Did you know that bee behavior varies greatly across climates? For instance, the busyforaging season for bees will be much longer in the warmer South than it will be in theNorth. In this introductory class, Jeff Lisenby of the Jefferson County Beekeepers Association will discuss honeybee biology and behavior followed by an overview of beekeeping…
Join us for our "Thyme to Read" book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Few trees are as beautiful as the “autumn welcoming tree,” or Japanese maple. With thousands of varieties and cultivars, including hybrids, the iconic Japanese maple tree is among the most versatile small trees for use in the landscape. Join us to hear Ross Callaway, longtime Gardens volunteer and Japanese maple enthusiast, tell the story of…
Join us each week with your preschooler for a story followed by a nature activity at the Gardens!
Curious about bonsai? Experience this fascinating and living artas a part of the Gardens’ Fall Japanese Gardening Series. You will learn to start, care for and train your very own bonsai in this hands-on workshop with Victor Wilson of the Alabama Bonsai Society. Registrants will receive a dwarf Satsuki azalea to pot and begin training.…
Each October as part of Perinatal Loss Month, families who have experienced infant loss are invited to join Little Ones Memory Garden volunteers for a time of reflection and healing amid the beauty of nature.
Flicks Among the Flowers is back! This free event features the 1998 movie Halloweentown starring Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Emily Roeske, and Joey Zimmerman. Movie rating: PG. Gates open at 5 p.m. Come dressed for our costume contest! Bring a blanket or a low-profile lawn chair. The movie begins at sunset (around 6:30 p.m.). Presented by…
Join us for an exciting adventure in the Gardens as we explore native plants and pollinators. Discover the colors that attract pollinators and create art inspired by the Gardens using watercolor and more!
Learn about the Japanese art of pruning and karikomi, the technique of shearing back shrubs that is a distinctive element of Japanese gardens. Horticulturist Julia Adams directs this hands-on workshop on proper pruning techniques for maples and shrubs in our Japanese Garden. Location: Japanese Garden
Join us each week with your preschooler for a story followed by a nature activity at the Gardens!
Please join us to celebrate the new Stumpery Garden in the Fern Glade—a collection of tree trunks and stumps arranged in such a way as to compliment vast plantings of ferns and mosses, accented by companion plants. Explore this rare specialty garden and meet Fern Society members.
Fall is the perfect time to prepare your garden for spring. Improving your soil’s physical and chemical properties is a goal of every gardener as it creates a better environment for plant growth. In this class Friends’ Director of Gardens Support Jane Underwood explains how to determine the current condition of your soil and walks…
Join us each week with your preschooler for a story followed by a nature activity at the Gardens!
In this workshop centered on the wonder of exploring nature with an artist's eye, local teaching artist and naturalist Melissa Shultz-Jones will guide you through the painting process, beginning with the practice of observation. You will learn essential watercolor techniques, including sketching, composition, color mixing, and painting. No experience is necessary; all levels of expertise…
Boasting more than 200 different species of native plants, the Kaul Wildflower Garden celebrates the diverse flora of Alabama and demonstrates a variety of roles native plants can play in our gardens. Join Senior Horticulturist Keith Turney for an autumn walk among the wildflowers. Keith will focus on the plants that grow in this special…
Join us for our "Thyme to Read" book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Try your hand at naturalistic flower arranging with local landscape and floral designer Zachary Westall as your guide. In this two-hour workshop, you will learn how to select seasonal plant materials and properly clip from a plant without damaging it or the environment. Then experiment with composition using unexpected elements along with principles of design…
Planting bulbs is a great way to add seasonal color to garden beds and containers. Among the many factors that determine success with bulbs, getting them in the ground at the right time is key. In this class Jefferson County Regional Extension Agent Bethany O’Rear will talk about spring-blooming bulbs including variety selection, soil preparation,…
Join us as we explore a scavenger hunt in our new Garden Lab to discover and identify a world of culinary herbs! Chefs will harvest and prepare fresh ingredients to make a special treat. We will discover more as we visit Bruno Vegetable Garden.
Join us for our "Thyme to Read" book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Join us for this special wreath-making workshop at the Gardens with Zachary Westall local landscape and garden designer, to help you ring in the holidays. Add your own creative touches as Zachary guides you and shares favorite tips. Greenery and other materials will be provided. Limited tickets available! Preregistration required. This signature holiday event is…
Perfect for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills, this workshop offers an overview of single-color linocut printing. Teaching artist Jessica Leitch of The Little Red Print Shop will guide you through the fundamental techniques of carving and printing your own relief prints using pre-drawn templates of Alabama wildflowers.All materials and tools provided. Location:…
Take a break from your holiday preparations to create your own mini ecosystem in an engaging make-and-take workshop with Astrid Jerez of Vivatia Plants. You will learn how to craft a desert oasis and make it thrive. This workshop is perfect for low-maintenance plant lovers and small-space gardeners. All materials and tools are provided. (Hint:…
Using logs is a wonderful long-term method for mushroom production. Many types of mushrooms can be grown on logs—Shiitake, Oyster, Lion’s Mane, Comb Tooth, Reishi, Olive Oysterling, Nameko, Chestnut, and Turkey Tail, to name a few. Join Urban Regional Extension Agent Bronson Lubresky as he guides you through the basic steps for growing mushrooms using…
Join us for our "Thyme to Read" book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Winter is a great time to restore your well-loved gardening tools. Correctly caring for and maintaining your tools will increase their longevity and the health of your plants. Learn how to properly store, clean, and sharpen your hand tools in this hands-on workshop. Bring along a pair of used pruners, a trowel, loppers, or a…
Join teaching artist Erica Scott of Dabble, a Birmingham Arts Studio, in the Gardens’ first Discover and Explore workshop. You will learn drawing techniques using colored pencils and pastels with plenty of time to play! Registrants are asked to bring botanical elements such as prunings, cut flowers, leaves, pine needles, etc., to be assembled in…
You've probably noticed that with the arrival of the shorter, colder days of winter, a new suite of birds has likely arrived in your yards. Current Secretary and long-time member of Alabama Audubon Greg Harber will help you learn to identify these winter visitors and discuss how you can attract them to your yards. This…
Immerse yourself in the ethics and principles of garden design as we “rethink pretty” and explore the ecology of gardening at this year’s Native Plant Conference, Ecological Landscapes. Learn from renowned landscape design experts, horticulturists, conservationists, and visionary thinkers who are shaping sustainable landscapes and offering fresh perspectives on integrating ecological principles in garden design. Meet regional change-makers who actively…
Join the Library at the Gardens in celebrating National Seed Swap Day with a community seed swap!
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is pleased to welcome Mike Gibson as the special guest speaker for our annual John A. Floyd Jr. Lecture. Mike is a renowned self-taught property artist, topiarist, and entrepreneur whose work has been featured in botanical gardens and museums across the nation. From a young age, Mike learned from…
Have you ever seen a lichen and knew that it was a lichen? Not many people know what lichens are, and who would? They seem as though they are from another planet! Lichens are bizarre organisms, and no two are alike. Join Curtis Hansen, Curator of Plants at the John D. Friedman Herbarium, to learn…
Join us for our "Thyme to Read" book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Alabama boasts of some of the richest native flora out of all 50 states, but often, they aren't our go-to landscaping plants. In addition to adding beauty to your garden, native plants help support wildlife and are more adapted to our native soil and climate. Many of us understand the value of natives but have…
Join us at the Gardens with Erica Scott, Owner of Dabble Arts Studio, for child-led art playgroups where children can create, explore, and enjoy art. We ask that caregivers stay and assist their children as they experiment with and enjoy creating. It will be best to wear clothing that can get messy for these classes.…
This series consists of five one-hour, child-led art playgroups. During these groups, children are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy art with the help of their caregivers. We ask that caregivers stay and assist their children as they experiment with and enjoy creating. For ages 16 months–3 years | Limited to 10 children with…
Join the Birmingham Camellia Society for their annual show and competition. Any Birmingham area resident is welcome to enter their camellia blooms, even if the plant variety is unknown. Location: Auditorium Become a Friend of the Gardens and join us in our mission to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Thank…
Explore forest habitats at the Gardens, seeking what birds and other wildlife need as we take a nature hike. We will learn to identify birds using our senses. We will make birdseed ornaments you can take home to welcome them to your backyard.
Growing out of a late 19th-century reaction to Victorian design and industrialization, Arts and Crafts gardens became some of the most influential, world-renowned gardens of the turn of the century. They continue to have an enormous influence on how we garden today. Contemporary gardening approaches—garden rooms, using local materials in the hardscape, abundantly planted beds,…
This series consists of five one-hour, child-led art playgroups. During these groups, children are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy art with the help of their caregivers. We ask that caregivers stay and assist their children as they experiment with and enjoy creating. For ages 16 months–3 years | Limited to 10 children with…
What is blooming? Going to seed? Or budding in February? Teaching artist Melissa Shultz-Jones invites you to get curious about the living world of plants on a leisurely stroll in the Gardens. In this workshop, you will experience the joy and intimacy of recording your observations in nature and learn from Melissa as she models…
Join us at the Gardens with Erica Scott, Owner of Dabble Arts Studio, for child-led art playgroups where children can create, explore, and enjoy art. We ask that caregivers stay and assist their children as they experiment with and enjoy creating. It will be best to wear clothing that can get messy for these classes.…
Join us in the Japanese Gardens as horticulturist Julia Adams demonstrates methods of propagating woody plants through grafting and air layering. While these horticultural methods require skill and practice, each can be used to propagate plants that don’t root well from cuttings. In this hands-on workshop, you will practice grafting using Japanese Maples and experiment…
Join us for our "Thyme to Read" book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is excited to welcome leading interiors stylist Mieke ten Have as the special guest speaker for our annual Spencer Lecture. Mieke will share her expertise for creating a compelling and vibrant living space, often using seasonal botanicals and floral artistry in unique ways to accent the natural hues and individual qualities…
Immerse yourself in the ethics and principles of garden design as we “rethink pretty” and explore the ecology of gardening at this year’s Native Plant Conference, Ecological Landscapes. Learn from renowned landscape design experts, horticulturists, conservationists, and visionary thinkers who are shaping sustainable landscapes and offering fresh perspectives on integrating ecological principles in garden design. Meet regional change-makers who actively…
Enjoy a delicious farm fresh dinner at Birmingham Botanical Gardens as part of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ signature Native Plant Conference.
Dive deep into some of the intriguing spring-time wildflowers and other showy ephemeral plants in the Kaul Wildflower Garden with Senior Horticulturist Keith Turney. On this stroll through the garden, you will learn about the unique groups of plants that give visual interest and provide important food and habitats for wildlife in early spring. Become…
Join the Japan-America Society of Alabama and the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens in celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival! This family-friendly event will feature cultural exhibits and activities for all ages.
Filled with perennials, annuals, and blooming shrubs, a flower garden adds color and dimension to your landscape—and provides an inviting habitat for essential pollinators like birds and butterflies. But if your garden is covered in lawn, you might wonder how to start a flower garden. Join gardening expert Bethany O'Rear as she discusses the basics…
Join us for our “Thyme to Read” book club, a monthly gathering hosted by the Library at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Featured Book: Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mossesby Robin Wall Kimmerer
Spring offers the best season to observe birds in the garden! In addition to the lovely blooms and sweet scents, many of our resident songbirds busy themselves with establishing territories and building nests. In this class, Alabama Audubon Board Secretary Greg Harber will teach us how to use field marks to identify birds as we…
Enjoy priority shopping at our popular Spring Plant Sale as a member of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens!
Enjoy the Friends of BBG's Annual Spring Plant Sale!
Enjoy the Friends of BBG's Annual Spring Plant Sale!
Join teaching artist Erica Scott, owner of Dabble art studio, for the next installment of the Gardens' Discover and Explore workshops. This series of art workshops encourages participants to try new things and play with various mediums. In this session, participants will learn tips and tricks for painting with acrylics and watercolors and enjoy the…
Bring your little one to enjoy a special storytime filled with music and movement at the Gardens with Musician and Children’s Librarian Alyssa Jewell, a.k.a. The La La Librarian. Following the program, we invite you to let your little ones explore and play in our newly refreshed Garden Lab. Siblings under the age of 18…
Learn the basics of tomato gardening with horticulturists Julia Adams and Katelyn Bahr. This informative class will explore how to select varieties, care for your plants, and troubleshoot threats like insects and diseases. Bring your questions and leave with your own tomato plant to start your spring vegetable garden! Location: Outdoor Classroom
