The Garden Dirt

FOR FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

NATURE’S playground

How the Gardens Help Grow Children’s Minds, Bodies, and Hearts

Seasonal Hours

Don’t forget! Birmingham Botanical Gardens is open every day of the year! Fall/winter hours are 7 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Be sure to explore its wintertime wonders—because of your support and commitment, the Gardens is a magical place year-round.

This Holiday Season (and Throughout the Year) 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: BIRMINGHAM • SWEET PEAS GARDEN SHOP VIVATIA PLANTCARE 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.

Ginny Willings

John G. Wilson

Joseph M. Echols III

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.

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

Penney Hartline Director of Development

Parker Henson Volunteer Coordinator

Ashleigh Jones Communications & Marketing Associate

Cassia Kesler Director of Communications & Marketing

Ashely Grace Passey Programs & Registration Coordinator

Terry Phillips Horticulturist–Kaul Wildflower Garden

Kendra Poleshek Education Associate Adult & Personal Enrichment Programs

Drew Rickel Donor Relations Officer

Kensley Sandlin Development Associate

Ianthe’ Smith Community Engagement Associate

Rebecca Stivender Director of Education & Community Engagement

Jane Underwood Director of Gardens Support

Editor: Cassia Kesler

Art Design: Ellen Padgett

Cover & Lead Photos: Carmen Michael

Contributors: Dawn DeFrank, Penney Hartline, Molly Hendry, Ashleigh Jones, Carmen Michael, Sebastian Ortiz Muñoz, Kendra Poleshek, Drew Rickel, Quez Shipman, Rebecca Stivender, Graham Yelton Staff

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,

As the year draws to a close, we have so much to be thankful for! It has been quite a remarkable year of growth and opportunity for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, in support of this community treasure. We’ve forged new community connections, made significant improvements to the Gardens, and educated a new generation of plant enthusiasts through field trips and summer camps. Events such as the biennial Native Plant Conference and special guest lectures brought fresh awareness to the importance of environmental conservation and have introduced us to horticultural pursuits just waiting to be explored.

Our inaugural Rooted in Community program supported local organizations who are improving green spaces around the Birmingham metro area, providing them with a network of folks who are working toward the same goal. Read more about the participants’ efforts on page 19.

We are grateful to be partnering with three other organizations across the State of Alabama to offer STEM programming here at the Gardens in a variety of ways, through our children’s summer camps, Discovery field trips, and educational resources offered through the Library at the Gardens. Read more about these endeavors on page 2.

Our Spring and Fall Plant Sales demonstrated an exceptional level of volunteerism and dedication. We are so grateful to our many volunteer groups, who spend months preparing for these events by carefully cultivating and lining up plants best suited for our region. These fundraising efforts not only bolster the Friends’ mission, but they also bring together people of all ages and walks of life to celebrate a common passion for plants and gardening.

Our biggest fundraiser, Antiques at the Gardens, continues to be an ambassador for Birmingham, drawing international attention to our city. We extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it a huge success. It was a beautiful, awe-inspiring weekend!

It doesn’t stop here though—we have much to look forward to in the coming year! Look for hints of what’s in store throughout this issue. Thank you for the generosity and passion that help us to sustain this special place and all that it makes possible. May your holidays be filled with beauty, wonder, and joy.

Tom Underwood Executive Director,

Gift memberships to the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens are a wonderful way to celebrate friends and family while also supporting the Gardens. Member benefits include garden shop and program discounts and reciprocal benefits at over 360 other botanical gardens across North America. Wrap a member keepsake as part of your gift! Available for pickup weekdays. Last day to order gift memberships for mailing is December 5.

Nature’s Playground

How the Gardens Help Grow Children’s Minds, Bodies, and Hearts

ON ANY WARM, SUNNY MORNING AT A CHILDREN’S SUMMER CAMP IN THE GARDEN LAB AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL Gardens, you will find children engaged in various playful, educational activities that delight the senses and inspire the imagination. Two children armed with a tape measure and ruler eagerly search the small, enclosed garden, which is planted with herbs, vegetables, and native plants. They are on a scavenger hunt to find a plant that is exactly four inches tall. Across the garden, another child is working on a self-initiated challenge to connect a system of plastic tubes and hoses from the water pump beside the greenhouse to a watering can placed on the other side of the garden. Children are scattered around the space—some making mudpies; others drawing in nature journals; one group is chasing a grasshopper with a magnifying glass, hoping to see it up close. As the teacher begins to clean up, she asks one of the campers if he made anything at camp today. His face lights up, and he replies: “Yes, two new friends!”

This is STEM learning in action

STEM (an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education is an interdisciplinary approach that creates connection between different disciplines to increase engagement and learning retention. Research shows that this approach boosts children’s critical-thinking, problem-solving, observation skills, and adaptability. When children experience hands-on learning activities in a collaborative environment, their social development is enhanced as well as their cognitive abilities. In the context of a botanical garden, surrounded by the wonders of the natural world, STEM learning offers a deep, immersive connection to academic concepts and gives children a sense of care and responsibility for environmental stewardship.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens provides children, families, and school groups access to safe, beautiful green spaces to build relationships with nature and one another, available and accessible to all. In 2024, we hosted over 3,500 children and 241 teachers in STEM events and trainings, the majority offered at no cost. Offering STEM education to children and families advances the Friends’ mission to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens.

A once underutilized area of Birmingham Botanical Gardens has now become a hub for imagination,

observation, and exploration. The Garden Lab, part of the Arrington Plant Adventure Zone, is an enclosed garden located adjacent to the Garden Center’s education wing. Intended to be a learning space for all ages and abilities, the space is outfitted with a shaded outdoor classroom space, functioning greenhouse, wheelchair accessible sidewalk throughout, beds at varying heights to accommodate accessibility and age, a lawn for gathering, a weather station, and a rain barrel thoughtfully designed to fully sustain a garden of this size.

This work is done as part of a statewide STEM education initiative launched by Huntsville Botanical Garden in partnership with the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Bellingrath Gardens & Home in Theodore, Alabama, and the ATTA Library in Abbeville to support students and teachers in all parts of our state. The Friends collaborate on teacher professional development and STEM programs, sharing funding from the State of Alabama. We are grateful for those who have advocated for the funding to continue these programs year after year.

Tanisha Garnier is one parent who has been regularly visiting the Gardens since her child was a baby and has been involved in many of our STEM programs. “We started out going to the Library at the Gardens

Contributors: REBECCA STIVENDER AND CASSIA KESLER

Illustration by MOLLY HENDRY I Photos by CARMEN MICHAEL

STEM learning in the Gardens, surrounded by the wonders of the natural world, offers a deep, immersive connection to academic concepts and gives children a sense of care and responsibility for the environment.

"For children, having unstructured time outside, where they can explore on their own, within a safe space, is so valuable. They have so much energy, wonder, and curiosity inside them, and these sorts of activities are honoring of where they are developmentally."

—Tanisha Garnier, Summer Camps Teacher

and then later joined a homeschool group that meets there. We use our city and surroundings as a resource,” she said. “I tell all my friends with babies, ‘Go visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.’”

Recently, Tanisha has also taught summer camps at the Gardens, including “Nature’s Kitchen,” “Beneath the Surface,” and “Art in the Gardens.” “I really enjoy being with the children in the Garden Lab, being able to help them engage with different hands-on activities, including nature-based arts and crafts and tasting different vegetables harvested from the garden. Of course, my favorite part is being outside with the kids,” she said.

“The general posture as a teacher of exploring our curiosity together helps engage kids more in the learning process,” she continued. “Teaching them to love and enjoy being in nature is healthy for their brains and fosters wonder and respect for the world around us. It gives them a sense of place and teaches them to be observant and mindful.”

Thinking about what’s most valuable about a STEM-based education, Tanisha said, “It’s like teaching kids to solve problems with more tools available to them.”

Research shows that time spent in nature strengthens academic performance, focus, and curiosity. When children explore the natural world, they don’t just learn science, they experience it. Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers a variety of ways for children to experience STEM learning.

Field Trips:

The Friends has held a longtime partnership with Junior League of Birmingham to offer our Discovery Field Trips. Volunteers from the Junior League serve as our docents, and the funding allows us to offer the program free of charge to schools. Additionally, some of the funding is reserved to reimburse travel costs for Title I schools in Jefferson County. Students have a one-hour guided tour with instruction aligned with the Alabama Course of Study Standards. They

also have one hour to explore the Gardens on their own, equipped with a bag of materials to enhance their experience. “Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place to teach kids about nature and explore different areas,” said Karen Griffin, a dedicated docent. “As the Birmingham Junior League Chair for this placement, it is a real treat to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Gardens. No matter what age, the Gardens has something for everyone to explore and learn from.”

Summer Camps:

The Friends offers eight weeks of themed summer camps each summer. Students spend the first part of the morning exploring the Gardens. Then each group comes back to the Garden Center to rotate through a literacy activity, a STEM activity, and time in the Garden Lab. Themes range from “Garden to Table,” and “Enchanted Forest,” to “Backyard Wildlife,” and there are fresh, new themes and activities each year. Parents say that they appreciate how our camps provide time for their children to experience both guided and unstructured time outdoors and give them the opportunity to explore nature in a way they don’t often get to do at home.

Library:

Since joining this partnership, we have elevated the statewide quality and quantity of STEM resources available in the Library at the Gardens. We have refreshed the children’s area, including the collection of books, toys, and activities. We also added a significant number of new resources to our Parent and Teacher Resources area, making these available throughout the county as a member of Jefferson County Library Cooperative. Library and Information Services Manager Rachael Daughtry said, “The parent and teacher resources are such an important part of our collection. These resources allow patrons and visitors to expand on our mission of education, equipping them to teach our youngest visitors to love nature, science, and the world around them.”

Professional Development:

The Friends hosts professional development sessions for teachers to support plant-related STEM education. The training includes an overview of best practices in STEM education, time to collaborate with one another to develop lessons to take back with them, and an opportunity to think about their outdoor learning spaces in a different way.

Things you can do with the children in your life to support STEM at home:

1. Go outside and record how many species (plants, insects, and birds) you can find in your yard or neighborhood park. Then design a field guide.

2. Design and build a birdfeeder with materials you can find at home.

3. Create a paintbrush by clipping different natural materials to the end of a clothespin. Test them out and choose your favorite.

4. Build a family weather station using basic instruments (rain gauge, thermometer) and track daily conditions.

5. Use a citizen science app like iNaturalist to provide observations that professional scientists can use in their research.

TIP: Keep STEM learning playful, creative, and curiosity-driven by framing it as a question or a challenge to solve.

HERB BED

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

The Arrington Plant Adventure Zone (PAZ)

This space includes the Outdoor Classroom— a covered, open-air space where we offer year-round educational programs ranging from summer camps to gardening workshops, equipped with materials to inspire curiosity, imagination, and play.

There is also a Garden Lab with multiple garden beds, accessible to all, that invite visitors to connect with nature by engaging the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

white top pitcher plant NATIVES + BOG BED

husker's red penstemon

VEGETABLE BED

tomatoes peppers nasturtium

BED

black-eyed susans

• HERB BED: A wide variety of herbs, both culinary and medicinal, are planted here.

• VEGETABLE BED: Seasonal veggies are planted here. When selecting what to plant, we choose fruit and vegetables that can easily be eaten from the vine.

• SENSORY BED: Every garden is a sensory experience, but this bed has been planted specifically with touch and smell in mind.

• NATIVES + BOG BED: This bed is planted with pollinator-friendly species native to Alabama and the southeastern U.S., with a bog garden in the middle. The bog garden is irrigated with water from the rain barrel that stands in a corner of the Outdoor Classroom.

LOOK FOR THESE SENSORY-RICH PLANTS IN THE GARDEN LAB

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) Just a light pinch or brush of its sage-green foliage releases the clean and familiar scent of rosemary. This hardy shrub is drought- and heat-tolerant and is commonly used to add a piquant taste to many different culinary dishes. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.) Nasturtiums are hardy annuals with bright, colorful flowers and leaves that look like lily pads. The entire plant is edible, from the flowers to the roots, and has a slightly peppery taste (hence the

GREENHOUSE

LAWN

lavender

catmint

cuban oregano SENSORY

rosemary

salvia

thyme

“As public gardens, we serve as living museums that complement and enhance classroom learning, offering students and teachers the opportunity to see, observe, and engage with the natural world firsthand. Through robust STEM programming, all four locations provide a dynamic learning environment where educators can build confidence in teaching plant science and students can experience our spaces as immersive, living classrooms that inspire curiosity, deepen understanding, and foster a lasting connection to the natural world."

—Rebecca

Turk, Vice President of Learning and Public Engagement at the Huntsville Botanical Garden

name, which comes from a Latin phrase that means “nose-twister”.) They also help to repel insect pests, making them great for companion planting in a vegetable garden. Catmint (Nepeta spp.) While catmint is irresistible to cats, it repels rabbits and deer with its unique, pungent scent. It can be prepared as a tea to calm anxiety or soothe digestive issues. It also makes a beautiful ornamental addition to the garden (its growth habit is slightly tidier than that of catnip—a relatedyet-distinct species).

Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) Also known as Mexican mint, Cuban oregano is not actually a true oregano! It has a notable menthol scent and velvety leaves that are soft to the touch, reminiscent of sage or lamb’s ears plants. Husker’s Red Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Also known as foxglove beardtongue, penstemon is a pollinator favorite with its tall, tubular flowers. It loves full sun and is commonly found in meadows, prairies, and fields across the Southeast.

DISCOVERY FIELD TRIP

DECEMBER / JANUARY / FEBRUARY

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Explore the Gardens’ winter wonders by joining us for these educational offerings and community gatherings. Register at bbgardens.org/classes

WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP WITH SYBIL SYLVESTER

Sunday, December 7 | 2–4:30 p.m.

Location: Auditorium

Ring in the holidays with Sybil Sylvester, founder of Wildflower Designs, as she shares favorite tips for creating dazzling wreaths. Greenery and other materials will be provided, and participants will take home a wreath. This signature holiday event is hosted by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Junior Board, and proceeds benefit our summer internship program.

Cost: $115 (Members) | $125 (Nonmembers)

1. CARING FOR YOUR GARDENING TOOLS

Thursday, December 18 | 10:30 a.m.–noon

Location: Adventure Classroom

Winter is a great time to restore your wellloved gardening tools. Correctly caring for and maintaining your tools will increase their longevity and improve the health of your plants. In this hands-on workshop, Katelyn Bahr, horticulturist for our specialty gardens, will demonstrate how to properly clean, sharpen, and store hand tools. She’ll also introduce you to a few of her favorite “essential” gardening tools, which make great holiday gifts! Bring along your pruners, a trowel, loppers, or a soil knife to sanitize and sharpen during the class. Please refrain from bringing in any power tools or large items, such as a long-handled shovel or pitchfork.

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

2. MATCHA TEA MAKING: FROM LEAF TO BOWL

Thursday, January 8 | 5:30–7 p.m.

Location: Adventure Classroom

Explore the world of matcha—from how it’s grown and processed to the graceful rituals of the Japanese tea ceremony and its history in our city. Josh Haynes, chef at Alloy Thai, will demonstrate traditional techniques for preparing matcha alongside Ritsuko Asano, who has been teaching Urasenke tea for over 20 years. Participants will enjoy a mindful, hands-on experience with the opportunity to whisk their own bowl of tea.

Cost: $45 (Members) | $50 (Nonmembers)

Photos by Graham Yelton and courtesy of Bronson Lubreski

3. HAND-DRIED FLORAL WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP

Thursday, January 15 | 10 a.m.–noon

Location: Adventure Classroom

Immune to winter’s chill and the fading of the growing season, dried flowers bring warmth, texture, and a touch of wild beauty to your home. Tanis Clifton from Happy Trails Flower Farm will talk about her flower-drying process and demonstrate how to create charming winter arrangements and wreaths that last all season long. Each guest will be provided a 12-inch grapevine base to adorn using a thoughtful selection of hand-dried flowers from the farm.

Cost: $50 (Members) | $55 (Nonmembers)

4. HYDRANGEA WINTER PRUNING & PROPAGATION

Tuesday, January 20 | 10:30 a.m.–noon

Location: Adventure Classroom

Panicle and smooth hydrangeas are the two hydrangea species that bloom on new wood and benefit from annual late winter pruning. The pruning methods for these species differ, each tailored to achieve optimal plant form and maximum blooms. Advanced Master Gardener David Doggett returns to the Gardens to lead a hands-on workshop that will demonstrate the different pruning techniques and explain how plant stems removed in the pruning process can be prepared as hardwood cuttings for easy propagation of these hydrangeas.

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

5. BASICS OF BACKYARD COMPOSTING

Friday, February 6 | 11 a.m.–noon

Location: Adventure Classroom & Bruno Vegetable Garden

Learn how to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into rich, healthy compost for your garden. Alabama Urban Extension Agent Bronson Lubresky will cover composting basics, troubleshooting tips, and practical techniques to create nutrient-packed soil right in your backyard. Perfect for gardeners looking to reduce waste and boost garden health naturally.

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

6. PLANTING FOR OUR FUTURE: A HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO ECOLOGICAL GARDENING

Tuesday, February 10 | 11 a.m.–noon

Location: Adventure Classroom

Learn how native plants can transform your yard into a thriving habitat that supports pollinators, birds, and the larger food web. Join Sarah Wolak, co-owner of Nemophily Natives in Auburn, as she shares the ecological benefits of planting natives and offers practical tips for incorporating them into a beautiful, lifesupporting home landscape.

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

7. GROWING AN AFFORDABLE GARDEN

Wednesday, February 18 | 11 a.m.–noon

Location: Adventure Classroom

Gardening supplies and materials can often be a steep investment. In this class you will learn how to grow a beautiful, thriving vegetable garden without breaking the bank! Alabama Cooperative Extension Agent Bethany O’Rear will introduce simple money-saving methods along with her tried-and-true tips for growing vegetables at home. Perfect for gardeners of all levels looking to grow more while spending less.

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

8. THE FOUNDATIONS OF JAPANESE GARDEN DESIGN

Friday, February 27 | 1–2:30 p.m.

Location: Japanese Garden

Join Friends' horticulturist Julia Adams for a guided stroll through the Japanese Garden and discover the design principles that have shaped these timeless landscapes for centuries. You will learn how elements like water, stone, and plants work together to create harmony in the landscape.

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

ALLIED EVENTS

THE BIRMINGHAM CAMELLIA SHOW

Saturday, February 28

10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Camellia Society members will have blooms on display and all others who would like to bring blooms for display are welcome. Members will be available to help with plant identification and there will be a prize for Best In Show.

COMMUNITY SEED SWAP

Saturday, January 31

10 a.m.–1 p.m. Auditorium

Free and open to the public

Join the Library at the Gardens, a program of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, as we celebrate National Seed Swap Day with a community seed swap. Bring any open-pollinated, heirloom seeds you would like to share: locally saved seeds, specialty seeds, or excess seeds you have purchased. No seeds to share, but interested in learning more? You don’t have to bring seeds to participate. Discover tips and tricks for growing from seed, take-home information, and chat with others who share a love of seed saving.

Photos by Graham Yelton

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.

Please note: The Library will be closed December 24–28

THYME TO READ

A monthly book club

Select Tuesdays | 4 p.m.

Location: Library at the Gardens

Free and open to the public

Tuesday, December 2

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

Tuesday, January 6

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Tuesday, February 3

Rules for Visiting: A Novel by Jessica Francis Kane

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

FEATURING MARGOT SHAW, EDITOR IN CHIEF, FLOWER

FREE ADMISSION I LIMITED SEATING STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION

Join us next year for a summer travel experience in Ireland! Tour glorious Irish homes and gardens led by Mary Baskin and Cosmo Brockway with Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, May 30–June 6, 2026

For more information, please call 205-414-3950, ext. 103 or email phartline@bbgardens.org.

by Carmen Michael

Photos

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR 2026

Annual Member Celebration

Thursday, January 29 |

Reception: 5:30 p.m.

Annual Member Meeting and Presentation: 6–7 p.m. | Garden Center

FREE (Members) | $15 (Nonmembers)

Preregistration required: bbgardens.org/celebrate

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is pleased to welcome Jason Powell as the special guest speaker for our annual John A. Floyd Jr. Lecture Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and landscape design from Auburn University, and a master’s in horticulture from Texas A&M. He and his wife Shelley are the co-owners of Petals from the Past, a plant nursery located in Jemison, Alabama, along with Jason’s parents, Dr. Arlie and Gwen Powell. They specialize in antique roses, heirloom shrubs, and hard-to-find cottage perennials and herbs. They also produce a handful of classical varieties of vegetables and fruit trees. Their nursery is located on 45 acres, 17 of which have been developed as demonstration gardens, fruit gardens, growing facilities, and an educational facility.

JOHN A. FLOYD JR. LECTURE

Lifelong gardener, skilled horticulturist, and longtime editor in chief of Southern Living, whose commitment from 1981–2021 made a lasting impact at the Gardens, John was a driving force in the creation of our Southern Living Garden in 1981. While serving as Board chair, he oversaw the Gardens’ second master plan and the fundraising efforts that made it a reality. Through his work with Southern Living, he was instrumental in positioning Birmingham as an epicenter of Southern gardening, style, and hospitality. He continued that effort in retirement through tireless community service, volunteering weekly in the Japanese Garden, helping shape our latest master plan, and generously sharing his expertise, talents, and enthusiasm until his passing in 2021. The John A. Floyd Jr. Lecture seeks to honor his memory and passion, which live on in the garden spaces that he elevated and in the gardeners he inspired.

JASON POWELL

JOHN A. FLOYD, JR.

3 4

AROUND THE GARDENS

Native Winter Berries

By ASHLEIGH JONES

As autumn gives way to winter, many colorful berries at Birmingham Botanical Gardens provide a splash of color during a bleak season. While the fruit on several plants may look like berries, many a re botanically classified as “drupes,” which are fruits that typ ically hold one seed enclosed in a hard casing (i.e. peach, plum, cherry) while true berries have multiple seeds spread throughout the frui t (i.e. blueberries). Other fruits may be classified as a “pome,” which contain a core with seeds and fall within the Rosaceae family ( i.e. apples, pears). Whether drupe, pome, or berry, these fruits help migrating birds survive winter until spring beckons.

1. AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY (Callicarpa americana)

Prevalent across the Gardens

Also known as French mulberry, this plant is a deciduous perennial shrub. While its glossy magenta fruit look like berries, they are botanically classified as drupes, with one seed. The berries can be made into jellies and wine, and according to folklore, the crushed leaves can be used as an effective insect repellent. Many songbirds use beautyberry as a food source, and the genus name, Callicarpa, derives from the Greek words “kallos” meaning “beauty” and “karpos” meaning fruit. Together, they form “beautiful fruit.”

2. POSSUMHAW (Ilex decidua)

Blount Plaza, Kaul Wildflower Garden Possumhaw or deciduous holly is a peren-

nial shrub that yields red berry-like drupes and is a food source for small mammals like raccoons and opossums, as well as songbirds and gamebirds. Its common name comes from it being a favorite food for possums and “haw” comes from it being mistaken for hawthorn due to the fruit’s red color.

3. COMMON WINTERBERRY (Ilex verticillata)

Kaul Wildflower Garden, Bog Garden

genus name, Callicarpa, derives from the Greek words “kallos” meaning “beauty” and “karpos” meaning fruit. Together, they form “beautiful fruit.”

4. LITTLEHIP HAWTHORN (Crataegus spathulata)

Kaul Wildflower Garden

Littlehip hawthorn, also called spatulateleaved hawthorn, is in the Rosaceae family and has exfoliating or peeling bark—a popular ornamental feature in winter. Its red berries are a favorite among migrating birds like Cedar Waxwings, so as the berries ripen, there’s a good chance of seeing flocks of them descend onto the branches in a feeding frenzy!

The 19th annual Antiques at the Gardens was a lavish weekend of stunning interior design, exquisite floral artistry, and fascinating lectures by international experts. In recent years, the event has gained international recognition, attracting guests and participants from across the United States and beyond— helping the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens flourish in our mission to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens.

The four-day show was presented by 1919 Investment Counsel and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC with design sponsor Schumacher. Led by co-chairs Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Kathryn Dorlon, and Sarah Holbrook Slaughter, with a committee of over 200 dedicated volunteers, the event featured lectures by 17 internationally acclaimed interior designers, architects, and garden designers.

The weekend commenced with a spectacular display of décor and floral artistry at the blacktie Gala in the Gardens. The garden entryway designed by Father Nature Landscapes with elements from Architectural Heritage transported guests into an enchanting evening of dining and dancing under the stars. Sponsored by Jones Walker LLP & ServisFirst Bank, the Gala honored Sallie and Jim Johnson. The magical evening was orchestrated by Gala Co-chairs Laura Bartlett, Lindsey Ellis Beatty, and Symone Shaw-Denton.

During the weekend, patrons had the opportunity to shop exquisitely curated furniture, fine art, vintage and fine jewelry, silver, rugs and textiles, and home and garden accessories.

Keynote speakers included renowned interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard with Steele Marcoux, award-winning architect Ben Pentreath, and interior designer Marshall Watson. Other panels, led by moderators Dara Caponigro, Margot Shaw, and Hadley Keller, included some of the top experts in interior design, garden design, and architecture from across the nation. Guests also enjoyed fun, interactive workshops such as Shop the Show, a needlepoint session with Rudy Saunders, and a floral design workshop with Jimmie Henslee.

We had a wonderful weekend of warm hospitality at the Gardens, celebrating all things noteworthy in the world of home and garden design, from the amazing entryway design by Father Nature Landscapes, to the fascinating lectures and fun workshops, to the stunning assortment of curated antiques. We are so thankful to all who made this event possible. Big thanks to our presenting sponsors 1919 Investment Counsel and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, and design sponsor Schumacher.

Photos

Graham Yelton, Mary Margaret Smith, and Dee Moore

Gala in the Gardens 2025

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Gala honorees Sallie and Jim Johnson • Show and Gala Co-chairs Laura Bartlett, Symone Shaw-Denton, Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Kathryn Dorlon, Lindsey Ellis Beatty, and Sarah Holbrook Slaughter • Tony and Evelyn Jones SECOND ROW: Bo and Lauren Bledsoe • Anna Jackson, Jim and Anna Cooper • Vivian and Kelvin Terry THIRD ROW: Walter Body and Vanessa Falls • Cameron and Derrill Crowe • Jim and Katie Lasker, Marshall Watson, Margot and Gates Shaw FOURTH ROW: Jay Draper, Kendal Hubbard, Jeremy Greene, and Mark Thompson • Emily and Bill Bowron • Joy and Beau Grenier

Welcome New Staff!

We are pleased to share that the Friends created two new positions this year: Community Engagement Associate and Programs & Registration Coordinator.

ASHELY GRACE PASSEY

Ashely Grace serves as our programs & registration coordinator. She will help individuals and schools get involved in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ diverse array of educational programs. Prior to working with the Friends, she coordinated activities and field trips at The Exceptional Foundation and coordinated summer camps and retreats at Camp McDowell. Holding a love for the outdoors and quality programming, Ashely Grace is excited to encourage people to participate in the many programs the Gardens has to offer.

“I’m so happy to work somewhere that instills a love for nature in the youngest members of our community and offers lifelong learning opportunities. I can’t wait to learn alongside our students and get to know our instructors who are passionate about their fields of study!”

IANTHE’ SMITH

Ianthe’, whose name means “violet” or “purple flower” in Greek, is our community engagement associate. She earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and natural resources from Tuskegee University, and she is a certified Alabama Master Gardener. Previously, she worked in AmeriCorps to assist food justice initiatives such as food-based education, food security solutions, sustainability, and community engagement. In her role, she will help draw more people in the greater Birmingham area to the Gardens by creating events and initiatives relevant to the Friends’ mission and values. She enjoys meeting people from different communities, listening to their stories, and learning about their journeys.

“I am excited to strengthen the bridge between our gardens and communities in Greater Birmingham. I believe with our shared support and resources, we will form an impactful partnership.”

PARKER HENSON

Parker serves as our volunteer coordinator. Previously, Parker worked as volunteer coordinator for McWane Science Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a concentration in environmental health. She is also pursuing her master’s degree in environmental science management at Samford University, with the goal of working in environmental conservation, education, and policy development to support and inform communities on environmental decision-making.

“I’ve alwaysloved sharing my environmental knowledge and encouraging others to care for our planet. Working with the volunteers at the Gardens lets me do both while making a real, positive impact every day.”

ASHLEIGH JONES

Ashleigh joined the Friends as the communications & marketing associate. In her role, she will create content for The Garden Dirt quarterly, e-newsletters, the Gardens’ social media, and help tell the stories of this community treasure. A graduate of Samford University, she earned a degree in journalism with a biology minor. Prior to joining the Friends, Ashleigh worked as a reporter for Birmingham Business Journal where she wrote about companies, nonprofits, and the economic importance of agriculture in Alabama. She is excited to join the Friends’ team and hopes to spark curiosity about the natural world through her storytelling.

“I am eager to combine my love of writing and plants to spread the Friends’ mission and share the stories of this botanical wonder.”

Photos by C.W. Newell, Quez Shipman, and Graham Yelton

Taking Steps To Grow a Greener Birmingham

Celebrating a successful growing season with Rooted in Community participants

This past March, 15 organizations around the Birmingham metro area were selected to participate in the inaugural Rooted in Community micro-awards program, chosen from among over two dozen applicants. Each participant was awarded $500 towards their project, plus a free membership with the Friends. Over the summer, Friends’ staff and participants connected through a GroupMe chat app, sending updates and resources to each other, such as seeds, classes, and other tips. On October 22, we held a celebratory luncheon catered by Chef Ama, who prepared a beautiful lunch with a menu based on food grown in the participants’ gardens. They shared their stories, challenges, and inspiration. Here are some of the exciting projects they are working on.

Birmingham Urban Gardeners supports the District 1 Community Garden in Sun Valley. Johnnie Brown used the award funds to purchase additional fruit trees to expand their orchard and soil amendments. Books to Prisons is an outreach ministry of Canterbury United Methodist Church. They started a gardening club at Birmingham Work Release—the only time the residents can go outdoors. What started as two raised beds to beautify the entrance has grown into an active garden club growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs.

Christian Service Mission is an organization that helps to equip local churches in supporting their communities. They have a large garden with greenhouses and raised beds managed by John Sardin, who distributes vegetables and fruit to these partners. They used funds to purchase fruit trees, basic beekeeping equipment, and soil amendments.

Creative Enrichment is helping to establish Project Full Plate Community Garden in Fairfield to combat food insecurity for seniors. In a location where toxic chemicals have leached into the soil, they used funds to improve growing conditions with raised beds and container gardens in their high tunnel greenhouse.

Girls Inc. provides after-school activities for girls. The students often spend time in the garden as part of their STEM programming. Their project was focused on rain collection techniques and “watersmart gardening.”

Dorothy Leonard is on a mission to provide children with educational programming around gardening and nutrition in the Midfield/Holt area. She started the Midfield/Holt Community Garden at the fire station in her neighborhood. She used this funding to purchase materials for take-home gardening projects for kids.

Norwood residents banded together to

apply for funds to add plants to the space around the World War II monument in their neighborhood, to elevate and honor those it recognizes.

Middle-school student Beck Powers started a gardening club at Oak Mountain Middle School. For this project, he created a sensory garden to serve the students in the special education program at his school.

Preschool Partners has long maintained an alphabet garden on its front lawn, displaying each letter and a plant that begins with that letter. The plantings needed refreshing, and they added a fence to the space so that students could safely enjoy the garden, which is located on a busy road.

Renew Birmingham has launched a new initiative called “Renew Harvest” to combat food insecurity in the Ensley area. They used funds to create the infrastructure for raised beds in their urban garden.

Saint Rose Academy is situated on the side of Red Mountain. They have taken on an extensive project to fight erosion that threatens their grounds. They are using this project as an opportunity to teach students about erosion and land stewardship.

South Highland Adult Day Care was inspired by McCoy’s pilot project to purchase accessible raised beds so that their participants could garden. While McCoy purchased raised beds on wheels to make the activity accessible inside, South Continued on page 20

BIRMINGHAM URBAN GARDENERS

PRESCHOOL PARTNERS

GIRLS INC.

SAINT ROSE ACADEMY URBAN MINISTRY

CELEBRATION LUNCHEON

Highland has a small courtyard where participants can spend time outside gardening.

Studio by the Tracks is an art studio and gallery for adults and teens with autism. They used the funds to update their onsite dye garden that they use for various art projects.

Urban Ministry is a nonprofit in West End working to strengthen the community. They provide a pay-as-youcan café, an apprenticeship program, a building program that provides a pathway to affordable and sustainable housing, and a community garden. These funds supported Mr. Boyd’s work to provide fresh produce for the café and residents of the community.

YWCA Central Alabama Community Housing helps women, children, and families live with dignity in an affordable, supportive, and caring community. One of the residents used the funds to beautify a small patch of land alongside the building. In the future, she hopes to establish a community garden for fellow residents in a larger plot nearby.

“The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens wants to encourage local neighborhoods in their efforts to grow a greener Birmingham and foster a stronger connection between the people of Greater Birmingham and the natural world,” said Ianthe’ Smith, community engagement associate and Rooted in Community program coordinator. “Launching this program was our way to raise awareness of local resources while uplifting our mission.”

Plant the Seeds for Your Lasting Legacy at the Gardens

JOIN OUR PERENNIAL LEGACY GIVING CIRCLE

You can help us sustain 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 Nov. 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

Photos by Quez Shipman and Ashleigh Jones

Thank you for your support!

We are so very thankful for your generous outflowing of support this year. Through memberships, annual donations, memorials and tributes, and legacy giving, as well as attending and supporting our signature events, you make it possible for us to sustain our mission to protect, nurture, and share the Gardens’ many wonders for all to enjoy. We wish you and your family a happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2026!

—Penney Hartline, Director of Development

HONORARIUMS

Received Aug–Oct 2025

Laura Bartlett

Kelli & Norman Jetmundsen

Elizabeth Broughton

Kelli & Norman Jetmundsen

Mr. Hatton C.V. Smith

Logan DeBuys

Katherine & Forrest DeBuys

New York Life Insurance Company

Kathryn Dorlon

Alice & Matthew Jackson

Birthday of Aileen Guerrero-Keitt

Ms. Natalie Hughes

Penney Hartline

Alice & Matthew Jackson

Heather Chadduck

Beth Poindexter Luxe, LLC

Sally & Jim Johnson

Millie & Bill Hulsey

Mrs. John W. Poynor

Mr. & Mrs. Ree Sherer

Bob Koons

Ms. Cathy L. Robertson

Robin Owens

Mr. & Mrs. R. Logan Owens

Jaime Martinez

Mr. R. Dan Colvin

Susan Colvin, Beau Whatley & Alec Whatley

Kensley Sandlin

Alice & Matthew Jackson

Birthday of Donna Taylor

Ms. Lynn Heinzelman

Sharon D. Walker

Emily Bowron

Laura Williams

Edgewood Garden Club

MEMORIALS

Received Aug–Oct 2025

Peggy Gafford Balliet

George L. Jenkins

Martha Keenan Wade Bradford

Valley Offshoots Garden Club

Stanley Dowe Bynum

Dona & John Musgrave

Alberto Edgardo Chiesa

Ms. Bronwyn Mcinturff

Roger G. Clarke

Jennifer & Terry Joyce

Mavis & Lee Woulfe

Maria Isabel Mayté Montero

van Rysselberghe Coghlan

Ms. Dorothy Clopton

Herb Society of Alabama

Dr. & Mrs. Jaime Ronderos

Anne Pollard Conner

Beverly & Guy May

Ernest Cory

Mrs. Vivian Cory

Eva Smith Culverhouse

Mrs. Wanda Primm

C. Coleman Daniel II

Mrs. Linda M. Daniel

Kenneth Ray Dunnaway

Mr. Jonathan Cross

Martha Bonner Eskew & Robert L. Eskew, Sr.

Mr. & Mrs. John R. Eskew

Eleanor Blair Hassinger

Beverley Davies Harrell

Mrs. Harriet P. Heacock

Mrs. Caroline L. Nead

Matson Brumder Holbrook

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Socolof

Robert “Robby” Douglas Pierce, Jr. CoAdvantage SourcePointe

Michael “Mike” Steven Rivers

Mr. & Mrs. William C. Barclift III

Claudia & Daniel Hildreth

Robert “Bob” Adam Schleusner, Jr.

Mrs. Marjorie Forney

Connie Walker

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Crowson

Charles Lee Watkins

Catherine F. Danielou

Mrs. Dawn Hinds

Drs. Jeanne Hutchison & John Mayer

Prof. Pengfei Wang & Ms. Weiwei Li

Dorothy “Sky” Little Weldon

Mrs. Melody Patton

Virginia Giddens Yarbrough

Mr. & Mrs. Timothy G. Shultz

VOLUNTEER WITH THE FRIENDS

It takes a lot of hands to help maintain the Gardens, grow all the plants for two big plant sales, and support our programs and events! We are so thankful for our robust, dedicated team of volunteers. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer with the Friends, all are welcome—whether adult or teen, young professional or retiree, Master Gardener or plant novice. Our next volunteer orientation will be held on January 6. Sign up for one of three sessions: 8:30–10 a.m., noon–1 p.m., or 3:30–5 p.m. Sign up at bbgardens.org/volunteer.

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

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.

We are thrilled to have completed the renovation of the Herb Terrace this past fall. Thanks to Herb Army volunteers for helping us plant the lower section. Featured in the foreground, is African blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum). This perennial edible herb, part of the mint family with purple or deep lavender stems, leaves, and flowers can be used to make a unique, flavorful pesto. It’s also a pollinator favorite!

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