- May -
10

The Gardens Teaches Pratt City Children to Plant

(Director of Education Henry Hughes takes a moment to pose for a photograph with children from South Hampton Elementary School)

The Gardens Teaches Pratt City Children to Plant

On Thursday, May 3, Director of Eductaion Henry Hughes and Volunteer Coordinator Taylor Steele traveled to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City to teach children how to plant, providing pots and plants to the group. The effort was part of a day in which Junior League of Birmingham and KABOOM built a new playground for children at the church. Rebuilding efforts continue in Pratt City, a Birmingham community devastated by the storms of April 27, 2011.

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- May -
8

PHOTOS: Earth Day at The Gardens

Earth Day at The Gardens

Earth Day at The Gardens was held on Saturday, May 5 on the lawn of the Formal Garden in front of the Conservatory and throughout The Gardens. The event hosted many like-minded, environmentally friendly organizations offering activities focused on air, land and water conservation. The Oxymorons provided the music and guests enjoyed a beautiful, educational day at The Gardens at no cost.

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- May -
7

Action Environmental Explores Soil Steam Sterilization in Bruno Vegetable Garden

Action Environmental Explores Soil Steam Sterilization in Bruno Vegetable Garden

Recently, Randy Tipton from Action Environmental spent time in the Bruno Vegetable Garden exploring a new technique to sterilize soil. The garden has had some problems with nematodes in the soil, and this new, environmentally-friendly method was used to disinfect the area for future planting. Pests of plant cultures such as weeds, bacteria, fungi and viruses are killed through induced hot steam which causes their cell structure to physically degenerate. Biologically, the method is considered a partial disinfection. Important heat-resistant, spore-forming bacteria survive and revitalize the soil after cooling down. Soil fatigue can be cured through the release of nutritive substances blocked within the soil. Steaming leads to a better starting position, quicker growth and strengthened resistance against plant disease and pests. Today, the application of hot steam is considered the best and most effective way to disinfect sick soil, potting soil and compost. It is being used as an alternative to bromomethane, whose production and use was curtailed by the Montreal Protocol.

Source:   http://www.action-environmental.com/index.php

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- May -
4

Junior Board of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Celebrates Salsa de Mayo!

Junior Board of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Celebrates Salsa de Mayo!

Lori Sours, television food personality and co-creator of the authentic Salsa Señorita line of fresh salsas, led a class in the preparation of fresh, authentic salsa and guacamole at The Gardens on Thursday, May 3. Participants also learned how to create Salsa Senorita’s signature south of the border beverage. It was a great night at The Gardens!

Make sure to register for the next Junior Board Event, Mint Mixology, coming on June 7! For more informtaion and the register online, we encourage you to visit www.bbgardens.org/classes.

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- Apr -
30

PHOTOS: Arrington Plant Adventure Zone Ribbon-Cutting

(Director James Horton, Mayor William Bell, Sr., former Mayor Richard Arrington, Jr., former Mayor Bernard Kincaid, Executive Director Fred Spicer)

Arrington Plant Adventure Zone Ribbon Cutting

On Thursday, April 26, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens gathered with local dignitaries for the ribbon-cutting of the Arrington Plant Adventure Zone. The newest garden at Birmingham Botanical Gardens is an inclusive space that will serve all of the Birmingham community, but will be a new center for Plant Adventures. The garden’s namesake, Dr. Richard Arrington, Jr., joined current Mayor William Bell and former Mayor Bernard Kincaid at the celebration. Birmingham Parks and Recreation Commissioner Larry Cockrell delivered the invocation before District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott, Plant Adventures Coordinator Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director Fred Spicer and each Birmingham mayor addressed the crowd. Light refreshments were served following the ceremony in the Hodges Room and the Rushton Garden.

(Andrew Krebbs, Tricia Noble, James Horton)

(Larry Cockrell, Richard Arrington, Jr., Fred Spicer)

(Valerie Abbott, Larry Cockrell, Martha Espy)

(Fred Spicer, Richard Arrington, Jr., Valerie Abbott)

(Henry Ray, Tricia Noble, Lou Willie)

(Birmingham Parks and Recreation Commissioner Larry Cockrell, former Mayor Bernard Kincaid, District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott, former Mayor Richard Arrington, Jr., Mayor William Bell, Sr., Plant Adventures Coordinator Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director Fred Spicer)

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- Apr -
16

Junior Board of Birmingham Botanical Gardens presents inaugural Tunes ‘n Blooms

Tunes ‘n Blooms

Junior Board of Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosted the inaugural Tunes ‘n Blooms at the Spring Plant Sale site, the former Mazer’s Discount Home Store on Green Springs Highway in Homewood, on Friday, April 13. More than 100 attended the event designed to encourage younger patrons to shop The Gardens largest plant sale of the year. Back Forty Beer Company of Gadsden and Wines by Rush of Irondale provided the spirits, while Birmingham’s own Will and Sarah Mason provided the soundtrack. Food was provided by The Baskits, Full Moon BBQ, Ashley Mac’s and Billy’s Bar and Grill.

Maddie Reeves, Kevin Dobbins

Ashley James, Al James

Laura McCraney, Lochrane Smith, Grace Humber

Moneka Thompson, Renee Jacobs, Anne Thompson

 

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- Apr -
9

What’s in bloom at The Gardens? 4.9.12

What’s in Bloom at The Gardens? 4.9.12

As Spring continues to bloom at The Gardens, the Kaul Wildflower Garden continues to be a gorgeous spot. Above, Kalmia latifolia blooms. Below are many more of the things that can be seen around The Gardens today.

Chionanthus virginicus

Erigeron sp.

Aquilegia sp.

Phlox divaricata

Rhododendron austrinum

Rudbeckia sp.

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- Mar -
21

Avondale Children Enjoy The Gardens

Avondale Pre-K students at The Gardens

Recently, Avondale Pre-K students came to The Gardens for a Discovery Backpack trip! You can take advantage of this free educational opportunity, too! Visit www.bbgardens.org/fieldtrips to learn more!

Preschool teachers can get their students involved at The Gardens. Teachers check out a free Discovery Backpack complete with a teacher guide (designed by educators) and materials you will need to lead your students on a field trip at Birmingham Botanical Gardens as they discover life science concepts related to plants and the environment. Correlated with curriculum.

Available year round | Monday-Friday | Free |

Contact 205.414.3953 to reserve your activity.
Preschool Discovery Backpack

Visit Southern Living Garden throughout the seasons exploring through the senses.
• Based on the Alabama Performance Standards for 4 year olds.
• Explore seasons at The Gardens through color, texture, scent, and sound.
• Identify The Gardens as home for plants and animals.
• Use a magnifier to investigate.
• Exercise skills for science including observation and communication.

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- Mar -
14

Andrea Wulf Speaks to Sold-Out Crowd at 14th Annual Spencer Lecture

(Pictured, L to R: Murray Spencer South, Nancy Spencer Smith, Fred Spicer, Andrea Wulf)

The 14th Annual Spencer Lecture was held in the Linn-Henley Lecture Hall at Birmingham Botanical Gardens on March 8. New York Times best-selling author, Andrea Wulf, spoke to a capacity crowd of more than 250 people after signing copies of her book, Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature and the Shaping of the American Nation. After guests were treated to the London native’s beautifully illustrated talk, they were treated to a reception in the Hodges Room.

(Archie Blackmon, Linda Blackmon)

(Katherine Bishop, Billy Bishop)

(June Mays, Helen Harmon)

(Alicia Hall, Ken Hall)

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- Mar -
14

Janice Williams Helps Native Plant Group Ready for Spring Plant Sale

Janice Williams Helps Native Plant Group Ready for Spring Plant Sale

Janice Williams began volunteering at The Gardens in, approximately, 1986. “I went on strolls through The Gardens with (old friends) Rebecca and LouAnn,” said Williams. “I told them I wanted to work there, too, and they invited me to join them on a Wednesday at the potting shed. I’ve been working there ever since.”

Williams eased her way into The Gardens when Bobbie Kaul invited her and her friend Pat to dig some flowers out of Kaul’s yard and plant them in the wildflower garden. It was during this time she had spent time working in the wildflower garden with Pat, Weesie and Ann.

Since, Williams has missed just one plant sale, one that fell when she was out of the country. She spends her time today with the Native Plant Group, hard at work on April’s Spring Plant Sale.

If you would like to learn more about this year’s Spring Plant Sale, and all of the special events that coincide, we encourage you to visit www.bbgardens.org/springplantsale. To learn more about how you can volunteer at The Gardens, visit www.bbgardens.org/volunteer.

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