendron contains hundreds of species of plants that are commonly known as rhododendrons and azaleas. This familiar genus is broadly distributed in temperate regions all across the northern hemisphere. The diversity of naturally occurring species (and their proclivity to interbreed) has led to the development of a plethora of hybrid types well known to, and well loved by, the average gardener. What is not well known is that many species revel in our southeastern heat and humidity, and we grow them here. Broadleaf evergreen species of rhododendrons from the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China include the fragrant R. fortuneii and the tough, yet beautiful R. hyperythrum. Evergreen azaleas from Taiwan include the fall-blooming R. oldhamii, parent of the recently-introduced, repeat-blooming Encore® and Bloom-N-Again® brand azaleas. Deciduous azaleas, mostly from North America, include R. serratum that sports jasmine-scented flowers in mid-summer.

 

This garden was formally dedicated in 1991 by Harold and Judy Abroms in honor of their grandchildren; it was designed by Norman Kent Johnson. A hidden gem, it is often overlooked by the casual visitor but is a favorite quiet spot to the initiated who might enjoy reading a book under the rustic swing arbor, dedicated to Andy Abroms, or in the similarly-styled gazebo. For the true plant lover, it is a garden where plant surprises await discovery and some of the most uncommon plants in our collection can be found and admired. Some, such as Acer davidii, David’s maple, with its green-striped bark have graced the garden for years, but many new plants have been added in the past two years. The evergreen rhododendrons in this garden are in peak bloom in late May, however, other species and deciduous azaleas flower before and after the main show.

 

 

All-America Selections are seed-grown annuals, vegetables and bedding plants that have been deemed superior by teams of experts. They are evaluated in AAS Trial Gardens across North America, and displayed in nearly 200 AAS Display Gardens to provide the public with opportunities to view the most recent winners. Begun in 1933, AAS has chosen over 650 winners to date, with several new plants awarded each year.

 

Located to the north and south of the Conservatory entrance and visible from the entrance drive, our AAS Display Garden greets visitors during the growing season with a blast of color. With the plants laid out in blocks, comparison between AAS winners past and present, and non-winners, is easily facilitated. Taken altogether, gardeners can not only decide which they like the best and in which months they are effective, but see how their form, flowers and foliage might be used in combinations. The BBS garden does not include vegetables, which are grown in the Bruno Vegetable Garden.

 

 

The Asian Glade lies just north of the Japanese Gardens and features selected species, cultivars and hybrids of plants from Asia in a lightly-shaded setting with broad wood-chipped paths. A number of these plants have close relatives native to the southeastern US, many of which can be found just across the access road in the Barber Alabama Woodlands. Some little-known plants can be found here, including specimens of Bambusa species – bamboos that clump rather than run – as well as a growing collection of Paeonia suffruticosa, the tree peony, which is the national flower of the People’s Republic of China. On the south edge of this garden, a former drainage ditch has been transformed into a boulder-filled naturalistic watercourse that accommodates stormwater runoff, yet is attractive when dry. A beautiful sweeping path of Alabama bluestone provides access to restroom facilities. BBG staff designed this area and Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens provided funding.

 

 

This six-acre remnant forest contains the botanical gardens’ oldest native trees, which can be easily seen from the wood-chipped trails that wind through. Dedicated to Julia W. Barber in 1993 and given by her family, the woodland features a self-guided interpretive trail that explores topics in Alabama woodland ecology. Through docent-led Discovery Field Trips here, thousands of school children each year learn about our state’s unique natural assets and the need for their local and regional conservation. The Barber Woodlands’ importance as an environmental education resource has grown strongly under the guidance of volunteer Beverly (Becky) Smith.   

 

The Barber Alabama Woodlands contains three distinct habitat zones. The stylized entrance is planted with a variety of plants that favor woodland edges and leads into the relatively dry upland zone. The wet bottomlands contain a swamp crossed by an observation boardwalk constructed of recycled plastics. An intermediate sloping area links the other two zones, each of which has a subtly distinct floral component. This area is an excellent example of the oak-hickory-pine forest that once dominated this state, but as a small, urbanized forest remnant it requires active management. Typical activities here include invasive exotic plant control, trail maintenance, culling undesirable and/or diseased native plants, and the introduction of masses of native shrubs and perennials, and groves of native trees.  Many of these plantings are part of a new collection of plant analogues: native plants are planted in this area, and analogous plants from Asia and Europe are planted across the main access road.

 

 

The formal entrance to The Gardens stretches from the parking lot arbor in the east, across the entrance road, under the bridge that links the Garden Center with the Belvedere, and up to the Color Bowl, a raised octagonal planter, to the west. Interesting plants can be seen at both ends and the middle. Anchoring the east is a great specimen of the contorted filbert, also known as Harry Lauder’s walking stick. To the west, shrub and perennial plantings highlight the “Moon Tree”, a large American sycamore that, as a seedling, orbited the moon on Apollo 14 in 1976.   Next to this area is the Salvia Border, planted with hardy and tender types of ornamental sage, a favorite of hummingbirds.

 

The Blount Plaza was designed by Charles Greiner and Alex Vare, and named for Frances D. Blount in honor of her fund raising efforts for garden renovations. It was dedicated in 1988 and welcomes visitors every day of the year with colorful containers and planters filled with rotating displays of bright winter pansies and spring bulbs, and lush tropicals in summer and fall. During day and evening special events, the plaza is transformed into a vibrant, multi-use, activity-filled space. Commanding center stage is Granite Garden, by Jesus Moroles (1988), a sculpture of red granite in three parts. The ranks of rectangular uprights along the road symbolize human relationships; the rectangular uprights set in a rough circular field suggest human/nature interactions; the sinuous fountain shapes represent nature without bounds. This important, human-scaled work was funded by Arnold and Rose Steiner, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

 

Vegetables have been a part of The Gardens since 1973, but in the late 1980’s what was once a modest display grew to generous proportions, thanks to support from Bruno’s, Inc., an upscale regional supermarket chain. Throughout the year, plantings of both typical and unusual culinary vegetables are grown, tended and harvested: in winter, cool-weather crops such as kale, cabbages, broccoli, and turnip and collard greens can be seen; spring features snow and sweet peas, lettuce, kohlrabi and onions; summer brings ripe tomatoes, peppers, squash and eggplants; and in the fall the okra towers and the pumpkin swells. Vine-shaded pergolas offer visitors a place to relax, and Frank Fleming’s Hare Wearing a Collar, the larger-than-life rabbit sculpture donated by Bill Ireland and Pauline Carroll, amuses children of all ages.

 

The Bruno Vegetable Garden was designed by Mary Carolyn Boothby, Jody H. Hamre and Carolyn D. Tynes, and illustrates numerous plants, ideas and techniques for the home vegetable gardener. In addition, thousands of local school children who come to The Gardens’ on Discovery Field Trips learn important lessons about where their food comes from. With plantings of cotton, soybeans and peanuts, we introduce them to the groundbreaking work of Alabama native son Dr. George Washington Carver. Our gardening efforts feed the hungry through Magic City Harvest, a local non-profit agency that coordinates food distribution to those in need, so please don’t help us harvest!

 

 

Seen through the Queen’s Gates from BBG’s main entry, the stately Conservatory dominates the open, verdant Formal Garden that lies before it. Designed in 1962 by noted glasshouse designer Dr. Henry E. Teuscher, of Montreal, Canada, ours bears a strong resemblance to his greatest creation at the Montreal Botanical Garden. In 1995, a new entrance was added, given by Arthur Ilges Chenoweth, in honor of Barbara Derr Chenoweth. The central house in the Conservatory is the largest clear span glasshouse in the Southeast and shelters a diverse collection of luxuriant tropical plants and understated displays of seasonal hothouse flowers. Plants of commercial importance, such as banana, vanilla, coffee and cacao (the source of chocolate) are here, as are wondrous tropical species of palms, cycads (including a 100-year old specimen) and tree ferns. The Samford Orchid Display Room*, given in memory of Mrs. Frank P. Samford by her daughter Ann Samford Upchurch and her grandchildren, sits at the rear of the main house. It showcases a small, yet always colorful display of this fascinating family that boasts some of the most unusual flowers in the plant kingdom.

 

Flanking the main house to the north is the Camellia House. During winter months, hybrid camellias of various classifications sport their bodacious and often vivid flowers in varied hues of pink, red and white. Camellia japonica, the Japanese camellia, is the state flower of Alabama. Opposite, to the south, is the Desert House, a children’s favorite, where many unusual and uniquely adapted plants, such as American agaves, aloes and cacti, Pacific rim plumerias and succulent euphorbias from Africa are displayed. Flowers here never fail to amaze and surprise; they can be seen intermittently through the growing season. Seven production greenhouses and maintenance facilities support the Conservatory, and here volunteers assist our staff in propagation, re-potting, plant grooming and other horticultural tasks. Invaluable for education, the Conservatory helps us communicate the need for worldwide natural resource conservation, especially to the thousands of children each year who attend our Discovery Field Trips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally designed in 1963, and later modified by Robert Kirk in 1988, this beautiful and popular feature is laid out in a classic cross-axial style. The “formal” designation refers to the garden’s mirror-image symmetry, rather than to a particular type of rose. Take a deep breath and enjoy tea roses, floribundas, grandifloras, climbers, miniatures and shrub types that bloom in glorious colors from late April until frost. Here, old favorites such as ‘Peace’, ‘Chrysler Imperial’, and ‘John F. Kennedy’ mingle with newcomers like ‘All That Jazz’, ‘Dolly Parton’ and ‘Fourth of July’; our bounty of roses has made this spot a mainstay attraction since The Gardens first opened. Given in memory of William R. J. Dunn, Jr., by his family, the collection in this garden consists of over 150 types of hybrid roses. The Dunn Formal Rose Garden is an official All-America Rose Selection Display garden and new introductions are displayed every year; it perennially wins AARS awards for outstanding maintenance.

 

A clipped green wall of ‘Mary Nell’ holly creates solid enclosure along the north edge of the garden, and elegant structures provide architectural counterpoints. At the center, a delicate metal topiary tempietto, by artist Mario Villa and dedicated to the Dunn grandchildren, arches over the paths and is a favorite spot for weddings. In the southeast corner a small terrace offers an elevated view of the Garden Center and the Blount Plaza, with Jesus Moroles’ Granite Garden (1988), gushing below. A finely-crafted, columned cypress pergola, dedicated to Beverly White Dunn by her family in 1988, defines the western edge of the garden and offers a shaded respite. At either end of the pergola, large urns, given in honor of Jeanne Cunningham by her late husband Emory, billow with lush seasonal offerings. This garden is actively tended by dedicated members of the Birmingham Chapter of the American Rose Society.

 

A new sculpture, Last Dance, by Gene Adcock (1994), was added in the east quadrant of the south border in 2005. This abstract bronze was donated by Lucy Dunn McLain in memory of her late husband Duncan McLeod and provides a focal point in this area. Plans are underway create another sculpture node in the west quadrant, and to enclose the entire south edge with a clipped hedge. This will add a simple, but important, backdrop for the art, and will enhance the feeling of a large outdoor room. In contrast to the broadleaf evergreen holly hedge on the north border, the new hedge will be deciduous, illustrating the horticultural and aesthetic contrasts between these plant types.

 

 

 

For years, the Enabling Garden has supported our Horticulture Therapy program. Ample scientific evidence shows that this therapy improves manual dexterity and provides excellent low-impact exercise for those suffering from many types of disabling illnesses. In addition, the acts of planting, growing, propagating and nurturing plants provide valuable psychological benefits. Our instructors work with multiple sclerosis patients, among others, to tend the Enabling Garden and to propagate plants here and in the Conservatory. The fruits of their efforts are sold in the Gatehouse Gift Shop, whose proceeds return to The Gardens.

 

This cool, shaded hillside is home to one of our most extensive and important living collections. Hardy ferns from North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and all across Asia grow very happily in our climate. Some species are displayed in broad sweeps, others in richly textured compositions with woodland shrubs and perennials. Others are arranged by genus in a synoptic garden that features Alabama native ferns in one section. BBG’s collection illustrates the broad diversity of this interesting plant group in which sizes vary from miniature to head-high, and growth habits range from clumping, arching evergreen species to running and scrambling deciduous types. Every imaginable shade and hue of green can be seen in living color and the uncoiling new fronds, called fiddleheads, often appear to be clothed in rich suede and cinnamon.

 

Concrete paths winding through The Fern Glade have been imprinted with fern fronds and other leaves to create “instant fossils” that children of all ages enjoy. The garden is bisected by a tumbling stream that begins high above and drops down over shelves of exposed bedrock. Here, a boardwalk provides panoramic views and adds a tree-level perspective to the scene. The stream continues down through the garden and ends in a quietly splashing pool and sitting area near the entrance. Originally designed by landscape architect Charles Greiner, this area has been enhanced through the years by other designers, including Jeff Sexton, under the guidance of the dedicated members of the Birmingham Fern Society. Ginny Lusk and Dr. Dan Jones are but two of the tireless volunteers that have brought us national recognition by getting our Fern Glade designated as an official test site by the Hardy Fern Foundation. There are only six such designations in the United States. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a sunny hillside above the Bruno Vegetable Garden sits the Herb Terrace, lovingly tended by our local Herb Association. The raised and terraced beds overflow with collections of culinary, medicinal, aromatic and cosmetic herbs. This is a garden where visitors are encouraged not to pick – but to “scratch n’ sniff” and experience the scent-sational world of herbs. Herbs are easy to grow in the southeastern climate and this garden features old favorites like rosemary and thyme, as well as exotic fragrances and tastes of faraway cultures and lands. Displays are changed every spring, and late summer offers the broadest of trans-continental experiences, but this garden offers subtle interest through the year.

 

Although rustic in appearance, this garden is a good example of exactly how herb gardens should be designed. First, the cross-tie planters have been amended with a well-drained soil blend so the roots of the herbs – many of which are from much drier climates – don’t rot in our moist winters. Second, the terraces face due south and are virtually shade-free, maximizing the amount of light on the plants. Third, the garden has good “air drainage”; breezes freely move up, down and across it, drying foliage and lessening the chances of fungal problems. Lastly, a relaxing seating area on the uppermost brick terrace takes in the view.

 

 

Camellias are plants that are the envy of cold-climate gardeners and we have an excellent collection of these bold broadleaf evergreens on this lightly shaded hillside. Asian members of the tea family, camellias have become synonymous with the Lower South. Locally popular – and justifiably so – is Camellia japonica, the Japanese camellia, which blooms in many variations of pink, white and red during late winter and early spring.   It is the state flower of Alabama, and kicks off the flowering season with gusto and pomp. Camellia sinensis, whose leaves are the commercial source of tea, sports its interesting, fragrant white flowers in late summer and fall. Camellia sasanqua, the sansanqua camellia, and its hybrids, flower profusely in the fall and early winter in shades of red, pink and white.   Recent additions to this area include rare Camellia species, distinct varieties of tea, and summer-flowering camellia relatives, the stewartias. 

 

The oldest camellias here date from the late 1960s and it was around these that Carolyn D. Tynes designed the present layout in 1987. The garden is dedicated to Nettie Hess and was given by her family and friends. A gently sloping brick promenade with broad stairs at its feet leads to the centerpiece of the garden, a sunken circular terrace of brick with a gently splashing fountain and pool in the center. This is the Ralph and Ruby Davidson Camellia Fountain. Verdant seasonal plantings encircle the pool and elegant wrought iron benches, each adorned with a unique stylized camellia blossom, complete the restful mood. The accommodating layout and serenity of this spot makes it very popular for intimate weddings.

 

The Turlington Camellia Solar House, given to honor Dr. Lee F. Turlington, the Birmingham Botanical Society’s first president, also graces this garden. Designed by Louis Joyner, it illustrates how passive solar energy principles can be employed in a small propagation house. The Olivia Turlington Miller Sasanqua Circle provides another seating opportunity amidst the fall blooms; it was given by her family and friends. Both of these features* were dedicated in 1987.

 

 

 

 

Below the Belvedere, the focal point looking south is Nike (Winged Victory) (Cordray Parker 1991). A deconstructed contemporary interpretation of the Greek goddess, this striking sculpture was donated by Edgar and Margot Marx and their children, in memory of Simon Kessler, Margot’s father. The focal point looking east is a glass-roofed, century-old Amdega gazebo from England**. Lovingly restored by Robinson Iron of Alexander City, Alabama, this structure links the building lines of the neo-Classical Garden Center with the more modernistic Conservatory. It was given by Mallie and Glenn Ireland, II, in honor of Katherine Ireland. To the west, wrought iron gates designed by the late George Gambrill lead to the Rose Gardens beyond. They were donated by the Naughton and Mauldin families in memory of their parents.

 

 

 

 

In February 2005, the initial phase of a new path system and a central gathering space were dedicated as part of the centennial celebration of Rotary International. For this, each Rotary club was challenged to create a project that would benefit their community; funding assistance and hands-on participation were parts of the challenge as well. Under the leadership of members Michael Gross and Ty Robin, Shades Valley Rotary Club, who meet each Monday for lunch in our Garden Center, selected the Hulsey Woods as the location for their Centennial Project. Rotary Clubs from Birmingham, Shades Mountain-Sunrise, and Vestavia Hills, Alabama, and the Osaka Central club from Osaka, Japan, partnered with Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the city of Birmingham, Rotary International District 6860, Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Homewood High School Interact Club, and Boy Scout Troop 96 to complete the work. Construction of a traditional Japanese belfry and Friendship Bell is scheduled for 2006, continuing the contribution of Rotary Clubs.

 

Framed by stately evergreen southern magnolias, twin gazebos and sturdy stone garden walls, the Ireland Iris Garden features four terraced borders where a variety of iris species, hybrids (including bearded and Dutch types), and related plants in the iris family are grown. This garden peaks in May and June, but a diverse assortment of choice flowering shrubs, grasses, perennials and annuals complements the irids, as the iris family is known, and extends ornamental interest into the late summer and fall. Designed by Norman Kent Johnson and John Tate, this garden was given by Bill and Fay Ireland and was dedicated in 1986.

 

From a quiet bench above, the main view leads across the first terrace, down a weathered stone staircase and to a central reflecting pool that commands a small lawn space below. A gracious stone walk encircles the lawn, allows close-up viewing of the opposing borders and links the twin gazebos. The North Gazebo was given by Dorothy L. Renneker in memory of Sam B. and John H. Renneker. The South Gazebo, was given by the James C. Lee, Jr. family and Elizabeth L. Frommeyer in memory of James C. and Elizabeth T. Lee. It is flanked by two rock gardens, where curious iris relatives from the southern hemisphere are grown, along with selected succulents, bulbs and dwarf perennials suitable for southern rock gardens.

 

The Sunset Border sits across the main road from the Ireland Iris Garden, outside the garden wall. Installed in 2002, it is a contemporary version of a classic mixed border containing shrubs, grasses, perennials, bulbs and annuals. Although the colors in the border are varied, many plants feature flowers, foliage and fruit in a changing array of chartreuse, orange and yellow.

 

 

Fragrant and colorful describes the roses that are featured in this area, which is arranged in three distinct garden rooms. All roses here were in cultivation prior to 1867, when the first hybrid teas roses were introduced in France, and as such are deemed “old-fashioned”. Known for their spring display and interesting histories, the more than 50 types here include China roses, damasks, Gallicas, moss roses, Bourbons, rugosas and more. Designed by Robert Kirk in 1988, the garden was dedicated to Annette Bickford Ireland and given by her family. 

 

The central portion of this garden in entered through a splendid Moon Gate, given by William C. Ireland and Dorothy T. Fletcher (nee Ireland). The Rose Arbor, given by Joy Ray for her parents Earlston and Alberta, and her sister Kathy, dominates this area, and sees dozens of nuptials per year. The two side areas are entered through rose-festooned Twin Arched Gates, given in memory of Bernard S. Steiner by his late wife Dorothy. All of the roses are interplanted with various companion plants selected for texture, fragrance and color. Shrubs in the rose family, including rose of Sharon, kerria, black jetbead and spiraea are planted in the rear of the garden in the dappled shade of towering pines, and offer flowers in early spring, before the roses take over. As summer marches on, waves of foliage and flower color roll through.

 

 

 

Designed by Mr. Masaji “Buffy” Morai, the Japanese Gardens officially opened in 1967 and have been one of BBG’s most popular features since then. Largely through the hard work and guidance of volunteer Doug Moore, major modifications to a large part of the gardens were finalized in 1993 when the Japanese government gave it the title of Japanese Cultural Center.   That important designation was made because Mr. Kazunori Tago, of Maibashi, Japan, one of the finest miyadaiku, or Japanese temple and shrine builders, created a traditional tea house here. Toshinan, whose name means, “the house where those gathered can light a wick [of understanding] in each other’s hearts”, is a 16^th-century Sukiya-style tea house, made completely from materials brought from Japan and built using only traditional tools and techniques. There are fewer than a dozen such structures in the United States, and none are finer than Toshinan††. An adjacent yoritsuki, or waiting hut, was also designed and built by Tago-san, completing the tea garden structures. Materials were donated by the citizens of Maibashi and additional funding was provided by the Shades Valley Council of Garden Clubs and Gardens of Inverness; the yoritsuki was dedicated in honor of Eva Woodin Gambrell. Members of the Japanese Garden Society of Alabama assist with maintenance of the tea house and in cultural and educational programming.

 

The Japanese Gardens are entered through a spectacular curved-top torii, or “gate to heaven”, painted a traditional bright red. This area was renovated and the master plan updated in 1988 through funds given by the Drummond Company in memory of Elza Stewart Drummond. Down the path from the torii, a tile-capped mud wall is punctuated by the entrance to the Cultural Center: the Taylor Gate, given by Dr. Wendell Taylor, with its heavy, yet intricately joined, wooden timbers. Across the stream from the tea house sits the Japanese Cultural Pavilion, which is based on the design of a rural Japanese theater. Three sides of the pavilion are removable, facilitating seasonal open air activities like classes such as sushi-making, performances such as martial arts demonstrations, and many other aspects of Japanese culture.

 

An update of the master plan for the Japanese Gardens is scheduled for 2006 and will be completed by Zen Associates of Sudbury, Massachusetts. The firm’s principal landscape architects, Shinichiro Abe and Peter White, have an intimate knowledge of Japanese garden design and construction, and as their company’s name suggests, it is their sole specialty.

 

 

Defined by tall oaks and pines, and characterized by sweeping walls and stairs of native stone, the Jemison Lily Garden contains planting areas ranging in exposure from full sun to dense shade.   Designed by Jay Starbuck, the garden was dedicated to the memory of Margaret P. Jemison in1986, and was given by her son John S. Jemison. Traditionally, the lily family was large and diverse, and contained many familiar and little-known plants; currently it is undergoing significant taxonomic revision. Our garden embraces the older designations and a less rigid approach, including a number of plants that are called “lily” but are not “true” lilies at all.

 

Daylilies are the backbone of this garden; in their myriad of hues and flower forms, they create a kaleidoscope of color in June and July in the lower, sunnier portions of the garden. Award-winners, Alabama introductions and new introductions are prominently featured and are blended with hardy asparagus, Asiatic lilies, angel lilies, yuccas, rain lilies and canna lilies. At the top of the garden is the Walter Lily Overlook, a shaded and secluded brick seating terrace dedicated to Charles and Arline Walter. In this area, visitors can see lilies-of-the-valley, toad lilies, pineapple lilies, magic lilies, a full range of Solomon’s seals and selected plantain lilies, which are also known as hostas.   Here also are voodoo lilies, bizarre plants that produce spring flowers of a most unusual fragrance/odor, perfect for attracting the right pollinators, those that are attracted to rotting animal carcasses.

 

 

This nationally renowned, seven-acre naturalistic rock garden began in 1966 through the efforts of volunteers Barbara Orr (Bobbe) Kaul, Louise (Weesie) Smith, Margaret Wimberly and Sue Kinner. They retained noted Swiss landscape architect Zenon Schreiber, to transform a severely eroded stream corridor and a stone quarry dating from the Works Progress Administration of the 1930s, into a marvel of natural harmony and beauty. His skillful Arts and Crafts period-inspired style is seen most vividly along the watercourse, where his stylized walls integrate with the native bedrock, and in how the winding, stone-lined paths blend seamlessly with the site’s challenging and varied topography.

 

This garden celebrates the incredible diversity of our native Alabama woodland flora, and vignettes ranging from the sublime to the stunning unfold at each turn. From late winter through mid-summer, the natural palette of over 400 trees, shrubs, vines and perennial and annual wildflowers literally changes every day as layer upon layer of emerging growth builds from the ground up; unfolding leaves, flowers and seeds paint a colorful and textural pageant. On a given day during this time, visitors can see a beautiful matrix of woodland perennials on the forest floor: rue anemone, bloodroot, yellowroot, trout lily, Atamasco lily, shooting star, golden star, May apple, toothwort, liverwort, bellwort, Solomon’s seal, and galax grow with abandon. They are joined by multiple species of ginger and trillium and the rich diversity of our native flowering shrubs including anise-tree, fothergilla, mountain laurel, oakleaf hydrangea, leucothoe, sweetshrub. Of particular note are the numerous mature specimens of deciduous native azaleas, with their bright and often fragrant flowers.

 

Summer and fall wildflowers, among them false sunflower, black-eyed susan, coneflower, cardinal flower and great lobelia, continue the show until the bright hues of autumn carry the day. A winter stroll reveals a stark and quiet contrast to the rich bounty of the previous seasons. At this time, the woodland takes on a meditative quality, having been reduced to the bare essentials of stems and trunks, in their cloaks of subtle and tawny oranges, browns and grays. Broadleaf evergreen leaves, from tiny and shiny to large and somber, provide distinct counterpoints. The Kaul Wildflower Garden was dedicated in 1986 and volunteers continue to add new species each year.

 

 

The Lawler Gates are located between the McReynolds’ Garden to the south and the Southern Living Garden to the north. These intricately worked, French-inspired decorative iron gates were designed by South Carolina’s Jim Cooper and forged at the Lawler Machine and Foundry Company in Birmingham. Fittingly, they were given to The Gardens in 1987 by Stanley and Sandra Goode Lawler, and dedicated to the memory of their fathers, Edward Goode and Delmas Lawler, the latter having started the foundry in 1933. The Lawler Gates lead out onto Cahaba Road and are opened for special events only.

 

 

Uphill to the west of the Curry Rhododendron Garden lays the Little Ones’ Memory Garden, which was dedicated in October 2005. This is a unique, meditative garden, where the elements of gardens and of nature come together to help heal the grief caused by the loss of a loved one, such as a child. Led by Virginia Millet, the Little Ones’ Memory Garden Committee oversaw fund raising and garden development. This group is composed of dedicated volunteers, including a number of peri- and neo-natal nurses representing area hospitals, as well as parents.

 

Designed by Richard Hartlage of DietzHartlage Associates of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, the garden functions as a gathering space for groups from one to two hundred. Five “memory walls” provide seating options and define “rain gardens” behind each one. During periods of high precipitation, water collects in these areas, rather than quickly running off into storm drains; plants that prefer moister sites thrive in these created microclimates. Plantings encircle the central lawn area and will mature to complete an enclosed space. To more strongly relate to adjacent gardens, ferns and rhododendrons are featured in the plantings, which also include trees, flowering shrubs and other herbaceous perennials. This garden was funded by numerous private donors and Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

 

 

 

Jody Hamre and Dexter Hambaugh designed the new McReynolds Garden, which again prominently features the plants she used in her arrangements. Many visitors will recognize the fragrant Florida Leucothoe, variegated Japanese Aucuba, Sasanqua Camellia, evergreen Azaleas and French hybrid Hydrangeas. Unusual plants, too, found their way into her creations and into her garden, and here you’ll also see Chinese Fringeflower, Stewartia, Fatsia and Japanese Holly Fern. The plants are set out in mixed drifts along a gently curved Bessemer gray brick walk. A small stone terrace incorporates a reflecting pool with antique statuary, adding an architectural note to the wonderfully human-scaled and naturalistic space. Funding for this project was provided by Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Just outside the garden’s entrance sit the finely crafted, wrought iron Lawler Gates, designed by Jim Cooper and given in 1987 by Stanley D. and Sandra Goode Lawler in memory of their fathers.

 

The Rushton Garden provides beautiful and serene views from the Botanical Gardens Library and, located just outside that lobby, makes a great place for reading as the rushing sounds of the cascading waters drown out the surroundings. The gravel courtyard with its café seating is shaded by Dura-Heat® River Birches, and the finely-crafted, adjacent stone wall doubles as a more informal bench. The Rushton Garden is a beautiful setting for small outdoor events and may be reserved as part of the Hodges Room in the Garden Center.

The main entrance to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is off Lane Park Road, where a rough-hewn granite sign marks the way. The entry drive curves gently around Sonat Lake, which was given by the Southern Natural Gas Company, now a part of El Paso Corporation. From here, visitors get a commanding view of the Formal Garden and Conservatory through the Queen’s Gates. Three massive Water Oaks dominate the highly reflective water body, and a seating area beneath them provides a popular shaded spot for family portraits. On the opposite side, a collection of moisture-loving Hibiscus offer up their huge blossoms as summer treats. Aquatic plants featuring hardy Water Lilies and Lotus grace Sonat Lake with their seasonally lush foliage and unique flowers. The area was designed by the local landscape architectural firm of Nimrod Long & Associates, and was dedicated in 1988.

 

 

 

 

 

The 60,000 square foot Garden Center is the focal point of horticultural activity for the metropolitan Birmingham area and all of central Alabama. This stylish neo-classical structure hosts well over 1,000 meetings, classes, flower shows, functions, fund raising events and private parties each year. A number of gracious rooms, some with kitchen access, are available for public rental. The Garden Center houses the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Administrative and Reservations Offices, Birmingham Botanical Gardens Library, Blount Education Center, Gatehouse Gift Shop, Southern Living Lobby, C. Beaty Hanna Horticulture and Environmental Center (with state-of-the-art plant diagnostic and micropropagation laboratories), herbarium, Café de France, Gerlach Plant Information Center and the future Arrington Children’s Plant Zone. 

 

As seen today, this elegant stucco building was developed in two phases, following the designs of two local architects. Most recently, the Blount Education Center, including the Southern Living Lobby and Linn-Henley Lecture Hall, was added in 1998 by Rick Sprague of Henry Sprott Long and Associates. Earlier, in 1988, John Carraway’s plan included the Strange Auditorium, restaurant and the rooms above. In addition, he beautifully united architecture and garden; his Plaza Bridge strides confidently over the Blount Plaza, and the Belvedere commands a dramatic view across the Hill Garden directly below, to the Formal Garden in the distance. The Garden Center is open to the public from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and most weekends.* We are closed on city holidays.

 

 

 

A number of rooms in the Garden Center are available for public rental; for rates, availability and restrictions, please contact The Gardens’ Reservations Office at 205.414.3908. Garden rentals for outdoor weddings are handled by The Gardens’ Receptionist at 205.414.3900.

 

 

Named in honor of Ruth B. Strange and dedicated in 1988, the Strange Auditorium is the most versatile room imaginable. On any given day, the room may be pressed into service to host classes, lectures, meetings, art exhibits, luncheons, wedding receptions, fund raising dinners, charity auctions and craft shows. Each year over a dozen flower shows are staged, ranging from Camellias and Ferns, to Roses and Standard Garden Club Shows; most are free and the public is encouraged to attend. An adjoining full kitchen and prep room are available when renting the Strange Auditorium. Renters of this room often rent the adjoining Hodges Room as well, and with it, the beautiful and private Rushton Garden just outside.

 

 

The Hodges Room, named in honor of Frances Spain Hodges and dedicated in 1972, is useful for small- to medium-sized meetings and activities, especially when visual and physical access to the out-of-doors is desired. The lush, secluded Rushton Garden, with its café seating and rushing waterfall, is just outside. The carpeted Hodges Room is often rented along with the Strange Auditorium, combining to make a gracious setting for a large affair.

 

 

With a seating capacity of nearly 300 people, the Linn-Henley Lecture Hall is a comfortable, modern lecture hall boasting excellent acoustic qualities and state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment.* Speeches, Slide shows, PowerPoint presentations, live internet access and satellite hookups are all easily accommodated. Adjacent to the Southern Living Lobby, The Linn-Henley Lecture Hall is an excellent venue for business presentations, corporate meetings, lectures, panel discussions, and other uses appropriate for its theatre-style seating arrangement. It is named for the Linn-Henley Charitable Trust, which funded its construction.

 

 

 

Located just off the Southern Living Lobby in the Blount Education Center, the Conference Room provides versatile seating options for small meetings and activities. Large windows provide abundant natural lighting, while black-out shades facilitate excellent daytime resolution for audio/visual presentations.

 

 

Overlooking the Blount Plaza, the Ireland Room has been a popular and multi-functional room for nearly twenty years. Given in memory of Katherine Ireland by her mother, Mrs. C. Barney Ireland, and her brothers, William Reynolds and Glenn Ireland II, it features a stylish white oak parquet floor, crystal chandeliers and display cases housing our collection of Boehm porcelain birds. This room provides a gracious setting for numerous activities. Banquet seating for 80 guests is available. In addition, an adjacent small prep kitchen and service elevator access to a full kitchen on the first floor make catered meals easy. The Ireland Room is often rented along with the East Room, just across the lobby. Take your activity outside by adding the Hill Garden, accessible directly over the Plaza Bridge and through the Belvedere.

 

 

The East Room is a comfortable, carpeted room for small- to medium-sized meetings and activities. Like most of our other rooms that are available for rentals, multiple seating arrangements are easily accommodated.  The East Room overlooks the Blount Plaza and sits across the lobby from the Ireland Room. These two rooms are often rented together, and in conjunction with the Hill Garden, which is easily accessible from the Plaza Bridge and Belvedere just outside. 

 

 

 

Room Name / Floor #	Classroom Style	Theatre Style	Banquet Style
Strange Auditorium / 1	150	300	200
Hodges Room / 1	36	70	64
Linn-Henley Lecture Hall / 1	n/a	279	n/a
Conference Room / 1	27	50	40
Ireland Room / 2	36	115	80
East Room / 2	35	70	48

 

 

These offices are on the second floor of the Garden Center and consist of the Administrative offices of the city of Birmingham (including the offices of the Director of Horticulture, Reservations Coordinator and Taxonomist), Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens*, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Business hours for the Administrative and Reservations offices are weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm. We always strive to provide service to walk-in customers; however, appointments are preferred and strongly recommended. 

 

 

 

Because it is a partner in the Jefferson County Public Library Cooperative, with access to all its vast resources, think of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Library as your local public library, where everything in “the system” is available. Because of its specialized collection of gardening, horticulture and botanical books, videos, periodicals DVDs and CD-ROMs – over 7,500 strong – think of it as the largest free-lending horticultural library in the southeast. The public is welcome to research and browse in our stacks and find respite in our comfortable and quiet atmosphere. Free internet service is available as well. Residents and out-of-county members of The Friends* can check out circulating items from any library in the cooperative free of charge; use the convenient outside book drop to return your library materials. Our librarians and volunteers are happy to help you find the answers to all your pressing gardening questions. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens Library is open Monday – Friday 9:00AM – 4:00PM, Saturdays 10:00AM – 4:00 PM and Sundays from 2:00 – 5:00 PM†. The library also houses the offices of the Director of Library Services and the District III Federated Garden Clubs of Alabama.

 

 

 

The Blount Education Center, given in 1998 by Sam and Mary Blount, is the newest addition to the Garden Center. This area sits at the front of the building and the lower story consists of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Library, Southern Living Lobby, Linn-Henley Lecture Hall, Conference Room, and the Adventure and Exploration Rooms, two specially designed, multi-use children’s classrooms. The future Arrington Children’s Plant Adventure Zone is at the end of the wing containing the classrooms. Both the Linn-Henley Lecture Hall and Conference Room are available for public rental (contact the Reservations Office, 205.414.3908). The classrooms are limitedly available to plant societies, Garden Clubs and other Birmingham Botanical Gardens-affiliated not-for-profit organizations. Please call the Friends’ Education office (205.414.3951) for availability of classrooms. 

 

The second floor of the Blount Education Center includes the Birmingham Botanical Gardens herbarium, Taxonomist’s office, C. Beaty Hanna Horticulture & Environmental Center, and offices of The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens*.

 

 

 

“A gift from the Gatehouse is a gift for The Gardens” is the motto of The Gatehouse Gift Shop, located in the Garden Center, and directly accessible from the Blount Plaza. Here you’ll find a fabulously wonderful selection of gifts and books from the practical to the eclectic, and everything in between. We have great gifts for gardeners, and for those who just love gardens. In addition, you can find an assortment of Birmingham Botanical Gardens merchandise including logo t-shirts and ball caps, CD-ROMs, postcards, and plants raised through our Horticulture Therapy program. Members of The Friends* receive a special discount on purchases. Remember your trip to The Gardens with a gift from the Gatehouse Gift Shop, and remember that all proceeds benefit our educational programs.

 

 

 

Just inside the front doors of the Garden Center is the Southern Living Lobby. Here you’ll find our reception area, and the entrances to the Gatehouse Gift Shop and Linn-Henley Lecture Hall. In the center of the lobby sits a spectacular table by artist Mario Villa of New Orleans, with realistic depictions of leaves of native Alabama plants at its feet. The Southern Progress Corporation publishes the most popular regional lifestyle magazines in the country, and it is located right here in Birmingham. Both the parent company and its flagship publication have been important partners in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens right from the start, funding this lobby as well as the Southern Living Garden. For more information, visit http://corp.southernprogress.com. 

 

 

Located off the Blount Plaza, the Café de France* offers lunch and dinner menus featuring French and American cuisine. Open Monday through Saturday, catering events at The Gardens is their specialty. For reservations and more information call 205.871.1000 or visit www.cafedefranceatgardens.com.

 

 

 

This multi-purpose public facility serves as a horticulture and environmental resource for the Birmingham metropolitan area. It is named after the late, illustrious C. Beaty Hanna, a locally prominent nurseryman and garden designer. Located on the second floor of the Garden Center, the Hanna Center is managed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The center has three focus areas: plant health care, horticulture and urban forestry.

 

Urban Forestry provides a human resource for trees in the built environment. Plant Health Care takes place in a state-of-the-art laboratory staffed by a plant pathologist and lab technician. For a minimal fee, homeowners and commercial representatives can bring in affected and infected plant samples for accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Horticulture, the third thrust of the Hanna Center, is handled through a county extension agent, a horticulturist and two agent assistants. Master Gardener volunteers, who receive their training right at The Gardens, augment the staff’s work and provide valuable customer service in the Gerlach Plant Information Center. Knowledgeable and friendly help is only a phone call away when you contact the regional Horticulture Hotline at 1.800.644.4458. 

 

The C. Beaty Hanna Horticulture & Environmental Center is funded through Auburn University, Alabama A & M University, Jefferson County Commission and Birmingham Botanical Society*. For more information, call 205.879.6964 or visit www.aces.edu.

 

 

Named for Gary G. Gerlach, Director of Gardens from 1971-2001, and opened in February 2006, the Gerlach Plant Information Center (GPIC) is a multi-purpose educational area on the Garden Center’s first floor, accessible from inside the building or from outside on the Blount Plaza, under the Plaza Bridge. GPIC is the location of Extension’s regional Horticulture Hotline, which centralizes gardening assistance and information across nine counties, and is the first stop for visitors with plant questions and plant problems. GPIC functions as an informational link between the living (plants/outdoors) and non-living (library resources/indoors) collections of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. GPIC is staffed by volunteer Master Gardeners under the direction of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. It was designed by architect Ty Cole of Giattina Fisher Aycock of Birmingham and funded by Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and numerous private donors.

 

When funding allows, a second phase of GPIC’s development will feature user-friendly ways to access The Gardens’ library and plant databases, and the vast resources of Extension and Auburn University. When completed, users will be able to print Extension publications on demand, along with detailed maps indicating plant locations and other information. Fund raising for this important feature continues. Contact our Development Office for more information, 205.414.3961.  

 

The future Arrington Children’s Plant Adventure Zone (PAZ) is envisioned as an outdoor classroom where children’s eyes will be opened to the wonders of nature and the environment through a fun and educational journey into the life of plants. PAZ will be a flexible space with interactive features and exhibits, ensuring high quality, hands-on educational opportunities for children in grades K-6. PAZ is being named in honor of Richard Arrington, Jr., who served as Birmingham’s Mayor from 1979-1999. Fund raising for this important feature continues. Contact our Development Office for more information, 205.414.3961.