The Garden Dirt

FOR FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

the JOYof Learning

How the Friends’ Educational Offerings Inspire Lifelong Learners to Explore, Reflect, and Grow

Save When You Dine and Shop at the Gardens and our Local Member Partners

Show your Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens membership card and enjoy 10% off regularly priced purchases at The Gardens Café by Kathy G and these local nurseries, garden centers, and flower shops.

Certain restrictions may apply. Please visit bbgardens.org/membership for details.

DOROTHY MCDANIEL’S

FLOWER MARKET • FARMSTAND BY

STONE HOLLOW • HOUSE PLANT

COLLECTIVE • LEAF & PETAL AT THE

GARDENS • MYERS PLANTS & POTTERY

PETALS FROM THE PAST • SHOPPE/ GENERAL • SWEET PEAS GARDEN SHOP

VIVATIA PLANT CARE SERVICES WILD THINGS

Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

2025 Board of directors

Emily Bowron Chair

wally Evans immEdiatE Past Chair

KirK ForrEstEr sECrEtary

d�C Coston trEasurEr

sid Evans Chair oF CommuniCations & marKEting

EvElyn JonEs Chair oF dEvEloPmEnt

CarolinE littlE Chair oF EduCation & Community EngagEmEnt

John smith t Chair oF govErnanCE

liBBa vaughan Chair oF govErnmEnt rElations

dEriCK BEldEn Chair oF oPErations

Members at Large

Maggie Brooke

Sharon Deep-Nelson

Eleanor Estes

Wendy Evesque

David Germany

Leigh Haver

Janet Kavinoky Bolaji Kukoyi

Dr. Desmond R. Layne

G. Ruffner Page, Jr.

Anne Sanders Rand

Norman Ross, Jr.

Martha Emmett Sims

Sarah Slaughter

Joanice Thompson

Larry D. Thornton, Sr.

Jesse Vogtle, Jr.

Sharon Walker

Ginny Willings

John G. Wilson

Joseph M. Echols, Junior Board President

Our Mission

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens seeks to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We are dedicated to serving the Gardens, serving the community, serving our visitors, and inspiring a passion for plants, gardens, and the environment.

Staff

Tom Underwood.....................................................Executive Director

Julia Adams Horticulturist—Japanese Garden

Katelyn Bahr Horticulturist—Specialty Gardens

Stephanie Banks Chief Financial Officer

Rachael Daughtry Library & Information Services Manager

Dawn DeFrank Donor Services Coordinator

Amelia Haas Office Coordinator

Ellen Hardy Education Program Coordinator

Penney Hartline Director of Development

Cassia Kesler Director of Communications & Marketing

Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz......................................Communications & Marketing Associate

Kendra Poleshek Education Associate Adult & Personal Enrichment Programs

Drew Rickel Donor Relations Officer

Kensley Sandlin Development Associate

Rebecca Stivender Director of Education & Community Engagement

Emma Thompson Volunteer Coordinator

Keith Turney.........Senior Horticulturist–Kaul Wildflower Garden

Jane Underwood Director of Gardens Support

Editor: Cassia Kesler

Art Design: Ellen Padgett

Cover & Lead Photos: Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz, Graham Yelton

Contributors: Susan Alison, Dawn DeFrank, Kathy Hagood, Ellen Hardy, Penney Hartline, Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz, Kendra Poleshek, Drew Rickel, Quez Shipman, Wendy Wallace Johnson, Graham Yelton

A facility of the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board, Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the result of a public/private partnership between the City of Birmingham and the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a mission-driven membership organization that seeks to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens. We hope you enjoy this issue of the Friends’ award-winning quarterly publication, The Garden Dirt. Thank you for visiting and supporting the Gardens! Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens practices a policy of equal opportunity and equal access to services for all persons regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, orientation, or gender identity.

Dear Friend,

We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to host inspiring talks and community events that bring people from all around the region together to learn from each other. It is exciting to see the Gardens serve as a point of connection: connecting people to the natural world, to others, and to their passion for plants and gardening. Spring is always a busy time for organizations such as ours, but it seems this year was even busier than usual. We had the great pleasure of hosting our biennial Native Plant Conference in March. Attendees enthusiastically embraced the conference theme of “Ecological Landscapes” and were energized by the opportunity to network with likeminded people. Everyone left even more encouraged than ever that they have the power to make a difference.

The Spring Plant Sale was a huge success! We are so appreciative of all the dedicated volunteers who so generously contribute their time and talents to the sale—growing such a bountiful variety of beautiful plants and sharing their knowledge and expertise during this event.

Looking a little broader afield, May 9-18 marked “Go Public Gardens” week, an annual celebration sponsored by the American Public Gardens Association intended to bring visibility to the value that public gardens bring to communities across the country. Here in Birmingham, we took advantage of the occasion to launch our new Rooted in Community awards program and to recognize our members with a variety of special garden tours in conjunction with our own “May Membership Month” celebration. Response to both activities was strong and particularly heartwarming.

In this issue, we are pleased to highlight three members of our talented horticulture team who offer some firsthand insights from their work in the Gardens on page 4. You can also learn how you can connect with others through our adult education program, with classes on horticulture, garden design, botanical arts, and more. Read about one participant’s experience on page 10, and how our classes have changed her life.

It truly takes a community to help us protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens. Thank you for being an important part of our work. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and tireless efforts help us to continue to grow and flourish together.

Tom Underwood Executive Director, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

OCTOBER 2 - 5, 2025 design sponsor SCHUMACHER

OCTOBER 2–5

bbgardens.org/antiques

Sallie & Jim Johnson

By WENDY WALLACE JOHNSON

Photo by Dee Moore

“Can’t you tell I just love the Gardens?” Sallie Johnson asked.

It’s unmistakable. If you are lucky enough to hear Sallie tell the stories of the Friends of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, you’ll hear the passion of a volunteer who feeds off energy from over 40 years spent with the organization.

You might hear about the time a guest speaker, award-winning gardener and author Ken Druse, marveled at volunteer hydrangeas sprouting from the cracks of Red Mountain or of when the elegant socialite and designer Carolyne Roehm broke character briefly on stage. You’ll hear the names of nearly everyone who has made a significant impact on the Gardens, and most importantly, you’ll hear how a multitude of invaluable friendships grew and flourished over the years.

Sallie Johnson’s story with the Gardens began as so many do: she said “yes.”

“In the early 1980s, I became editor of the Gardens’ newsletter as a Junior League volunteer placement. I knew nothing about gardening, or writing…zero,” she emphasized. “But I said yes.”

As editor, she had the opportunity to attend a symposium at Lady Bird Johnson’s recently formed National Wildflower Research Center (now the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center) in Texas. The symposium was largely attended by “plant people,” of which Sallie stresses she was not.

Steiner, the celebration for the opening of the Garden Center, the Spencer Lecture series, the Spring Plant Sale, served on the Board of Directors, and has served in countless volunteer roles.

She said working with these events tells the story of the impact of the Friends and the Gardens.

“Promoting Birmingham is what we are doing,” she said. “With these different speaker events, and Antiques at the Gardens, we bring in these giants of the gardening and decorating world, and sometimes they have these preconceived notions of what Birmingham is, especially years ago. We don’t tell them how wonderful Birmingham is, we show them. Our incomparable Southern hospitality wins them over every time! So, we are ambassadors, and at the same time, we are raising funds.”

less time in nature these days, and access to the Gardens and nature-based learning is important. I believe these efforts make a permanent difference in their lives.”

Sallie’s own education with the Friends has been life changing.

“Learning something new is and always has been central to my life. That has happened in spades for me at the Gardens,” she said.

She has continued to volunteer with the Spring Plant Sale since co-chairing it in 1998.

“Fifteen or 20 years ago, Jeanie Sherlock was head of Trees and Shrubs. She was the trees and shrubs guru. She tells me, ‘You’re going to work for me.’ So, I started working in Trees and Shrubs, and now I help people choose plants for their own homes. I even have my own name tag, ‘Sallie Johnson, Trees and Shrubs.’ That’s amazing for a non-plant person. That’s very official,” she laughed.

“These aren’t just attractions—they’re essential educational and cultural pillars. Investing in these institutions helps enrich the fabric of our community and makes the city a more vibrant place for people to live, work, and thrive.”

“And, of course, the antiques that the vendors bring are wonderful as well,” she added, referencing a wrought iron table in the hallway that she and Jim picked up at Antiques at the Gardens.

A walk with Sallie through her garden demonstrated that calling her a “non-plant” person is somewhat a misnomer these days, as she explained the evolution of her own garden and what plants have proved to thrive in each place, including a robust espaliered sasanqua camellia and the maidenhair fern that thrives at the bottom of a stone wall.

“A friend of mine made fun of me, saying, ‘You water your houseplants every four months, whether they need it or not,’ And that’s the type of gardener I was. But you learn by osmosis,” she winked.

Sallie and her husband Jim are longtime supporters of the Friends, as Sallie’s involvement over the years made them keenly aware of its importance to the community.

“Starting out with the newsletter gave me intimate knowledge of the Gardens,” says Sallie. “I was at every event and got to know every person behind the scenes.”

Her presence at those events lasted well beyond her promised two years. There has not been a time since those early years that Sallie hasn’t remained active with the Friends, either as an organizer or a volunteer. She has co-chaired the lecture series once hosted for the Friends by Rose

Sallie, Jim, and their children Milton Johnson and Sumner Rives are avid supporters of several other cultural jewels in Birmingham, including the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Birmingham Zoo.

“These aren’t just attractions—they’re essential educational and cultural pillars,” said Jim. “Investing in these institutions helps enrich the fabric of our community and makes the city a more vibrant place for people to live, work, and thrive.”

When it comes to the Friends’ programming, the educational programs clearly have Sallie’s heart.

“I am sure that my interest in the educational programs began in those early days: writing about them, seeing them in their formation, and then observing their impact in the lives of both adults and children. Children spend so much

“I’ve learned so much from the Friends’ Plant Sale,” she said. “If you want to see the effect of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens as a unifier of the community, come to the Plant Sale. The people I work with are from all walks of life. People come in from Shelby, Bibb, and Blount counties—from all over the place and all over the city,” she said.

“In some cases, the only thing we have in common is a love for the Gardens. It has a broad appeal; one only needs to appreciate beauty in nature and have a desire for the Gardens to continue to thrive. It’s allowed me to meet and learn from people I never would have otherwise met.”

“The story is not about what I’ve done for the Gardens,” said Sallie. “It’s about what the Gardens has given me. Saying ‘yes’ brought me one of the biggest blessings in my life. My experiences with the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens have made me a better person.”

PLANT REMEDIES for EVERY GARDEN

HOW TO SOLVE COMMON GARDENING CHALLENGES WITH PLANTS THAT BEST SUIT THE SPACE

By CASSIA KESLER I Photos by GRAHAM YELTON

FFrom the rocky hillside slopes of Kaul Wildflower Garden to the low-lying wetland areas of the Japanese Garden, Birmingham Botanical Gardens showcases many different types of gardens, with different topographical, ecological, and design challenges. Whether it’s dry, arid soil, drought, rainfall, poor drainage, or figuring out how to cultivate blooms through every season, sometimes choosing plants with attributes that best suit the existing growing conditions of the site can make all the difference.

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ horticulturists recently discussed the gardening challenges they face, and how they choose plants for their particular gardens. Often, a plant that does not thrive in one type of garden may be the perfect solution for issues that plague another.

PLANTS THAT CAN SURVIVE DROUGHT AND FLOURISH IN DRY CONDITIONS OR POOR SOIL

Kaul Wildflower Garden sits atop what used to be a sandstone quarry. “In Kaul, we struggle with drought and poor soil quality in certain areas,” said Keith Turney, senior horticulturist who oversees Kaul. “A lot of the beds up at the top of the garden were just built by piling layers of rock and leaf matter on top of each other. They are now pretty much 80% rock in some places.”

Kaul is also not consistently irrigated on a regular basis. “We only water post-planting, or in an area that really needs it, where it’s showing signs of dryness,” said Keith.

Rather than installing an extensive irrigation system, or altering the surrounding environment, Keith and his volunteers have found ways to solve

some of the issues with drought-tolerant and hardy plants. “It would be a more labor-intensive process to go and change the topography or the soil, so we strive to pick out plants that will grow in those conditions,” he said.

“We get the opportunity to grow more of the really unique plants that Alabama has to offer that would not grow so well elsewhere,” said Keith. “That’s why we’ve developed the oak-pine savanna to replicate ecosystems known for their drought resilience.”

Nearly every garden suffers from some drought during Alabama’s hot and dry season, and some homeowners might wonder what they can do to help their plants—without necessarily having to cultivate their own native oakpine savanna.

A great example of using plants to problem-solve garden challenges: In the wetland areas of the Japanese Garden, irises and other similar water-loving plants help to control runoff, prevent erosion, and provide filtration.

“We get the opportunity to grow more of the really unique plants that Alabama has to offer that would not grow so well elsewhere.”

—KEITH TURNEY

OPPOSITE:

Native bristly locust, which boasts lovely blooms but spreads rapidly even in poor conditions, is considered to be an invasive in the more formal Southern Living Garden. However, Senior Horticulturist Keith Turney considers it to be a boon for Kaul Wildflower Garden, where it thrives in pockets of rocky soil and helps to prevent erosion.

Julia Adams, horticulturist for the Japanese Garden, always considers the key design principles of Japanese gardening when choosing new plants. Every plant is intentionally placed and holds symbolic meaning.

“The Southern Living Garden is meant to exemplify what a homeowner might do in their own backyard,” said Katelyn Bahr, specialty gardens horticulturist. “Drought affects this garden too, although we do rely more on irrigation.” This garden features bright, blooming annuals and perennials that need plenty of water and rich soil. This past spring, the Southern Living® Plant Collection donated over a hundred ornamental plants that have been selected to be more drought and heat tolerant for this specific region.

Katelyn explained that some plants that are drought tolerant tend to have thick, waxy leaves that better retain water and reflect heat, and smaller stomata (pores), like succulents or cacti.

“You can have, for example, gardenias, loropetalum, or hydrangeas that have been developed with some of these qualities. They also cultivate these varieties to bloom more, or to have more

unique foliage. They have created a really cool variety of gardenia, Diamond Spire® with a waxier leaf that I just introduced to the garden,” she said.

Gardeners may also benefit from seeking out native species that can grow in dry, rocky soil. “We’ve introduced lovegrass on a hillside above the Little Ones Memory Garden, where there is no irrigation at all,” said Katelyn. “It’s doing really great there.”

Keith explained that this is an example of what’s called “xeriscaping,” a type of landscaping that uses waterefficient plants and practices to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation, in areas with poor soil quality.

“It was a struggle just trying to plant a few plugs of lovegrass up there in that soil,” said Katelyn, laughing. “We basically had to fight the soil to get them planted. But they are doing fantastic and it makes a really nice backdrop for that garden.”

USING PLANTS AS A PALETTE OF

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Lovegrass (Eragrostis)

Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, it adds interesting texture and structure with its airy, purple seed heads.

COLOR,

STRUCTURE, AND TEXTURE IN GARDEN DESIGN

For Julia Adams (above), horticulturist for the Japanese Garden, design planning is her biggest challenge, even down to the cultural meaning of the plants and the philosophical significance of the garden layout. For this style of garden, every plant is intentionally placed to meet the principles of Japanese aesthetic and design.

“The overall goal is to go for the right feel and the right look of what the plant evokes: what that plant does for that space,” said Julia. “I’m always considering the key design principles of Japanese gardening when placing new plants. Even the movement of the leaves matters, and the texture of the bark. Clear examples of those principles must be consistently woven throughout the whole garden.”

Japanese garden design principles include ideas such as: symbolic representations of larger concepts such as mountains, clouds, or ocean waves; asymmetry; considering how the surrounding landscape is incorporated into the view; and concealment (the garden unfolding or being revealed as the visitor walks through it). There are also the four main elements of a Japanese garden: vegetation, water, rock, and ornamental

structures. Julia must take all of these into account when planting.

“How the elements are paired is important, too,” she commented. “Water elements such as the Seven Virtues Waterfall are often paired with weeping cherry trees or weeping willows, which evoke the movement of water. There are shrubs that you would see more commonly paired with certain trees. You wouldn’t typically see Japanese azaleas paired with Japanese maples, because that’s too much color,” she explained.

Color, texture, and varying plant heights are important design concepts that Katelyn must also consider in the Southern Living Garden.

“The Southern Living Garden is divided into different ‘rooms,’ to showcase how different arrangements might create an inviting outdoor space,” said Katelyn. For example, a couple of these spaces feature reflection pools, water features, and statuary, with a canopy of trees overhead and lush plantings below, full of rich color and texture. “The perennial border is layered with new and interesting plants each year that produce blooms from

spring until fall,” said Katelyn. Some of her favorite native perennials are beardtongues, (Penstemon) which are hardy and add a lovely variety of color and structure.

The horticulturists talked about how what may be considered invasive in one garden might be the perfect solution for a different problem in another garden. For example, Katelyn considers the native bristly locust (Robinia hispida) shrub to be an invasive.

“It produces beautiful flowers in a drooping pattern, so it’s understandable that at one point it was considered a really beautiful addition to this garden,” said Katelyn. “But it spreads so fast and far, I keep having to fight it. It will come under a rock wall that is about a foot deep and pop right up in the path.”

However, for Keith in the Kaul Wildflower Garden, bristly locust works very well for erosion control and to prevent other invasives from spreading. “Basically, where it originates is pockets of soil on tops of mountains,” he explained. “So it’s perfect for Kaul. It fills those spaces up and doesn’t give room to any other plants.”

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT:

Beardtongues (Penstemon)

This hardy perennial is heat-tolerant but also thrives in partial shade; varying heights add texture and structure to garden design; bloom can extend into the fall.

Katelyn Bahr, specialty gardens horticulturist, strives to showcase plants that bloom all season long to exemplify what homeowners might try in their own yards. Layering specially developed heat-tolerant plants and a variety of bright foliage colors with more traditional Southern garden design gives the gardens she oversees a fresh, unique look.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT:

Japanese Iris (Iris ensata)

WHAT TO DO WITH TOO MUCH WATER? WETLAND AREAS AND DRAINAGE ISSUES

The Japanese Garden is located in a lowlying area at the southernmost point of the Gardens. Where Long Life Lake and the bamboo grove are now used to be a cypress swamp. When the garden was first developed, they had to fill in and build up the land in order to create this part of the garden that is now a beloved attraction.

“The garden has major drainage challenges, which we’ve been trying to remediate, with a combination of drainage systems and plant material,” said Julia. “Any time it storms, we have runoff and drainage issues. The bamboo grove gets flooded almost every time it rains, so a few years ago, we installed an elevated boardwalk. We’ve also installed some new catch basins and reservoirs.” In addition to these structural solutions, they also selected several different plant species that grow best in wetland areas and near riverbeds, which help prevent erosion and filter water runoff.

S

Water-loving, it thrives in soggy soil. Good for filtration and erosion control.

“Irises would definitely be a good example of that,” said Julia. “They can handle wet, soggy soil, and their roots and stems act as a natural filtration system.”

Keith chimed in. “We utilize plants in multiple places in Kaul to slow the flow of water and solve drainage problems, at different points in the garden. A sedge or grass or a low shrub are all great at holding debris and leaves, and keeping them from entering a waterway or a drain. In Kaul, we also have iris planted in drainageways. The functional benefit is that they help to keep leaves out. They act like a standing rake or a grid that leaves can’t get past. But they are also beautiful.”

In both Kaul Wildflower and the Japanese Garden, plants like these are planted along runoff drains and function somewhat like a rain garden, controlling the flow of water.

“A rain garden is a landscaping technique using berms and swales (or a combination of depressions and raised areas), planted with water-loving plants, that will catch and retain water by design,” explained Keith.

Sometimes, it’s a matter of experimenting with different plants to find the one that best suits your garden’s needs. Keith described wanting to establish a border of shrubs along the top of Kaul, and at first decided to plant wax myrtle. Unfortunately, the myrtles needed a lot more water than what was available in that area. So they planted Chickasaw plum instead, and those trees are currently thriving.

“That’s all gardening is—responding to conditions,” said Keith. “Even when plantings fail, look at it positively. It gives you a new experience, and the opportunity to try out new ideas.”

“Yes, gardening is ever-changing,” replied Katelyn. “You can’t really go wrong. It’s a live-and-learn kind of experience. Even if you’re a complete novice, try something out, and then you’ll learn from your mistake.” It could lead to ingenuity.

AThe Joy of Learning

How the Friends' educational offerings inspire lifelong learners to explore, reflect, and grow

By SEBASTIAN ORTIZ MUÑOZ

t age 65, Friends’ member Kathy Hagood spends her days with a magnifying loupe, sketchbooks, and BIC pens stuffed into the pockets of her gardening vest, crouched in her yard, inspecting the tiny, weedy flowers that bloom and taking photos to identify them with her iNaturalist app. She tracks environmental changes in her phenology wheel journal, and sometimes searches for songbirds with her binoculars.

“When I keep looking, I see more and more beauty and complexity. The miraculous and astounding often stay hidden if I only take a cursory glance,” said Kathy.

These quiet fascinations have always been a part of Kathy, a retired journalist fueled by curiosity. As a child, Kathy loved exploring her neighborhood in Homewood with her parents and grandparents. Her fondest memories are of capturing fireflies, collecting tadpoles, and carefully pinching the end of a honeysuckle blossom to drink its sweet nectar. As an adult, the mundane world kept her busy, but after her mother's recent passing, Kathy felt a pull to reconnect with the earliest joys she shared with her family.

“My mother and I were very close, and I did a lot of caregiving for her during the final seven years of her life,” said Kathy. “My healing journey following her death led me to more actively investigate Alabama’s native habitats, plants, and wildlife. I want to explore this state I call home and learn how I can help bolster its biological diversity.”

love for these symbiotic organisms, my fellow participants and I were fascinated,” said Kathy. Equipped with a magnifying loupe and surrounded by others equally enthused, she began to see life on a smaller, more intricate scale. “I tell people the class changed my life!”

wildflowers are truly lovely when you take the time to look at them closely.”

Inspired, she is now experimenting with planting native species in her yard. “I’m finally taking up gardening at 65. It’s never too late to begin learning something new,” said Kathy. She often references the book It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again by Julia Cameron. This encouraging read is for students who are embarking on their “second act.”

Her desire for exploration brought her to the Gardens and the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ education programs. Her very first class, “The Weird and Wonderful World of Lichens,” was a revelation. “Taught by an Auburn professor with a contagious

Since then, Kathy has become a familiar face in our nature classes, attending classes on field journaling, bird watching, and biodiversity. Another defining moment came during the 2025 Native Plant Conference’s Kaul Wildflower Garden tour led by Friends’ Senior Horticulturist Keith Turney. By touring the garden, she discovered the subtle beauty of Alabama’s native wildflowers. “I would have overlooked them because they are not as showy as roses or dahlias. I now see that native

Kathy is part of a growing number of lifelong learners attracted to the Friends’ educational offerings, which span a range of subjects, including plant sciences, gardening, and botanical arts.

“We design our programs to spark curiosity and cultivate a deeper connection with the Gardens and the natural world,” said Friends’ Adult Education Associate Kendra Poleshek. “It’s incredible to see participants like Kathy discover or rediscover their sense of wonder.”

A recent national survey by the Pew Research Center highlights the growing popularity of lifelong learning: 73% of American adults consider themselves lifelong learners, and 74% have pursued learning activities in the past year to deepen their knowledge in a personal area of interest. And 69% say their learning opened up new perspectives about their lives.

“It’s gratifying to learn something new about the natural world, because it helps you better appreciate the world’s miraculous design. I’ve always felt a spiritual connection and a sense of something larger than myself when I’m in a beautiful outdoor place. It’s a healing, whole feeling just to be a human being in nature, quietly observing,” said Kathy.

Photos bySebastian Ortiz Muñoz and journals by Kathy Hagood

ABOVE, TOP ROW: Kathy enjoys identifying birds she spots throughout the Gardens. • During a recent class, she and fellow participants learned to spot and identify lichens in the Gardens’ woodlands. MIDDLE ROW: A glimpse into one of Kathy’s many field journals, showing an illustration of a saucer magnolia in Rushton Garden. • Kathy draws what she sees, identifies the plants, and writes haikus that correspond with the illustrations. • Flowering yellow trumpet pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata). BOTTOM ROW: Kathy searches through the Merlin Bird ID app for a bird she recently observed. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology developed the app as a free tool for identifying birds by their songs, photos, or descriptors. This and the iNaturalist app are an easy means of participating in citizen science. • A phenology wheel showing different environmental changes that Kathy observed. OPPOSITE: Kathy attends the “Getting to Know Tomatoes” class in the Outdoor Classroom.

JUNE/JULY/AUGUST

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Dig into your garden knowledge with the Friends! Notice how the bees flit from flower to flower, learn the benefits of companion planting, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of our stumpery garden. Register at bbgardens.org/classes 1 2

1. FIELD JOURNALING WITH FRIENDS

Select Wednesdays | 8–10 a.m.

June 18, July 23, August 13

Location: Meet at the Gardens’ entrance in Blount Plaza

Join teaching artist and naturalist Melissa Shultz Jones for our early morning field journaling series. Each month, you are invited to explore a different aspect of plant life in the Gardens and a new watercolor technique. You can sign up for any number of workshops, but sign up early, as group sizes will be intentionally small. Participants will provide their own journal. Watercolors and pencils will be provided. Bottled water, hat, and sunglasses are recommended.

Cost per class: $30 (Members)

$35 (Nonmembers)

2. HYDRANGEAS FOR A SOUTHERN GARDEN

Tuesday, June 24 | 1–2 p.m.

Location: First Floor Conference Room

David Doggett, advanced master gardener and current president of the Alabama Hydrangea Society, will introduce you to the defining characteristics and pros/cons of the five main classes of hydrangeas we typically see in Southern gardens. You will learn about the effects of climate change on plant selection and which plants your pollinator population prefers.

Cost: $20 (Members) | $25 (Nonmembers)

3. CREATING A MOON GARDEN

Thursday, July 10 | 1–2 p.m.

Location: Hodges Room

Alabama Advanced Master Gardener Dianna Fortner invites you to the enchanting world of enjoying your garden at night and outlines the process for creating a moon garden from plant selection to creating and executing a garden plan. Characterized by white flowers, silver foliage, and fragrant plants, moon gardens create a magical, ethereal atmosphere that serves as a

sanctuary from the searing heat of summer and the busyness of the day.

Cost: $20 (Members) | $25 (Nonmembers)

4. BUILDING A BEE HOTEL

Tuesday, July 15 | 1–3 p.m.

Location: Outdoor Classroom

Bee boxes, or bee hotels, can be used to attract pollinators to your garden. In this informative, hands-on workshop, Friends’ volunteer group leader John Markus will review guidelines for constructing and maintaining an attractive nesting site for

Photos by Graham Yelton and Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz

several varieties of solitary bees, which, unlike honeybees, do not rely on a hive for nesting. The group will collaborate on constructing safe, clean, and productive bee hotels to be placed on the grounds of the Gardens. Step-by-step plans for constructing your own bee hotel will also be provided.

Cost: $40 (Members) | $45 (Nonmembers)

5. IDENTIFYING AND ERADICATING INVASIVE PLANTS

Thursday, July 17 | Noon– 1:30 p.m.

Location: First Floor Conference Room Chinese wisteria, English ivy, periwinkle, nandina, and kudzu are only a few of the invasive, non-native plant species that threaten the Alabama landscape. Join Director of Land and Water Conservation for Jefferson County Greenways Charles Yeager to learn how to correctly identify invasive species and develop an effective treatment plan to tackle invasives threatening your home landscape.

Cost: $25 (Members) | $30 (Nonmembers)

6. HOSTAS, THE SHADE-LOVING PERENNIAL

Tuesday, July 29 | 1–2 p.m.

Location: First Floor Conference Room

Are you searching for a plant that will produce beautiful blooms in the shade? Hostas are very hardy perennials beloved for their lovely shades of green and chartreuse foliage, cascading form, and easy maintenance. Learn about this shadeloving perennial and how to use it in your garden with Advanced Master Gardener Bionca Lindsey.

Cost: $20 (Members) | $25 (Nonmembers)

7. AIR LAYERING: PROPAGATING DIFFICULT-TO-ROOT PLANTS

Friday, August 1 | 9–11 a.m.

Location: Cultural Pavilion in the Japanese Garden

For some plants, cuttings and other forms of propagation can fail, especially for azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and other woody plants. Unlock the secret to an effective propagation method for difficult-to-root plants with Friends’ horticulturist Julia Adams. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn about the science behind air-layering and practice the technique on plants throughout the Japanese Garden.

Cost: $40 (Members) | $45 (Nonmembers)

8. COMPANION PLANTING: INVITING INSECTS TO YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN

Tuesday, August 5 | 10–11:30 a.m.

Location: Adventure Classroom Insects can be valuable additions to a garden, playing crucial roles in pollination, pest control, soil condition, and a healthy ecosystem. Join Lee County Extension Agent Dani Carroll to learn about the importance of plant diversity and how to select appropriate pairings of flowers, vegetables, and herbs.

Cost: $25 (Members) | $30 (Nonmembers)

9. TOMATO TASTING IN THE GARDENS

Thursday, August 7 | Noon–1:30 p.m.

Location: Outdoor Classroom

In this fun and informational sharing session, participants are invited to swap growing tips alongside Friends’ horticulturists Julia Adams and Katelyn Bahr who will address various tomato growing conundrums. Participate in our second annual tomato tasting by bringing homegrown tomatoes to sample and cast your vote for this year’s best-tasting variety!

Cost: $25 (Members) | $30 (Nonmembers)

10. THE CREATION OF A STUMPERY GARDEN

Friday, August 15 | 9–10:30 a.m.

Location: Adventure Classroom

In this inspiring class, members of the Birmingham Fern Society will demonstrate how they created “Living Roots,” a stumpery garden within the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Fern Glade. You will learn about the inspiration for the garden, the steps involved in its construction, and how to select ferns and fern companions to create your own stumpery garden.

Cost: $25 (Members) | $30 (Nonmembers)

11. GARDEN FEATURES FROM SOUTHERN SPAIN TO OUR SOUTHERN STATES

Friday, August 22 | 11 a.m.–noon

Location: Hodges Room

Small walled gardens, water features, shade structures, and ornamental tiles are all common features of Southern gardens introduced to the Southeast by Spanish explorers and colonists in the 16th century. Travel back in time and across the globe— from the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., to the reflecting pool at the Alhambra in Granada—with Master Gardener and Professor Emeritus Susan Hagen as we discover the sources of garden design elements that often occur in our region.

Cost: $20 (Members) | $25 (Nonmembers)

NATURE TRIVIA

Tuesdays: June 3, July 1, August 19 7–9 p.m.

Location: Rushton Garden

Do you know how many generations it takes for monarch butterflies to migrate from Mexico to Canada? Or which plant is an antidote for poison ivy? Join naturalist Henry Hershey for an evening of trivia in Rushton Garden, enjoy complimentary drinks, and learn something new. Whether novice or expert, all are welcome to compete for a chance to win a prize.

Cost: $15 (Members)$20 (Nonmembers)

Photos by Susan Hagen, C armen

Michael, and Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

The Library at the Gardens is a wonderful resource for nature enthusiasts, families, and anyone who wants to learn more about gardening. Bring your Jefferson County library card to check out books. Visit the Library 9 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays.

THYME TO READ

A monthly book club

Select Tuesdays I 4 p.m.

Location: Library at the Gardens

Free and open to the public

Tuesday, June 3

The Mind of a Bee by Lars Chittka

Tuesday, July 1

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger

Tuesday, August 5

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson

Children’s Summer Camps

AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

MAY 27–JULY 25

Children’s Summer Camps

MAY 27–JULY 25

AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

FOR AGES 4–12

MAY 27–JULY 25

FOR AGES 4–12

Give your child a chance to explore the Gardens’ summertime wonders. With fun themes like Nature’s Kitchen, Treasure Collectors, Tropical Paradise—and more—our half-day summer camps are designed to promote creativity and the joy of discovery in the beautiful setting of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

FOR AGES 4–12

NATIVE PLANT CONFERENCE RECAP

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens was delighted to host the biennial Native Plant Conference on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. There was a warm feeling of camaraderie and purpose among the gardening enthusiasts, professionals, and experts who gathered at the Gardens to immerse themselves in the world of native plants.

Our theme for 2025, “Ecological Landscapes,” emphasized the transformative power of planting with native species in order to conserve biodiversity. Renowned landscape design experts, horticulturists, conservationists, and visionary thinkers offered fresh perspectives on integrating ecological principles in garden design. Their engaging presentations covered a range of topics including creating nature-inspired gardens, protecting Alabama’s endemic plant species, beautifying urban landscapes, and propagating native plants. Afterward, a harvest-to-table dinner provided attendees with the opportunity to meet our speakers and extend conversations started earlier in the day.

On the second day of the conference, participants could choose from outdoor expeditions to the Gardens’

own Kaul Wildflower Garden or Turkey Creek

Nature Preserve, a Jefferson County Greenways site. Attendees investigated the flora and ecology of our wildflower garden and toured Turkey Creek’s plant propagation nursery in addition to learning about the plant and animal life preserved there.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors, speakers, volunteers, and attendees for making this year’s Native Plant Conference a resounding success. We hope that the knowledge and insights gained during the conference will help you in your future endeavors as stewards of the natural world.

We hope to see you in our education classes and events in the future.

Rebecca Stivender

Director of Education & Community Engagement

Kendra Poleshek

Education Associate for Adult Programs & Personal Enrichment

Photos by Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz, Kendra Poleshek, and Graham Yelton

ROOTED IN COMMUNITY 2025

The Friend’s Rooted in Community program kicked off in May, as we welcomed the 2025 awardees to the Gardens for an orientation luncheon. Rooted in Community is designed to help organizations take practical steps toward improving and beautifying public spaces. Projects may include grassroots beautification projects, community gardens, pollinator projects, sustainability initiatives,

edible gardens addressing food insecurity, therapeutic horticulture, and other similar efforts. Participants receive a $500 monetary award that may be used to facilitate a project. Our goal is to encourage community involvement in projects that enhance our neighborhoods, help foster connections within our community, and contribute to civic pride.

ROOTED IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS

Gardening Education–Birmingham Urban Gardeners • Birmingham Work Release Center Gardens–Books to Prisons • CSM Garden Center–Christian Service Mission • Project Full Plate–Creative Enrichment, Inc. • Food Forest–Holt Community Garden • WWII Memorial Garden–Norwood Neighborhood Association • Student Gardening Club Projects–Oak Mountain Middle School • Alphabet Garden Upgrade–PreSchool Partners • Renew Harvest Urban Farm–Renew Birmingham • Erosion Project–Saint Rose Academy • Therapeutic Horticulture–South Highland Adult Day Care Center • Sensory and Dye Garden–Studio by the Tracks • Refurbishing Tools for West End Garden–Urban Ministry • Family Gardens–YWCA

MEET OUR 2025 INTERNS

We are delighted to announce the arrival of our summer interns! They will lend a hand during our busiest season, study our native flora, and gain valuable hands-on experience in public horticulture.

HANNAH WOMBLE

Hannah recently graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South, and currently works in their research lab, investigating environmental risk factors and their impacts on proteins within and outside cells. “I am excited to be involved in the hands-on operations of the Gardens!”

HUNTER FOSKO

“When I think of what I would like to pursue as a career, I immediately think of one where I can share my joy and knowledge of plants with the public, and how I can help them to become as passionate as I am.”

For Hunter, this internship embodies her dream career and is an excellent stepping stone to her future endeavors. As a recent graduate of Auburn University, Hunter previously interned at Denver Botanic Garden and brings over six years of experience as a plant caretaker.

ALEXANDER RAFFETTO

Alexander is a recent graduate of William & Mary University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a focus on plant sciences. He currently works in their lab assisting with research projects, including his independent research project to establish a first-ever study of baseline fungal diversity in Williamsburg, Virginia. “In this internship, I hope to continue my career doing research to aid rare or threatened species of plants.”

ROSÉ IN THE ROSES 2025

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Junior Board hosted a successful Rosé in the Roses event on May 6, raising funds for our summer internship program through sponsorships, ticket sales, and in-kind support. Presented by Shoal Creek Properties in the stunning Dunn Formal Rose Garden, the fundraiser featured rosé provided by Finch Fine Wines and live music amid the roses in bloom. The Junior Board extends its sincere gratitude to all who attended in support of our internship program, which gives college students the opportunity to gain practical experiences toward a career in public horticulture.

TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS!

THANK YOU

Presenting Sponsor: Shoal Creek Properties I Wine Sponsor: Finch Fine Wines I Olympiad: Bham Now I Pierrine: ViVa HealtH Sunsprite: Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Mr. Rick & Mrs. Emily Carpenter, Occasions with Symone Shaw, Sarah & William Slaughter I Petal: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Burr & Forman LLP, Mr. Joseph Echols & Dr. Thomas Swain, Ignite Cycle, Partners Tax & Accounting, Salon U, WILCO Hospitality I Floral Sponsor: Wild Things

Plant the Seeds for Your Lasting Legacy at the Gardens

JOIN OUR PERENNIAL LEGACY GIVING CIRCLE

You can help us perpetuate the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and all that it means to our community and region by including the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens in your planned giving. Every gift makes an impact. Please consider designating the Friends as a beneficiary of your estate through your will, charitable trust, or retirement beneficiary designation. We are grateful to all who have made this special commitment. Please join them in supporting and protecting this beloved community resource. Call Director of Development Penney Hartline at 205.414.3950, ext. 103, to learn more.

THE PERENNIAL LEGACY GIVING SOCIETY

As of May 1, 2025

Recognizing those who have made or pledged a planned gift

Mr.* & Mrs. Edgar G. Aldridge

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Balliet

Ms. Camille A. Becker

Mrs. Lucille S. Beeson*

Orrin Ford* & Peggy Bonfield

Ida C. & D. Joseph Burns*

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur I. Chenoweth*

Mary Carolyn Gibbs Cleveland

Suzanne G. Clisby

Dr. & Mrs. D.C. Coston

Mrs. Martha Stone Cobb Daniel*

The Daniel Foundation of Alabama

Dr. L. Aubrey* & Elizabeth Drewry

The Dunn-French Family

Dr. John D. Elmore*

Martha B. & Robert L. Eskew*

Mrs. Trudy Evans

Mr. & Mrs. Wally Evans

Mrs. Claire H. Fairley*

Bernadine Rushing Faulkner

Mr. F. Lewter Ferrell, Jr.*

Dorothy Ireland Fletcher*

Dr.* & Mrs. Charles P. Grant

Patti Hammond

Jody & Don Hamre*

Penney & Roger Hartline

Mr. R.R. Herbst*

Mrs. Jimmie Hess*

Mr. J. Ernest Hill &

Mrs. Ora Lee Hill*

Mrs. Jane Hinds

Fay B. Ireland*

Dr. Susan Jackson

Mr. George L. Jenkins

Bobbe & Hugh Kaul*

Ms. Pamela Kaul*

Fran Lawlor

Sallie Lee*

William Brock Lewis

Dr. Bodil Lindin-Lamon*

Hope Long

Dr. Michael E. Malone

Annie Lee Buce Matthews*

Ms. Louise T. McAvoy*

Douglas A.* & Linda P. McCullough

Margaret H. McGowan*

Anne & Ira Mitchell

Mrs. Mary Jean Morawetz

Mr. Philip Morris*

Thelma Vaughan Mueller*

Mr.* & Mrs. Fred W. Murray, Jr.

Don & Pat Nelson

Dr. James L. Newsome*

Dr. & Mrs. A. I. Perley*

LeAnne* & Steve Porter

Mrs. Carol P. Poynor

Mrs. Dorothy L. Renneker*

Deborah & John Sellers

Sandra S. Simpson

Mr. & Mrs. William M. Spencer III*

Frederick R. Spicer, Jr.

Mr. Douglas Arant Stockham

Janet & Jarry Taylor

Dr. Wendell H. Taylor, Sr.*

Lucille “Lucy” Ryals Thompson*

Mrs. Barbara D. Thorne*

Dr. & Mrs.* Jack W. Trigg, Jr.*

Mrs. Carolyn D. Tynes*

Mrs. Ann H. “Nancy” Warren*

Mrs. Robert Wells

Louise Wrinkle

Anonymous (3)

*Deceased

Thank you for your support!

We sincerely appreciate your generous support, as every contribution can have a significant impact! There are so many ways you can participate: membership, annual donations, memorials and tributes, legacy giving, as well as by volunteering, shopping our plant sales, and joining us for an educational program or special event. Please get involved in the Friends and visit often—we love seeing you! Thank you for giving back to sustain the Gardens.

—Penney Hartline, Director of Development

HONORARIUMS

Feb.–April 2025

Julia Adams Forest Park Garden Club

Tempie Brunson, Edgewood Garden Club President

Edgewood Garden Club

Zoe Cassimus

New Era Study Club

Margaret Cobbs

Little Garden Club of Birmingham

Stephen Colvin

Mr. R. Dan Colvin

Susan Colvin, Beau & Alice Whatley

April Hall

Little Garden Club of Birmingham

Inverness Ladies Garden Club

Ladies of Inverness Gardens

Hope Reamer’s wedding

Mr. Benjamin Kraft

Tom Roberts

Perky Planters Garden Club

Paige Stumph

Ms. Sarah Carranza

Emma Thompson

Edgewood Garden Club

MEMORIALS

Feb.–April 2025

Caroline Yates Middleton

Amason & Thomas “Tommy”

Gilbert Amason, Jr.

Dr. & Mrs. David H. Jackson

Maud Gisele Coirier Belser

Mr. & Mrs. C. Coleman Daniel II

Samuel Luke Cawood

J. William McFarland, Jr.

Margaret Karpeles Clements

Mary England & David Proctor

Hayden Hope Doores

Mr. & Mrs. Miles Walding

Martha Bonner Eskew & Robert L. Eskew, Sr.

Mr. & Mrs. John R. Eskew

Catherine “Cathy” Ruth

York Francis

Carol & Charlie Waites

Mary Louise Shirley Hodges

Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey H. Cohn

Adelaide Braswell Kendrick Snippers Garden Club

Martha Jane Williams Kenney

Mr. & Mrs. William A. Bowron, Jr.

Lee Wilson Marks Snippers Garden Club

Margot Kessler Marx

Ms. Caroline Brown

Rose Minelle Thomason McNair

Ms. Karen Viars

James Frederick “Fred” Powell

Mrs. Mollie W. Cox

Frances Blackwell Robinson

Snippers Garden Club

Bari Mazer Roseman

Mr. Evan Brooks Roseman

Peggy Morgan Shafferman

Mr. Stanley Shafferman

Francis Lewis Underwood

Mr. & Mrs. William A. Bowron, Jr.

To make a gift honoring or remembering a loved one while also supporting the Gardens, please go to bbgardens.org/donate.

3 4 5

AROUND THE GARDENS

Native Fruit Trees & Shrubs

Summertime is the season when fruit starts bursting into all sorts of vibrant colors and richly varied flavors. These fruit trees and shrubs are native to Alabama, and you can find them right here in the Gardens. Besides being a delicious source of vital nutrients for birds, wildlife, and humans, these native plants are pollinator friendly and beneficial to our unique local ecosystem—one of the most biodiverse in the nation.

By CASSIA KESLER

1. RIVERFLAT HAWTHORN (Crataegus opaca)

Japanese Garden

At the start of the summer, the hawthorn tree’s delicate pink flowers transform into a renowned Southern delicacy: the Mayhaw fruit. Tart and sweet, this bright red berry is used in jellies, sauces, and baked goods. Both the fruit and blossoms of this remarkable plant are renowned for their health benefits. This hawthorn thrives in wetland areas, near rivers or swamps.

2. AMERICAN ELDERBERRY (Sambucus canadensis)

Kaul Wildflower Garden

Both elderberry flowers (also known as elderflower) and berries are edible, although cooking the fruit is recommended to avoid toxicity. The small, dark purplish-black berries are used to produce elderberry syrup, which has been used as a cold and flu remedy for

centuries. A beloved plant for pollinators, elderberry can grow in both wet and dry conditions and can be used for erosion control.

3. PAWPAW (Asimina triloba)

Barber Alabama Woodlands

The pawpaw is a fascinating native tree that produces the largest edible fruit native to North America, with a creamy texture and a tropical flavor. The fruit usually falls from the tree before ripening to a golden-green color. It can be eaten right out of the rind, after removing the large black-brown seeds. The pawpaw inspires a loyal fan following, and there are even regional festivals dedicated to the sweet and tart delicacy.

4. CHICKASAW PLUM (Prunus angustifolia)

Kaul Wildflower Garden

Chickasaw plum trees are a favorite among

landowners and conservationists for their showy spring blooms and their ability to provide food and cover for wildlife. Their dense, shrubby growth pattern provides essential cover for nesting birds and can also be used for soil stabilization. The plums turn from yellow to a purplish red as they ripen and are used in jams and tarts.

5. AMERICAN PERSIMMON (Diospyros virginiana)

Kaul Wildflower Garden

Persimmon trees are adaptable and hardy in cold weather and poor soil conditions. Their bell-shaped buttery yellow flowers attract all sorts of pollinators. It’s also a host plant for many moth species, including the luna moth and hickory horned devil. The bright orange fruit tastes best once it has fully ripened, which usually doesn’t happen until autumn, but the flavor—incredibly rich, deep, sweet, and complex—is worth the wait!

2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, Alabama 35223

205.414.3950 bbgardens.org

Thank you for your commitment to this community treasure. Your support is vital for the Gardens and those we serve. Please renew or upgrade your membership at bbgardens.org/membership.

The perennial border shows off a variety of blooms from March through November. This spring it was filled with snapdragons, beardtongues, phlox, and irises. The sculpture “Genesis” by Chris Ramsey was created in honor of Gary McCalla, former editor of Southern Living Magazine.

The Garden Dirt is printed using vegetable-based inks. Please recycle.