Birmingham Botanical Gardens (United States)

This article is about the Birmingham, Alabama garden. For the Birmingham, England garden, see Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Location 2612 Lane Park Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35223
Coordinates 33°29′30″N 86°46′28″W / 33.4917°N 86.7745°W / 33.4917; -86.7745Coordinates: 33°29′30″N 86°46′28″W / 33.4917°N 86.7745°W / 33.4917; -86.7745
Area 67.5 acres (27.3 ha)
Created 1963 (1963)
Operated by City of Birmingham/
Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Visitors 350,000+[1]
Open Dawn to dusk
Status Open all year
Website www.bbgardens.org

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is 67.5-acre (27.3 ha) botanical gardens located adjacent to Lane Park at the southern foot of Red Mountain in Birmingham, Alabama. The gardens are home to over 12,000 different types of plants, 25 unique gardens, more than 30 works of original outdoor sculpture, and several miles of walking paths.[2] With more than 350,000 annual visitors,[1] the Birmingham Botanical Gardens qualify as one of Alabama's top free-admittance tourist attractions.

The gardens include a garden center that has a library, auditorium, Linn-Henley Lecture Hall, Blount Education Center, Gerlach Plant Information Center, Alabama Cooperative Extension System office, Arrington Children’s Plant Adventure Zone, and a restaurant.

History

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens began as an idea prior to 1960. The Birmingham mayor of that time, James W. Morgan, led an effort to establish the gardens on a 69-acre (28 ha) portion of unused city property east of the Birmingham Zoo on the side of Red Mountain. The garden officially opened in 1963. The Birmingham Botanical Society, now known as the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, was established in 1964 with a mission of helping the city to support and improve the garden.[3]

Gardens and garden features

  • Sonat Lake
  • Hill Garden
  • Kayser Lily Pool
  • Cochran Water Wall
  • Dunn Formal Rose Garden
  • Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose Garden
  • Crape Myrtle Garden Conservatory
  • Desert House
  • Camellia House
  • Samford Orchid Display Room
  • Formal Garden
  • Queen’s Gates
  • Twin Urn Fountains
  • Cabaniss Walk
  • Forman Garden
  • Enabling Garden
  • Thompson Enthusiast Garden
  • Bruno Vegetable Garden
  • Herb Terrace
  • Hess Camellia Garden
  • Bog Gardens
  • Kaul Wildflower Garden
  • Fern Glade
  • Curry Rhododendron Garden
  • Little Ones’ Memory Garden
  • Curry Rhododendron Species Garden
  • Jemison Lily Garden
  • Hosta Walk
  • Ireland Iris Garden
  • The Southern Living Garden
  • Lawler Gates
  • McReynolds Garden
  • Barber Alabama Woodlands
  • Hulsey Woods
  • Japanese Gardens
  • Torii (Gateway to Heaven)
  • Tea House and Karesansui
  • Hulsey Woods
  • Cultural Pavilion
  • Viewing Shelter and Long Life Lake
  • Bonsai House
  • Richard Arrington Plant Adventure Zone
Garden features
Long Life Lake bridge 
The Taylor Gate 
Torii 
Tea House 
Granite Garden Fountain in Blount Square 
The Conservatory during winter 
The Friendship Bell 
Hill Garden during winter 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "About Us". Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ Fred Spicer (October 4, 2012). "A Small Ode to Oaks". Birmingham News. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Garden History". Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Retrieved October 26, 2012.

External links

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