The Garden Dirt | Winter 2022 by Birmingham Botanical Gardens

WINTER 2022–23

the garden dirt FOR FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

GROWING FROM SEED

Participants in the Library at the Gardens’ Seed Exchange Program Share a Love of Seed Saving and Swapping

Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

WINTER 2022–23

2022 Board of Directors

Wally Evans ��.Chair John Smith T �� Immediate Past Chair D.C. Coston ��Treasurer Brian Barr ��Secretary Kirk Forrester �� Chair of Communications & Marketing Emily Bowron ��Chair of Development Caroline Little ��Chair of Education & Visitor Experience John Smith T ��Chair of Governance Norm Davis ��Chair of Government Relations Lee McLemore ��Chair of Operations

Members at Large

Derick Belden Uday R. Bhate Sharon Brown Stephanie Cooper Bob de Buys Eleanor Estes Wendy Evesque Helen Harmon Leigh Haver

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 our wintertime wonders—because of your support and commitment, the Gardens is a magical place throughout the seasons.

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.

BOTANICA • 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: BIRMINGHAM • SWEET PEAS GARDEN SHOP • WILD THINGS

Milan Ballard, 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 Stephanie Banks ��Chief Financial Officer Mindy Keyes Black ��Director of Communications & Marketing Dawn DeFrank �� Donor Services Coordinator Paige Goldschmidt….....................................Development Associate Amelia Haas ��Office Coordinator Ellen Hardy �� Education Program Coordinator Penney Hartline �� Director of Development Molly Hendry.................. Associate Director of Gardens Support— Horticulture Planning and Design Leader Jason Kirby ��Library Assistant & Archivist Dawn Coleman Lee �� Education Activities Specialist Hope Long ��Director of Library Services Tyler Mason �� Director of Education & Visitor Experience Alice Thompson Moore.................................Volunteer Coordinator Tina Nelson ��Accounting Clerk Félix Ortiz ….................. Communications & Marketing Associate Drew Rickel �� Donor Relations Officer Keith Turney…............Horticulturist—Kaul Wildflower Garden Jane Underwood ��Director of Gardens Support Editor: Mindy Keyes Black Art Design: Ellen Padgett Cover Story Photos: Carmen Michael, Graham Yelton Contributors: Susan Emack Alison, Dawn DeFrank, Ellen Hardy, Penney Hartline, Molly Hendry, Dawn Coleman Lee, Hope Long, Tyler Mason, Carmen Michael, Alice Thompson Moore, Dee Moore, Félix Ortiz, Drew Rickel, Quez Shipman, Graham Yelton ©2022 Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. All rights reserved. 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223 205.414.3950 | bbgardens.org communications@bbgardens.org

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.

Photos by Graham Yelton

Seasonal Hours

Beverley Hoyt Evelyn Jones Janet Kavinoky Blevins Naff Tiffany Osborne Sharon Sherrod Martha Emmett Sims Larry Thornton, Sr. Jesse Vogtle

WELCOME

Dear Friend, Nature’s wonders never cease to captivate us. They dazzle our senses, teach us about perseverance and resilience, and remind us that from even the tiniest of seeds, mighty trees grow. As the year draws to a close and cool-weather wonders prepare to take center stage here at the Gardens, we shine a special spotlight on those who are helping to preserve even the tiniest of seeds. The members of our Library Seed Exchange program are part of an ever-growing, grassroots community that is saving and swapping beloved varieties of flowers and vegetables, many of which easily could be lost, so future generations can discover them anew. As longtime gardener Dorothy Leonard notes, the joy is in the sharing. The same could be said of the Gardens and your support of our work here. Beginning with your annual membership and magnified through your honorary and memorial gifts, sponsorships of signature events such as Antiques at the Gardens, planned giving, and end-of-year gifts above and beyond your yearly membership, your commitment enables the Friends to play a critical role in keeping these beautiful and impactful Gardens growing for all to enjoy, year after year. Please accept our heartfelt thanks—your dedication makes so much possible! We have much in store for the New Year ahead. Our team is pleased to announce a theme for special programs and events: Our Uniquely Southern programming will highlight the many distinctive qualities, joys, and opportunities that we all enjoy so much about life in the South. As we celebrate the power of community and the importance of sense of place in our homes and gardens, we hope you will join us for the return of two signature programs: our annual Member Celebration, which will feature internationally acclaimed landscape architect and Birmingham native Thomas Rainer (Tuesday, January 31), and our biennial Native Plant Conference with native plant expert Doug Tallamy (March 10–11). We also look forward to welcoming modern plantsman, horticulturist, and award-winning author Kelly D. Norris for our 2023 Spencer Lecture (Thursday, March 16). During this season of gratitude, we wish you the happiest of holidays and thank you for helping us plant the seeds for a bright and joyful year ahead at the Gardens.

Tom Underwood Executive Director, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT

WINTER 2022–23

Our Beloved Holiday Tradition

Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ iconic poinsettia tree is an annual favorite that’s months in the making By WENDY WALLACE JOHNSON

For decades, visitors have flocked to the Gardens’ Conservatory to marvel at the holiday poinsettia tree created by Birmingham Park and Recreation staff. Standing at a lofty 16 feet tall, the tree towers over almost everything else in the three-story tropical house. With its 300 individual poinsettias, the tree is quite the statement piece, no small feat for this stately glass greenhouse that features ponytail palms, banana trees, and other flora from faraway lands.

GETTING STARTED

greenhouse, keeping them happy and healthy. Laborer Gary Bailey, Gardeners Juanita Turner and Robert Parker, Jr., and Vince Champion then break out their Santa skills, working from the top down, with lots and lots of ladder climbing. Each plant is handed up the tree to find its place.

The process requires finesse, care, and an eye for detail. Horticulture District Supervisor Adam Benjamin says it takes the team about five hours to gingerly place all 300 poinsettia plants.

ADAM BENJAMIN VINCE CHAMPION

Work on the tree commences in September, when Birmingham Park and Recreation staff members like Horticultural Specialty Grower Vince Champion start the growing process with poinsettia plugs that are only a few inches tall. From September until late November, they develop into the lush poinsettias needed for a beautiful tree.

JUANITA TURNER

ASSEMBLY GARY BAILEY

A PRESENT FOR ALL It all begins with a frame. The team assembles the metal support armature and connects the drip irrigation system that will water the plants as needed, depending on the temperature in the

ROBERT PARKER, JR.

When finished, the tree is a joy to behold and a family favorite for holiday photos. Stop by Tuesdays–Sundays during the month of December to see the beautiful creation.

Photos by Mindy Keyes Black

Grow your green thumb and explore the Gardens’ wintertime

WINTER 2022–23 CALENDAR

wonders by joining us for these fun and inspiring educational offerings. Learn more and preregister at bbgardens.org/calendar.

Cost: $10 per person

1. POINSETTIA PASTELS Thursday, December 1 | 4–5 p.m. Saturday, December 3 | 11 a.m.–noon Location: Adventure Classroom Cost per class: $15 (adult + child), $5 each additional family member Instructor: Elana Morchower We'll visit the Conservatory to allow you to experience the wonder of the Gardens’ poinsettia tree and use your inspiration to create poinsettias with pastels. Completed art pieces will be finished with a mat frame and ribbon. These are perfect for a keepsake or gift.

Poinsettias are a decorative staple throughout the holiday season. Learn how to care for this dynamic plant in the weeks ahead and after the season draws to a close, and make a paper craft to take home. 3. MAKE A DRIFTWOOD AIR PLANTER Wednesday, December 14 | 11 a.m.– noon Thursday, December 15 | 6–7 p.m. Location: Adventure Classroom Cost: $25 (Members) | $30 (Nonmembers)

2. POINSETTIA CARE & CRAFT Thursday, December 8 | 3–4 p.m.

Design a magnet or planter out of driftwood for your new air plant (Tillandsia spp.).

Location: Adventure Classroom

WREATH MAKING WITH CAROLYN CHEN OF WILD THINGS* Hosted by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Junior Board

Tuesday, December 6 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. Location: Hodges Room Cost: $50 (Members) | $60 (Nonmembers) Let florist Carolyn Chen, owner of Wild Things Flowers & Curiosities, help you ring in the holidays by joining us for this special wreath-making workshop at the Gardens. Add your own creative touches as Carolyn guides you and shares favorite tips. Greenery and other materials will be provided. bbgardens.org/wreath *Wild Things is one of 10 Birminghamarea garden centers, nurseries, and flower shops that participate in the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ member partner program. Members of the Friends enjoy 10% off vase arrangements at Wild Things in person or by phone; please have your current Friends membership card ready when placing your order.

Holiday Garden Book Guide

Looking for garden-themed inspiration this holiday season? Members of the Friends’ staff share top picks for gift giving (or your personal library) 1. FOR LANDSCAPE ENTHUSIASTS Beauty of the Wild: A Life Designing Landscapes Inspired by Nature

3. FOR ARTISTIC NATURE LOVERS Nature’s Palette: A Color Reference System from the Natural World

by Darrel Morrison (Library Of American Landscape History, 2021)

Introduction by Patrick Baty, with contributions from Elaine Charwat, Peter Davidson, André Karliczek, and Giulia Simonini (Princeton University Press, 2021)

“This book was selected by Gardens Illustrated as one of ‘The Best Gardening Books to Read in 2022.’ Author Darrel Morrison tells stories of people and places that have inspired his career as a landscape architect, educator, naturalist, writer, and designer of natureinspired landscapes. Great information and fantastic photography.” —Hope Long, Director of Library Services, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2. FOR NEW VEGGIE GARDENERS

Grow Cook Eat

by Willi Galloway (Sasquatch Books, 2012) “This is a great book for those interested in starting a vegetable garden. It has beautiful pictures, excellent gardening advice, and delicious recipes to use the produce from your garden. It also has advice for harvesting and storing

your produce.” —Tyler Mason, Director of Education and Visitor Experience, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

“I’ve been obsessed with this book. It is the perfect gift for the art and nature lover in your family that always has a name for the varying shades of colors in the world. It will provide them artistic inspiration year-round as the seasons change around them because of its seasonless references.” —Dawn Coleman Lee, Education Activities Specialist, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens 4. FOR THOUGHTFUL GARDENERS The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature

garden with hope, season after season.” —Molly Hendry, Associate Director of Gardens Support—Horticulture Planning and Design Leader, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens 5. FOR GARDEN LOVERS IN THE MAKING (and those who read to them) Badger’s Perfect Garden by Marsha Diane Arnold, Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki (Sleeping Bear Press, 2019) “Badger’s Perfect Garden is a delightful, surprising story to enjoy reading with children. Its warm, bright illustrations combined with lessons of gardening and life complement each other to make this a welcome addition to your library.” —Ellen Hardy, Education Program Coordinator, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

by Sue Stuart-Smith (Scribner, 2020) “I often find myself poring over how-to gardening books, trying to find that next new idea or trick to try in the garden. But these pages drew me in as Sue thoughtfully unearths how gardening not only cultivates the soil around us but also heals our own minds and hearts. This book is the perfect read to lift our gaze from how we garden and instead remember why we

FIND YOUR FAVORITE TITLES AT THE GARDENS! All five books are available through Leaf & Petal at the Gardens, where members of the Friends save 10%. Call 205.877.3030 to reserve your copies!

WINTER 2022–23 CALENDAR

UNIQUELY SOUTHERN

Announcing a Special Theme for the Year 2023 Woven into native woodlands, Birmingham Botanical Gardens showcases the potential for outdoor spaces in a region that boasts of mild winters, a long growing season, and hospitality that readily spills over into the garden. In 2023, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is pleased to shine a spotlight on the plants and gardens, as well as the people, food, and design flair, that set our region apart. We invite you to be a part of our yearlong celebration by joining us for special programming and events. Along the way, we look forward to introducing you to special guests who join us in celebrating the power of community and the value of capturing a sense of place in our homes and gardens. We will kick off the year with our 2023 Member Celebration featuring internationally acclaimed landscape architect and Birmingham native Thomas Rainer (January 31) and our 2023 Native Plant Conference with renowned native plant enthusiast Doug Tallamy (March 10–11). Learn more about these offerings in the pages ahead, and watch for other Uniquely Southern programs throughout the year!

2 1. KITCHEN SCRAP GARDENING Saturday, January 7 10–11 a.m. Location: Adventure Classroom Cost: $10 per person Put your kitchen garden scraps to use this winter by regrowing your favorite vegetables. Leafy greens and roots are easy to start from cuttings. Learn the best techniques to jump-start their regrowth, and get advice for when to plant. 2. CAMELLIA PRESENTATION Thursday, January 26 11 a.m.–noon Location: Ireland Room Cost: Free and open to the public Instructor: Vaughan Drinkard, Regional Director for the American Camellia Society The camellia is the state flower of Alabama. Come learn about Camellia japonica ‘Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’ and its connection between Mobile, Alabama, and the Royal Family.

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES The Library at the Gardens is a wonderful resource for nature enthusiasts, families, and anyone who would like 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. Learn more at bbgardens.org/library. THYME TO READ A monthly book club Every first Tuesday 4:30–5:30 p.m. Location: Library at the Gardens Free and open to the public Tuesday, January 3 Distracted by Alabama: Tangled Threads of Natural History, Local History, and Folklore by James Seay Brown Jr. Tuesday, February 7 The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR

2023 Annual Member Celebration AND INAUGURAL JOHN A. FLOYD JR. LECTURE* We're featuring THOMAS RAINER, Birmingham native and internationally acclaimed landscape architect who is helping guide the renovation and future enhancements of the Kaul Wildflower Garden at Birmingham Botanical Gardens

THOMAS RAINER

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31

RECEPTION: 5:30 P.M. ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING AND PRESENTATION: 6–7 P.M. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Auditorium Free (Members of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens) • $15 (Nonmembers) Preregistration required: bbgardens.org/celebrate Post, The Chicago Tribune, and Architectural Digest. His recent work focuses on the artful incorporation of wild plant communities into designed plantings that thrive in the context of towns and cities. Light refreshments will be served. A book signing will follow the talk.

Thomas Rainer, a leading voice in ecological landscape design, will talk about his landscape philosophy and how it applies both to homeowners’ gardens and to the Kaul Wildflower Garden. The Birmingham native, a principal with Phyto Studio in Washington, D.C., has designed landscapes for the U.S. Capitol grounds, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and The New York Botanical Garden. He has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Landscape Architecture Magazine, The Washington

*INAUGURAL JOHN A. FLOYD JR. LECTURE

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is honored to introduce the John A. Floyd Jr. Lecture in memory of Dr. John Alex Floyd Jr., the lifelong gardener, skilled horticulturist, and longtime editor in chief of Southern Living whose commitment during 1981–2021 made a lasting impact at the Gardens. John was a driving force in the creation of our Southern Living Garden in 1981 and, while serving as Board Chair, 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 our 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 and garden lovers that he continues to inspire.

DR. JOHN ALEX FLOYD, JR.

WINTER 2022–23 CALENDAR

1. TU BISHVAT: A CELEBRATION OF TREES Sunday, February 12 | 1:30–3:30 p.m.

WINTER EVENTS HOSTED BY ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS

Location: Auditorium Cost: Free and open to the public Join the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and local Birmingham synagogues for a celebration of trees. Tu BiShvat, which recognizes the “birthday” of all fruit trees as winter draws to a close, is a minor festival that offers time to reflect about the environment and its stewardship. Come engage in activities to learn more about trees.

ANNUAL CAMELLIA SHOW Saturday, February 18 Visit bbgardens.org/calendar for more details. 4

2. PLANNING YOUR SPRING GARDEN Wednesday, February 15 | 3–4 p.m. Location: Adventure Classroom Cost: $20 (Members) | $25 (Nonmembers) Identify the best times to start your garden from seed. Create a plan that you can follow throughout the growing season. Visit the Seed Exchange at the Library at the Gardens to select from heirloom and open-pollinated vegetable seeds. 3. DESIGN A TERRARIUM Saturday, February 18 | 10–11:30 a.m. Thursday, February 23 | 3–4:30 p.m. Location: Adventure Classroom Cost: $25 (Members) | $30 (Nonmembers) Winter is a great time to focus on houseplants. Come design a hanging glass terrarium with succulents. All materials provided. 4. WINTER TREE CARE Friday, February 24 | 2–4:30 p.m. Location: Ireland Room Cost: $15 (Members) | $20 (Nonmembers) Instructor: Beau Brodbeck, Ph.D., Extension Specialist in Community Forestry and Arboriculture with Alabama Cooperative Extension System Winter is the best time for tree and shrub maintenance, but frigid temperatures coupled with inclement weather can create a stressful environment for plants. This class will examine tree care practices to utilize in winter, whom to call for professional help, and how to limit damage due to cold weather.

–FOR KIDS & FAMILIES–

CHILDREN’S VALENTINE GARDEN KIT Special seasonal offering for children Order through Friday, February 3 Pickup dates: February 8–10

Cost: $20 (Members of the Friends) | $25 (Nonmembers) Have you ever planted seeds but wondered what is happening under the soil? We have curated a special kit for you to create your own root viewer to watch seeds race as they develop roots and shoots. It’s not complete without the special addition of a spider plant dropping by to say hi and wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day. Each garden kit, individually wrapped with seasonal ribbon, includes a clear container with heart stickers, pebbles, soil, a variety of seeds provided by our Library Seed Exchange, a spider plant, flowerpot, and a related children’s bibliography. Kits will be available for pickup at the Library at the Gardens.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

2023 SPENCER LECTURE New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden

Featuring author and horticulturist KELLY D. NORRIS

Save the Date l March 10–11, 2023 The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is excited to Thursday, March 16

announce the return of our signature Native Plant Conference.

Reception: 5:30 p.m. • Auditorium

Held every other year, this in-person offering will highlight

Talk: 6 p.m. • Linn-Henley Lecture Hall

the benefits that native plants provide in our gardens and will include presentations and small group tours designed

Modern plantsman, designer, and award-winning author, Kelly is considered a leading horticulturist of his generation. His work in gardens has been featured in The New York Times, Organic Gardening, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, and Garden Design. His passion for planting at the intersections of horticulture and ecology has culminated in a new book New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden, which debuted in 2021 from Cool Springs Press. Kelly will share how he applies his passion for plants and planting to home gardens, providing practical, accessible, and inspiring ideas for landscapes on the wild side.

Free Admission • Limited seating

available • Preregistration required

to increase awareness of Alabama’s native plant species. Professionals and hobbyists alike will learn about conservation and garden design. Mark your calendar and watch our e-newsletter for more details coming soon!

Keynote speaker: Dr. Doug Tallamy, ecologist, conservationist, and author of Nature’s Best Hope

205.414.3950 bbgardens.org /npc

bbgardens.org/spencerlecture

Growing From

SEED DOROTHY LEONARD HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR MONTHS FOR

the seeds of a rare variety of Peruvian hot pepper, Aji Charapita, when a friend introduced her to the Seed Exchange at the Library at the Gardens. The lifelong gardener and Alabama native, who starts seeds year-round at her home in Fairfield, was thrilled to find the pepper, which is known for its spicy, citrus flavor, atop the card catalog that Director of Library Services Hope Long uses to store more than 700 varieties of seed available through the free swap-and-share program. “Someone had just brought in some of the seeds I had been hunting for,” says Dorothy. “I said, ‘Wow, I’ve been looking everywhere for this pepper.’ Hope said, ‘Take some!’ I did, and it is growing right now under a light in my dining room. Next summer I will be able to plant it in my garden.” Over the past two years, Dorothy has visited the Seed Exchange seasonally, discovering other new varieties and bringing vegetable seeds back to the Library after harvest so

others can delight in growing and sharing unique selections that can be hard to find in big-box stores. “I love sharing seeds—it is just wonderful,” she says. Nearly 300 people, both novice and seasoned gardeners, have taken part in the program since it launched in 2016, not long after Mary Alice Thurman, a Master Gardener and longtime member of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, showed Hope an article about a seed swap at another library. Armed with fond memories of gathering four o’clock flower seeds along a neighbor’s fence and watching her father grow tomatoes, Hope began planning. A donation of seeds from Seed Savers Exchange, an Iowabased nonprofit that preserves heirloom plant varieties through regeneration, distribution, and seed exchange, helped kickstart the new program. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, a cooperatively owned company specializing in heirloom and organic seeds in Central Virginia, became a go-to source for seed tubes, envelopes, and other supplies as the initiative

By MINDY KEYES BLACK

Photos by Carmen Michael

Participants in the Library at the Gardens’ Seed Exchange Program Share a Love of Seed Saving and Swapping

Dorothy Leonard holds an Aji Charapita, a Peruvian hot pepper that she has grown from seeds she found at the Library at the Gardens’ free Seed Exchange program.

Seed Saving 101 HOPE’S FAVORITE TIPS

BEGIN WITH ZINNIAS. They’re easy to grow, easy to save seed from, and you can deadhead into your flower bed, which spreads the seed. KNOW YOUR SEEDS. To Hope, the hardest part in getting started can be identifying a plant’s seed. Zinnias look like little arrowheads. HARVEST SEEDS WHEN PLANTS HAVE MATURED. Gather lettuce seed, for instance, when the flower stalk and seed heads are dry. FOLLOW YOUR NOSE. Allow wet seeds such as tomatoes to ferment 3-5 days until they stink. Then rinse the seeds off and let them dry before storing. START INDOORS. Devote a spot in your home to a small “grow table” so young plants will be ready for their new spot when the weather is right.

OPPOSITE: Director of Library Services Hope Long waters ‘Little Gem’ lettuce grown from seed in the greenhouse in the Plant Adventure Zone. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: The Library at the Gardens, a program of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, offers a wide array of books with

Photos by Carmen Michael

tips for growing from seed. A hydroponic wall garden shows Library guests another way to grow dill, lettuce, and basil indoors from seed. Kaul Wildflower Garden Horticulturist Keith Turney holds seeds of wood oats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum), a native grass that he sowed along the slopes of the Kaul Wildflower Garden this fall. It is one of the few species of grasses that thrive in shady woodland areas.

grew. Collaborations with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama-based seed repository Sand Mountain Seed Bank provided ideas and educational tools. Operating on the honor system, the Library Seed Exchange asks members to save seeds from their own gardens or to donate a packet of fresh, commercially grown, open-pollinated (nonhybrid, non-GMO) seed to keep the converted card catalog well stocked. Seed offerings range from vegetables and fruits to pollinator-friendly flowers and native plants. Many are Southern favorites; a number, from Formosa lilies and luffa gourds to black-eyed Susans and coneflowers, were harvested from plants growing at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. One drawer of the catalog features easy-to-grow seeds ideal for young gardeners in the making. “There is something very zen about taking care of seeds,” says Hope. “Seed saving celebrates biodiversity. It nurtures locally adapted plant varieties, and it fosters self-reliance and a culture of sharing. Often, it is the practice of seed saving that is keeping alive the heirloom varieties that we remember from our grandmothers’ gardens.” Dorothy and other Seed Exchange enthusiasts like Atticus Rominger point out that the cost savings of growing from seed also can’t be beat. “My wife has a lot of projects for inside the house, so if I want to do anything outside, I have to come up with other ways to do it,” says Atticus, who has participated in the Seed Exchange for close to three years. “We moved into a new house,” he says. “The yard was probably four times bigger than our old yard—it had a lot of great foundation plantings, but we wanted some gardens. It was a massive amount of space. I started out going on Facebook garden groups, going over to people’s houses, digging up plants, sharing, and swapping. Someone suggested the Seed Exchange at the Library, so I looked it up. It’s been amazing.” The benefits of seed saving extend far beyond monetary, he says. “It has changed my yard,” says Atticus. “There is a great collection of native seeds available. It has encouraged me to

turn huge parts of my yard into native plantings. Back behind our vegetable garden, there was a wild, weedy patch. I started overseeding that area with native flower seeds like milkweed and swamp sunflower to help pollinate the vegetable garden. Over time, I have slowly been changing the perennial garden in the front to more natives too.” In addition to bringing back seed for others, Seed Exchange regulars provide ideas and feedback as they get involved and learn more about the art of seed saving. Dr. Helen Kim, a South Korean native and retired UAB Medical School faculty member who serves as president of the Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation, encouraged Hope to create a drawer devoted to Asian seeds. “I have been fascinated with plants from day one,” says Helen, who recalls as a young girl seeing her family and neighbors growing their own vegetables for cooking. “It was part of family life. I took it for granted that everybody grew plants and ate them. Then I came to America when I was 7 and lived in an apartment complex, and nobody grew anything outside.” Years later, while working on her Master of Forest Science at Yale University, she realized that she wanted to get back to growing again. “The more you learn about it, the more fascinating it is. A tree or a tomato plant coming from an itsy bitsy seed, and watching it grow, is just amazing. I love the incredibleness of watching a seed become a plant and bear fruit or flowers.” The practice of saving and sharing seeds dates back thousands of years to the earliest agrarian societies, which depended on seeds for the next season’s crops. In the modern era, the decline in small farms and availability of commercial seed led to a steep drop in the number of varieties being passed down. Seed Savers Exchange estimates that 75 percent of edible plant species have been lost during the past century. Nationally, efforts like the Heirloom Collard Project are working hard to reverse this trend. A collaboration between Seed Savers Exchange and seed preservation pioneer Ira Wallace at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, the project is working to

regenerate and share more than 60 rare varieties of heirloom collards that a USDA grant enabled researchers to collect from small-farm Southern collard growers, primarily in what has been called the “Collard Belt” in North and South Carolina. Here at the Gardens, Alice Thompson Moore, volunteer coordinator with the Friends, was inspired by the project to add ‘Big Daddy Greasy Green’ and ‘Alabama Blue’ collards to the fall planting plan for the Bruno Vegetable Garden. When Friends volunteers harvest the plants to share with local community kitchens, they will collect seed to make available through the Library Seed Exchange. “It’s a great way to share the wonders of the Gardens with our community while also keeping these heirlooms alive,” says Alice. “We’re also working to save and share seeds from other heirloom crops that do well in Alabama such as ‘Seminole’ pumpkins, ‘African Drum’ gourds, and ‘Alabama Red’ okra.” Associate Director of Gardens Support Molly Hendry is preparing to grow flowers from seeds that she will use next spring to fill in gaps in the Southern Living flower border. Kaul Wildflower Garden Horticulturist Keith Turney traveled to Hartselle, Ala., in October to collect native flower seeds to incorporate into the garden’s new planting plan. “Hartselle and our Kaul garden share a geological formation known as Hartselle sandstone, so as we looked for plants that will thrive in Kaul, I went in search of seeds that are perfectly adapted to thrive in the specific soil conditions we have here in order to

create plant communities that are both resilient and authentic.” Hope’s search for special seeds to add to the Library Seed Exchange continues as well. The collection now includes black peanuts and ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ watermelons, both part of the African Diaspora, with roots in African, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean traditions. She is currently working with the Sand Mountain Seed Bank to identify seeds for a new Native American seeds collection to help save seeds traditionally used by the indigenous peoples of Alabama. “Just like books, seeds have stories,” says Hope. “They teach and connect us in powerful ways and remind us what we value most.” For Dorothy, the joy of growing from seed comes from sharing the love. “My kids and I—we all hate squash—and all we know is the yellow crookneck,” she says. “I read a lot of magazines and came across a squash called ‘Delicata.’ You rarely see it in grocery stores, but I happened to find it on a trip to California. I brought some back and saved the seeds. “Yesterday I roasted a ‘Delicata,’” she continues, “and my son came home and ate a whole one! He said, ‘This is squash?!’ That’s what I am talking about! They are so delicious. I slice and baste with olive oil and salt. They taste better than a sweet potato. Everybody is going to want this, and with the number of seeds that come from one squash, it is easy to share. I’ll be taking these down to the Seed Exchange on my next visit.”

GROW WITH US! Learn more about growing plants from seed this winter by exploring two special offerings from our education team: Planning Your Spring Garden and our Children’s Valentine Garden Kit. See details on page 8.

Photos by Graham Yelton, Carmen Michael

Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens volunteers Carol Waites, at left, and Julie Sellers, at right, care for ‘Big Daddy Greasy Green’ collards growing this fall in Bruno Vegetable Garden. Seeds from this rare variety, one of more than 60 varieties of collards that the national Heirloom Collards Project is working to preserve, will be added to the Library Seed Exchange after harvest.

Community Seed Swap SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 | 9 A.M.–2 P.M. LOCATION: Auditorium at Birmingham Botanical Gardens COST: 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 (a week early!) 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. Sign up to participate in the Library’s year-round Seed Exchange at the event or online at bbgardens. org/seed.

‘ERLENE’S GREEN’ COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum ‘Erlene’s Green’)

‘RUBY MOON’ HYACINTH BEAN (Lablab purpureus ‘Ruby Moon’)

CLEOME (Cleome hassleriana)

3 4

7 ROSE MILKWEED (Asclepias incarnata)

‘BLOODY BUTCHER’ CORN (Zea mays ‘Bloody Butcher’)

RICE PEA (Vigna unguiculata)

RATTLESNAKE SNAP BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris)

8 ‘GRAND RAPIDS’ LEAF LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa ‘Grand Rapids’)

2022 ANTIQUES AT THE GARDENS

Antiques at the Gardens 2022 A celebration of support for the Gardens and all that it makes possible

Antiques at the Gardens, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ largest fundraiser of the year, exceeded its goal for 2022, making it one of the most successful Antiques shows to date. The event raised funds that will enable the Friends to continue to play a critical role in supplementing the Gardens’ operational needs while also supporting impactful educational programs and outreach activities and the ongoing stewardship and enhancement of this urban oasis. On September 29, the Friends’ 2022 Gala in the Gardens kicked off the 16th-annual Antiques at the Gardens presented by First Horizon Bank and featuring the show’s first textile sponsor, Sister Parish Design. Led by 2022 co-chairs Mark Thompson, Anna Cooper, and Catherine Pringle and a committee of 150 dedicated volunteers, the four-day event featured talks by 12 nationally acclaimed interior designers, floral designers, architects, landscape architects, and furniture designers, as well as 22 celebrated antiques dealers from across the country. The black-tie gala, which was sponsored by Cooper Construction, honored longtime supporters Maggie and Will Brooke and welcomed individual and corporate sponsors. Hosted outdoors and under the stars, the evening was

orchestrated by gala co-chairs Jeremy Clark and Sarah Stewart. Throughout the weekend, patrons had the opportunity to hear from home and garden visionaries through special lectures sponsored by Red Diamond, Inc., and The Travel Studio and panel discussions hosted by Flower, Veranda, and House Beautiful magazines. With a distinctive array of furniture, fine art, vintage and fine jewelry, silver, rugs and textiles, and garden accessories available for purchase, the event continues to draw visitors from across the Southeast and around the world while also benefiting the Friends’ mission: to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. “We are honored and humbled by the commitment of our community to these beloved Gardens,” says Friends Executive Director Tom Underwood. “As the Friends continues to work side by side with the City of Birmingham to care for this community treasure, we are grateful for the generosity of our lead donors and all who give to make our work here possible. The Gardens’ success and very existence depends on those who give back through annual membership, donations, and volunteer service. On behalf of all who value and love this special place, I thank you for your support.”

Antiques at the Gardens sponsorships of $600 or more may be found at bbgardens.org/antiques and will be recognized in the Friends’ 2022 Annual Report. Thank you for your support!

Photos by Quez Shipman and Dee Moore

THIS PAGE: Cameron Crowe and Sybil Sylvester • House Beautiful panel with Carisha Swanson, Jeffrey Dungan, Betsy Brown, and Grant Trick • Book signings included Lewis Miller’s Flower Flash • Co-chairs Anna Cooper, Catherine Pringle, and Mark Thompson with Ken Fulk • Emily Bowron and Emily Wood Bowron of Red Diamond, Inc. • Flower editor in chief Margot Shaw with Alex Papachristidis • Recreo Jewelry (Los Angeles, California) dealer booth • Veranda editor in chief Steele Marcoux • Honorees and celebrity bartenders Will and Maggie Brooke • OPPOSITE: Garden entry created by Millhouse Howell Landscape Company • Kreis Beall signing books • Garden-inspired fabrics by textile sponsor Sister Parish Design • Hedgerow Antiques (Alpharetta, Georgia) dealer booth • Staircase arrangement by Gaia Florals • Anne Turner Carroll enjoys the Veranda panel discussion.

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Brad and Camille Marks • Jeremy Clark and Sarah Stewart • Marguerite Johnson, William Johnson, and Katherine Thompson SECOND ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Claude and Cameron Estes • Elizabeth and Tom Broughton • Mark Thompson, Catherine Pringle, and Anna Cooper THIRD ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Emily and Bill Bowron with Birmingham City Councilor Carol Clarke • Hamp and Ginny Farmer • Mary Beth Mason and Dessilyn Chappell FOURTH ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Janie Jones and Elizabeth Miles • Jennifer and Jimmy Ard • Steven and Sally Thompson, Will and Maggie Brooke, Will and Margaret Brooke

Photos by Quez Shipman, Dee Moore, and Graham Yelton

2022 ANTIQUES AT THE GARDENS

Gala in the Gardens 2022

Thank you for your support! Please accept our heartfelt thanks for supporting the Friends during 2022! Your annual membership, your tribute and memorial gifts, your program support, your gifts during this season of giving and throughout the year, your sponsorships, and your support of our signature events continue to enable us 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 2023! HONORARIUMS

Julia Bryant Johnson Ms. Patricia P. Angell

Maggie & Will Brooke Dr. & Mrs. Logan Casey Mr. & Mrs. James D. Mills

Frank “Buddy” Elwood Lindstrom, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Stewart K. Diana Mr. Russell J. Levenson & Ms. Trudy R. Evans Carey & Bill Hinds Lynn Joseph Dr. & Mrs. Robert S. Naftel Madelon L. Rushing Cynnie Sproull

August–October 2022

Birthday of Susan Colvin Mr. Jaime Martinez & Mr. Stephen Colvin Anna Bickley Cooper Ms. Emily E. Johnson Richard Cybulsky Friends of Shades Creek Wildflowers Garden Club Birthday of Martha Eskew Anonymous Molly Hendry The Canterbury Club The Home Garden Club Birthday of Clay Ellis Hoggle Libby Spain Jim Jacobi Reverend Joseph Culotta Birthday of Jaime Martinez Mr. Dan Colvin Tyler Mason The Village Club Kathy & Mike Mouron Dr. & Mrs. Robert Emblom Birthdays of Patsy & Tom Pearson Susan & Bob Sims Mark Thompson Le Jardin Garden Club Jane Underwood L’Amicale Women’s Club

MEMORIALS

August–October 2022 Margaret Jackson Bundy Ms. Miriam J. McClung Bette Jayne Young Byrd Mr. & Mrs. Rusty Dorr Syble Morrow Coats SmithMack LLC T.S. Police Support League Inc. Mary Klyce Cobb Joy & Lee Cooper Jessica & Ben Johnson Laurie & Charles Murrell Homer Eugene “Gene” Croasmun, Jr. Theresa Croasmun Robert L. Eskew, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. John R. Eskew John Alex Floyd, Jr. Mrs. Tammie M. Cooley Betty Floyd Noe Gonder Mary Kate Dyer Lula Blackwell Hafner Mr. & Mrs. Homer Bartley Ernestine “Teenie” Alford Hughes Pam & Pete Holby

Bari Mazer Roseman Mr. Evan B. Roseman Nancy Kays Stetler Marsha & John Markus Bettye Stocks Thomas Mrs. Cathryn S. Anthony Kathleen “Kitty” Gambrill Watkins Cathy & Tom Adams Jane & Jack Shalhoop

LIBRARY DONORS August–October 2022

‘WHITE CLOUD’ MUHLY GRASS

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.

Ann Gray Harvey Mays Bend Ladies Club

LIBRARY HONORARIUMS August–October 2022

Jason Kirby Blount County Master Gardeners Camellia Garden Club The Friends of Vestavia Hills Library The Garden Club of Alabama Kirkwood by the River Magnolia Garden Club Mays Bend Ladies Club Philanthropic Educational Organization, Chapter F Shelby County Master Gardeners Springbrook Garden Club Trussville Garden Club

LIBRARY MEMORIALS August–October 2022

Mary K. Cobb Oak Street Garden Shop Employees Doug Hill Oak Street Garden Shop Employees James M. Hollingsworth Oak Street Garden Shop Employees Gloria N. Moody Oak Street Garden Shop Employees William Phillips Oak Street Garden Shop Employees Creagh McCollum Richardson Oak Street Garden Shop Employees Nancy K. Stetler Oak Street Garden Shop Employees Kathleen Gambrill Watkins Oak Street Garden Shop Employees

PERENNIAL LEGACY GIVING CIRCLE

As of October 31, 2022 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* Peggy Bonfield & Orrin Ford* 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* Mr. Jason C. Kirby & Mr. Benjamin J. Faucher Fran Lawlor 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* 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* Mr. Douglas Arant Stockham Janet & Jarry Taylor Dr. Wendell H. Taylor, Sr.* Mrs. Barbara D. Thorne* Dr. & Mrs.* Jack W. Trigg, Jr. Mrs. Carolyn D. Tynes* Mrs. Ann H. “Nancy” Warren* Mrs. Robert Wells Anonymous (2) *Deceased

WINTER 2022–23 1

STAFF NEWS

Welcome!

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is delighted to welcome our new office coordinator AMELIA HAAS joined the team in July as Office Coordinator. She is a 2019 graduate of Auburn University, where she earned her bachelor’s in psychology. In her new position, she will be the first point of contact to assist visitors and guests with their inquiries and provide administrative support to the Friends’ staff as well as the Board of Directors. 4

AROUND THE GARDENS:

Winter Reds

Even as it enjoys a much-needed rest, the Gardens offers up pops of color to warm our hearts on cold winter days By MOLLY HENDRY

(Calliandra haematocephala) Pop into the Conservatory this winter to see the bright, cheerful blooms of the red powder puff. Native to Bolivia, this flowering evergreen shrub is part of the mimosa family. 2. Riverflat hawthorn

(Crataegus opaca) Native to the Southeast in low, wet woods, this small tree in our Japanese Garden has branches that twist to upwards of 30 feet. From late summer through winter, its sculptural form is highlighted by brilliant red fruit.

3. Possumhaw

(Ilex decidua) This multitrunk small tree is a standout in the winter landscape. Its inconspicuous flowers give way to red berries that draw songbirds in droves to its buffet of winter fruit in Blount Plaza. 4. ‘Professor Charles S.

Sargent’ camellia (Camellia

japonica ‘Professor Charles S. Sargent’) In winter the scarlet red peony-form flower of this Southern favorite covers its 10-foot-tall branches. The festive blooms arrive in the Hess Camellia Garden just in time to decorate tables for New Year’s celebrations.

Interested in Volunteering? We are currently assessing our volunteer needs and opportunities for 2023. Learn more about getting involved as a volunteer at the Gardens by attending our next orientation at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9. Visit bbgardens.org/ volunteering for more details and to sign up. Year-round volunteers will receive a longsleeve tee with trillium illustration, the latest addition to our Volunteer T-shirt collection, this holiday season!

Photos by Graham Yelton

1 Red powder puff

SHOP OUR 10 MEMBER PARTNER NURSERIES, GARDEN CENTERS, AND FLOWER SHOPS 2023 MEMBER KEEPSAKE BOOKMARKS Join the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens or renew your membership for 2023 and, in addition to your annual member gift, member gift plant, special discounts, and other great benefits, enjoy two complimentary bookmarks featuring these iconic garden scenes, part of our keepsake bookmark collection. Join or renew online at bbgardens.org/ membership or by phone at 205.414.3950.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US GROW A GREENER TOMORROW!

The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is grateful for the many ways that local businesses give back to support the Gardens. Be sure to show your membership card when shopping at these local nurseries, garden centers, and flower shops, which offer 10% off regularly priced plant purchases* to members of the Friends: BOTANICA 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: BIRMINGHAM SWEET PEAS GARDEN SHOP WILD THINGS

We hope you enjoy all of your member benefits! Thank you for supporting the Gardens and all that it makes possible!

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US IN YOUR END-OF-YEAR GIVING! Because of your enduring commitment, Birmingham Botanical Gardens shines through the seasons for all to enjoy. Thank you for helping protect, nurture, and share the Gardens’ countless wonders through your membership, volunteer service, and annual giving. Your dedication sustains this urban oasis and all that it makes possible for our community and far beyond, year after year.

*Certain exclusions apply; visit bbgardens.org/membership to learn more.

Non-Profit Org. US Postage

PAID

Birmingham, AL Permit No. 2513

2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, Alabama 35223 205.414.3950 bbgardens.org

This unnamed bronze sculpture by Cordray Parker, who created the deconstructed Nike for the Hill Garden, was recently given by the artist’s widow, Loni, and installed just beyond the entrance to the Fern Glade. Watch for this and two other gifts from Loni: Parker’s Encounter in the Crape Myrtle Garden and a natural stone peacock by Alfred Kala near the south end of the Barber Alabama Woodlands.

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

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.