The Garden Dirt Blog

Speaking of Volunteers...

2011-03-23T10:10:00.008-05:00

Yesterday, I mentioned the hundreds of talented and knowledgeable volunteers who will be working at the Spring Plant Sale (April 15-17). These wonderful folks have been working tirelessly, growing many of our plants from seeds. Enter Exhibit A. I was sent this photo this morning from one our loyal volunteers. The people in this photograph have been growing hundreds of tomatoes, heirlooms and

Ready, Set, Grow!

2011-03-22T14:48:00.019-05:00

Not that "real" gardeners don't relish the challenge of growing in every season or any fathomable condition, but spring is where the magic happens! (Wait, is this an episode of MTV's "Cribs"? Well, as a matter of fact, it sort of is!) Many, including hordes of folks who don't consider themselves in any way plant-savvy, crawl out of their hibernation from the out-of-doors to take on Mother Nature.

The Place of New Beginnings, by Natalie Cone

2011-03-14T11:17:00.010-05:00

We're always asking our friends to tell us what The Gardens means to them. For many, it's memories of learning about plants and science on Discovery Field Trips. And for more still The Gardens represents a beautiful retreat from urban stress, a place of serenity and calm. For some we are family; for some we represent romance; and for some we offer lifelong learning. Freelance writer Natalie Cone

Shake What Your Mama Gave You?

2011-03-04T09:44:00.014-06:00

Ok, so the title's a little misleading, but I could not help myself. We have a really cool Saturday Series coming up called, "Work with What Ya Got…Make Your Yard a Smart Yard!" This series of classes on sustainable garden care starts up tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. and continues for the next five weeks. The classes are on consecutive Saturdays starting tomorrow, March 5, from 10 a.m. until

Update: Photography at The Gardens

2011-01-28T10:44:00.004-06:00

We have some really awesome Facebook "fans." Each Friday, or at least when we have time, we ask them to post photos they have taken here at The Gardens or that otherwise showcase nature's beauty. Take a peak at this photo album, full of stunning photos taken by these talented garden aficionados! Lettuce in the Bruno Vegetable Garden, January 2011

Our Top 10 of 2010

2010-12-31T21:44:00.011-06:00

How original, right? A countdown of the year's top moments! Don't run away though, there's some good stuff in here, some that you may not know about. Things that make a real impact on real people in Birmingham and beyond! So without further adieu, here are my top 10 moments in 2010...10) Another Record-Breaking Fall Plant SaleAfter a two-day trial run in 2009 (which set the sales record for

Now, the Featured Presentation...

2010-12-16T14:00:00.012-06:00

As promised in our post earlier this week (Volunteers: Our Shining Stars), here is your follow-up story with our Volunteer of the Year award winners and pictures! Again, let's give a round of applause to our stars for making all of our work possible! We sincerely appreciate everything you do to make The Gardens stand out. With your help we educate nearly 40,000 people every year, including 10,000

Winter Gardening

2010-12-14T09:18:00.007-06:00

Ok, so it's the middle of December and it was all of one degree outside when you woke up today. (Or at least that's what it felt like to me!) Many folks just assume now's the time to stay out of the garden and let nature do its thing over the winter. Nay! To quote gardener and writer Marie Hutson, "The gardening season officially begins on January 1st, and ends on December 31." I think you get my

Volunteers: Our Shining Stars

2010-12-13T11:04:00.008-06:00

There are so many contributors that make Birmingham Botanical Gardens a success. And we like to thank those individuals, community partners, and businesses as often as we can. The bottom line is, however, that even if we had buckets of money -- which we don't -- we wouldn't be able to do a fraction of what we do without our loyal and savvy army of volunteers. We thought we'd have a little fun

Education: An Investment in the Future

2010-12-01T12:12:00.006-06:00

Today's world is a fast-paced and ever-changing one in which information flies at us from a myriad of media at all hours of the day. Balance, serenity and know-how are musts to survive and succeed in this atmosphere. The old adage "knowledge is power" is even more relevant now than it has ever been. For this reason, and many others, we're very proud of the work we do here at The Gardens.

Finally, Your Most Pressing Questions Answered

2010-10-13T14:57:00.005-05:00

At Birmingham Botanical Gardens, there is always something going on. Whether it's a fundraising event, like this week's Cocktails in The Gardens and Fall Plant Sale, or a Discovery Field Trip or a class, this place is always abuzz with activity. Having said that, it isn't very often we get to delve into botany and etymology at the same time. John Manion, curator of the Kaul Wildflower Garden,

Feast Your Eyes On This

2010-10-06T15:01:00.016-05:00

When it comes to season finales, you're probably accustomed to TV programs pulling out all the stops with cliffhangers, inconceivable drama and unseemly revelations. Well, we're having a season finale of our own next week, and you will be left wanting more from Bonus Round, behold fabulous fall décor and taste absurdly delicious foods. That's right, the 2010 season of Cocktails in The Gardens

More Than A Pretty Face

2010-09-30T10:07:00.006-05:00

Whenever you visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens, what’s the first thing you notice? More than likely your answer has something to do with “the natural beauty.” And there is nothing wrong with noticing the loveliness of the flowers, trees, landscapes, and so forth. It’s truly breath-taking and a wonder to behold. But there’s more to The Gardens than just our pretty face. After all, it is our

Rolling Out The Red Carpet

2010-09-02T15:08:00.019-05:00

A special thanks to our 2010 Antiques at The Gardens Committee. Front Row (L to R): Amanda Pigue, Kathleen Doss, Wendy Barze, Mary Margaret Gullage, Elizabeth Jernigan, Kittie Buchanan, Kate Phillips. Back Row (L to R): Jenny Reed, Cameron Crowe, Sheryl Kimmerling, Tracey Anderson, Diana Slaughter (honorary chair), Susan Elliott (co-chair), Clarissa Harms (co-chair), Sally Lineberry, Mary

Down Home Delights, Garden Style

2010-08-26T15:51:00.008-05:00

Cocktails in The Gardens got off to a great start on August 12 with nearly 500 guests mixing & mingling in the Hill Garden. Décor by Kirsti provided green designs, complementing the green-themed finger foods, green apple martinis and even the band, FisherGreen. We also unveiled our new & improved Cocktails in The Gardens t-shirts (see below), which are on sale in our offices and at each event for

ACES Tomato Workshop 2010

2010-08-23T11:29:00.001-05:00

We've got a cool class here at The Gardens tomorrow from 9 a.m. til noon (sign-in starts at 8:30), brought to you by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, better known as ACES. The best part? It's only $5! Lycopersicum esculentum cv., Bruno Vegetable Garden Topics will include: Predominant diseases seen in the Plant Pathology Lab Top 10 insect pests this year (and how to manage them if

Plants Get Stressed Out Too

2010-08-10T14:45:00.013-05:00

What's this? Fall in early August? Have you noticed an abundance of leaves on the ground or fall colors up in the trees in your yard, favorite park, or perhaps at your local walking trail? What's up with that? Even though Alabama's heavy, humid summers are far from the crisp, cool air associated with autumn, signs of autumn abound lately. Is it suddenly en vogue in 2010 for trees and shrubs to

Keep Cool, Don't Be A Fool

2010-08-03T13:01:00.009-05:00

In lieu of doing another Plant of the Day entry, today seems like a perfect opportunity to highlight some safety tips and give some gardening advice for the month of August. Safety Tips for Summer Gardening 1) First of all, the main thing to remember in the heat of a Hot Southern Summer is that it's all about water - for both you and your plants. Make sure you hydrate if you're working outdoors

Plant of the Day: Lilium michauxii

2010-07-29T16:01:00.001-05:00

Lilium michauxii, the Carolina lily, is named for the French Botanist Andre Michaux, who studied plants in the southeastern US. Its beauty among dry woods is rare, and one of the traits that make this such as special plant in our collections. The state wildflower of North Carolina, this lovely creature is native to the coastal plains as far north as Virginia and south to Florida, reaching as

Plant of the Day: Platycodon grandiflorus

2010-07-27T14:48:00.000-05:00

This neat-looking guy can be found at The Gardens in the Ireland Iris Garden. Platycodon grandiflorus, balloon flower, is from Japan and China. It gets its name because the unopened buds look like inflated balloons, clearly. They gently open wide in blue, but are also found in white and pink forms; great for kids, but they will want to to pop them and are always bummed they don't make any

Plant of the Day: Phlox paniculata

2010-07-26T13:37:00.001-05:00

An unknown Phlox paniculata, but very likely the cultivar 'Common Purple' introduced by Goodness Grows Nursery in GA. Probably won't find that name in any catalogs, but it is available at local nurseries because it flowers its head off here in the Ireland Iris Garden and is heat- and mildew-resistant – which cannot be said about most other selections of this plant, of which there are many

Plant of the Day: Ricinis communis

2010-07-23T15:04:00.001-05:00

Seedlings of a bronze-red Ricinis communis, or castor bean. It's not a true bean, but it is a sometimes re-seeding annual relative of poinsettia and other Euphorbia. And yes, it is the source of castor oil once forced on youngsters to treat various maladies (ask your grandmother!) and still used in paints and varnishes. Oil comes from the bean-like seeds, but the seed coat contains ricin, a

Plant of the Day: Hibiscus coccineus

2010-07-22T10:50:00.002-05:00

Kaul Wildflower Garden Curator, John Manion, found this Hibiscus coccineus in the Bog Garden here at The Gardens. As you can see, it's flower is quite large! More pictures below! Hibiscus coccineus, is called swamp hibiscus, scarlet rosemallow, scarlet hibiscus, or Texas star; native to extreme southern US, including a few counties in AL. Must have wet soil and sun for good flowering like in

Plant of the Day: Strobilanthes dyerianus

2010-07-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

Strobilanthes dyerianus, is Persian shield, or Bermuda conehead, and is from Burma (Myanmar): go figure! The genus name means cone-flower, hence the second part of the second name. A purely tropical shrub but a knockout foliage annual or tender perennial (roots might overwinter here, might not) with leaves that look like purple foil etched with green variegations. Best with morning sun and

Keeping Cool Among the Water Lilies

2010-07-20T13:14:00.011-05:00

by Katherine King, Intern Katie was recently chosen from eight finalists as our 2010 intern, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shades Valley. From Bristol, Tennessee, Katie is a recent graduate of Samford University with a B.S. in biology--she has even studied botany in Belize (are you as jealous as we are?)! The internship gives a rising senior or recent college graduate hands-on experience

Exploring New Horizons

2010-06-21T15:34:00.009-05:00

The Horizons School, a unique program for young adults with learning disabilities, recently blessed Birmingham Botanical Gardens with a summer intern. The school, now an autonomous 501(c)3, was started in 1991 by the UAB School of Education and has since helped a number of young adults (18-26) learn life lessons ranging from money management to social skills to cooking to career training. They

We Walk Invisible

2010-06-19T22:09:00.007-05:00

Gardening in the Shoulder Period

2010-06-07T15:03:00.023-05:00

Gettin' Wild in The Gardens

2010-06-01T12:05:00.005-05:00

John Manion recently assumed the post of Curator of the Kaul Wildflower Garden, and he would now like to invite you to get involved as he settles into his new role. John will be hosting regularly scheduled volunteer sessions for any plant enthusiasts, gardeners or otherwise curious volunteers to join him in the Kaul Wildflower Garden to learn about pruning, propogation, plant history & folklore,

Giving Back: North Roebuck Needs Your Help

2010-05-14T11:48:00.001-05:00

North Roebuck Elementary School has been planning and fundraising for an outdoor classroom for more than eight years now. The green learning space has been a dream of Principal Irene O’Neil (and a committee of teachers, as well) for years, and that dream is soon to become a reality. Naturescapes, Inc. recently began construction on the courtyard that will soon be a thriving natural setting for

Dedication Redefined - The Jennifer Phillips Story

2010-04-27T20:33:00.009-05:00

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” -Vince Lombardi Jennifer Phillips has been volunteering for The Gardens at the Spring Plant Sale since 2007 in the loading zone, working with "Loading Legend" Harold Deason. And that's where she's been ever since. "It’s a no-brainer…you just say 'can I take your plants

Educational Opportunities at The Gardens - Southern Institute of Photography

2010-04-09T15:00:00.004-05:00

We have some very exciting, ongoing learning opportunities at The Gardens. The Southern Institute of Photography launched last year as a cooperative of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Alabama's most outstanding photographers and teachers. The venture is going strong and has a great course schedule this Spring and Summer. Most classes meet once a week Monday-Thursday in The Gardens' Education Complex

The Gardens as Narnia, Bonita Whitehead

2010-02-18T14:11:00.006-06:00

One of the great things about working at a great public garden is the stories you get to hear. These stories vary: couples who wed in the Hill Garden, gardeners who poured their heart out digging in the dirt or children who came here on Discovery Field Trips to learn about plants. This past week we got to hear a story from Bonita Whitehead, who came here with her son during the recent "snow storm

Out in the Cold - Part Two

2010-01-21T15:16:00.010-06:00

This is the second half of Out in the Cold, which contains more tips and factoids from our Executive Director, Fred Spicer, about wintertime gardening in Alabama. Read up, comment, and pass it along to fellow gardeners or "Curious Georges," if you will. If you have any questions not answered in parts one or two, give us a call at 205.414.3900 and we'll find someone who can answer your query!

Out in the Cold - Part One

2010-01-14T14:48:00.005-06:00

very time the seasons change, we get a flood of gardening questions and requests for best practices. These questions are all over the proverbial horticultural map, ranging from topics like transplanting shrubs to growing native plants to tips on not killing flowers. Last week's (very) cold spell got us to thinking, so we asked our executive director for some pointers. In true Fred fashion, his

Giving Thanks and Giving Back

2009-12-03T10:52:00.006-06:00

This time of year is traditionally a time of giving - thanks, gifts, service and so on. It's no secret that 2009 has been a difficult year for businesses, families, individuals, politicians and, yes, cultural institutions like ours. In light of all of the year's troubles and uncertainty, we have that much more reason to be thankful. The 2009 Spring Plant Sale had its biggest year of all time, as

Horticultural Therapy Program Wins John Walker Community Service Award

2009-10-15T15:54:00.004-05:00

Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ horticultural therapy program has won the 2009 John Walker Community Service Award from the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). This is the first national honor won by the program, which is managed by Horticultural Therapy Coordinator Susan Grimes with help from a team of dedicated volunteers. The John Walker Community Service Award is given each year

Fall Plant Sale Extended to Two Days!

2009-10-14T18:57:00.022-05:00

Saturday, October 17 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, October 18 Noon-4 p.m. As you've no doubt noticed, autumn has arrived and the weather is cooling down in a hurry, which means it's the perfect time for planting! Plants enter dormancy, soil is very warm with excellent moisture content to promote healthy root development and rapid plant establishment before spring. We've extended our Fall Plant Sale to

Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Local Garden Clubs Reforest George Ward Park

2009-10-12T11:01:00.003-05:00

Little Garden Club and Red Mountain Garden Club are teaming up with Birmingham Botanical Gardens and holding a tree planting ceremony at George Ward Park on Saturday, October 24 at 8 a.m. to reforest what is considered the gem of the Birmingham park system. The Garden Club of America (GCA) issued a challenge to its affiliated clubs across the nation to develop and enact a project in their local

Notes from the Field: Part 1

2009-09-08T11:24:00.169-05:00

Native Stewartia by Frederick R. Spicer, Jr. Executive Director Flowers of Stewartia malacodendron (silky stewartia). Both species can have purple stamens, but the united style, clearly seen at the center of the flower, is diagnostic for S. malacodendron. The style of S. ovata is divided into five distinct parts. Image taken on 5/16/2008 at Oak Mountain State

Do you have what it takes to be featured on the cover of The Garden Dirt?

2009-08-27T10:43:00.017-05:00

We are looking for photos for the cover of our member newsletter throughout 2010! We'll choose six photographs for the cover of The Garden Dirt and an article about the image and why The Gardens is important to the photographer. Each winner will receive also a free membership to The Gardens for one year and have their photo seen by 10,000 people. Requirements Remember that this is a cover

Volunteer Opportunities at The Gardens!

2009-08-20T08:55:00.014-05:00

When you volunteer at The Gardens, you are both giving something back to our community and helping us to fulfill our mission. Our mission to promote public knowledge and appreciation of plants, gardens, and the environment depends upon a diverse team to act as stewards of this great resource called Birmingham Botanical Gardens. A quality volunteer base is a collection of people from every

Already Halfway Through Summer!

2009-07-09T12:20:00.018-05:00

It's hard to believe summer is already halfway gone! The Gardens are absolutely stunning right now, so if you can stand the heat, bring a water bottle, or even a picnic basket, and give yourself a tour and check out what's new! (And if you can't stand the heat, I recommend stopping for a delicious and affordable lunch in The Gardens Cafe by Kathy G. Or peruse through Leaf & Petal at The Gardens'

Discovery Field Trips Bring Science to Life for Thousands of School Kids

2009-07-02T12:57:00.009-05:00

The 2008-2009 school year was one of the most succesful for Discovery Field Trips in the history of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, continuing the record-setting trends for the year. Last year more than 10,000 school children visited The Gardens on nearly 450 field trips.Discovery Field Trips, one of the programs at the heart of our education mission, are free to participants thanks to support for

Gardening Tips for July

2009-07-01T15:00:00.002-05:00

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of May. We update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.Protect figs and other ripening fruit from birds.Continue to root shrub cuttings until late in the month and mulch to keep soil moist.Remove

Cocktails in The Gardens Music Lineup

2009-06-08T16:55:00.009-05:00

THIS JUST IN: Cocktails in The Gardens has its best music lineup to date! Cocktails in The Gardens presented by smart center Birmingham is in its third season, and it keeps getting better. Birmingham indie-acoustic rising star Matthew Mayfield kicks off the first of three Cocktails in The Gardens on August 13. Todd Simpson & Mojo Child bring the blues to The Gardens on September 10 with their

Staff Retreat

2009-06-08T15:11:00.010-05:00

The staff of Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens closed the office for the annual staff retreat on Friday, May 29. On our way to our destination, we stopped at a dive called Twix & Tween in Centreville, AL and enjoyed catfish, fried pickles, onion rings and their famous icebox pies. We then went to Perry Lake, an oxbow lake of the Cahaba River, a characteristically “Southern” swamp with

Gardening Tips for May

2009-05-14T14:01:00.003-05:00

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of May. We update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.Fruits and NutsContinue spray program. Keep grass from around trees and strawberries. Peaches and apples can still be budded.ShrubsNewly

Spring Plant Sale 2009 - Most Successful Ever!

2009-04-24T11:00:00.002-05:00

Despite a lingering financial crisis, last weekend's Spring Plant Sale was the most successful of all time. In its 40th year, Birmingham Botanical Gardens' annual sale brought in over $265,000 with nearly 7,400 visitors coming through the doors. There were more than 85,000 plants available with the Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' being the signature plant (which was clearly a hit, as it sold out on

Gardening Tips for April

2009-04-03T15:36:00.009-05:00

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of April. We'll update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.Fruits and NutsSeason for strawberry planting continues.Start spray program for all fruits.Plant raspberries and blackberries and

Class: Medicinal Plants of North America

2009-03-17T16:06:00.006-05:00

Medicinal Plants of North AmericaInstructor: Tellur Fenner, Clinical herbalist/educator, Oakland, CANorth America is home to a diverse array of medicinal plants long valued for their therapeutic effects. We will explore both common and lesser known plants used historically and presently in American herbal practice. Indoors, we’ll discuss the basic taxonomical and phytochemical characteristics of

Gardening Tips for March

2009-03-12T10:09:00.004-05:00

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of March. We'll update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardeing Tips series!Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu. Fruits and NutsContinue strawberry and grape plantings. Bud apples and peaches. Start planting blackberries. Remember, if weather

Cool Design Class This Saturday

2009-03-11T12:41:00.003-05:00

Pictured above is the Forman Garden at The GardensEver planted a spring flower bed and ran short of plants or had the front plants out grow the back plants? James Horton, Director of Horticulture at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, is teaching a class called Seasonal Flower Bed Design this Saturday (March 14) from 9 a.m. – Noon.This class will teach the tricks of the trade when it comes to designing

Spring Plant Sale

2009-03-11T11:06:00.003-05:00

Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Spring Plant SaleSet For First Frost Free Day Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale is set for Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, April 19. The average annual date of frost-free temperatures in Alabama is April 15 which makes Spring Plant Sale perfectly timed for worry-free planting. The Gardens’ annual sale is the largest in the state of Alabama with more

Good Things Growing… March 2009

2009-02-27T15:39:00.003-06:00

The lightly fragrant flowers of wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) can be blue, white or pale pink.