the communities of Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
JENNY ADAMS TAKES PICTURES
21 | 1st Graders at Crestline Elementary
Confessions of a Black Thumb...
k, confession time. My name is Barry Smith, and I’m a BAD gardener. Or, I guess more accurately, I am not a gardener at all. My mom was good at growing things—she had a thriving herb and vegetable garden in our back yard, not to mention all varieties of plants and flowers inside and outside of the house. I, on the other hand, have a black thumb. I feel like I can kill green things with just a look. So, in the case of wanting something you can’t have (or in this case, something you can’t do), I love looking at other people’s gardens. I enjoy strolling through lovely, manicured gardens, admiring other people’s handiwork. And Miss Sims Garden in Homewood is a personal favorite. My first Homewood house was just around the corner from Miss Sims Garden before it was…well Miss Sims Garden. The property was bequeathed to the city upon Miss Sims death in 2006, and in 2018 Amy Weis took over as executive director and has grown the garden (pun intended) in amazing ways. Read all about this neighborhood gem on page 22. And if you have a chance, stop by the garden and have a look around!
I also love to travel, and the excerpt from The Passport Project makes me think I missed out on some really cool family adventures—what fun! And finally, in honor of Mother’s Day, Sarah Black’s adorable first-grade class at Crestline shares what they love to do most with their moms (page 21)!
At least I know my kids won’t be buying me plants!
–BARRY WISE SMITH
and field excellence.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
The home of longtime Homewood resident Catherine Sims—known familiarly as “the plant lady” of Homewood—at 908 Highland Road circa 1959.
CAHABAQUE BBQ COOK-OFF
Barbecue lovers feasted on a variety of meats and sides while raising $35,798 for breast cancer research in Alabama at the CahabaQue BBQ Cook-Off at Cahaba Brewing Company on April 12. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama fundraiser is a barbecue competitiona where teams compete for the best BBQ title, and fans of smoked meat sample barbecue while also enjoying live music and craft beer.
Winners were: Best CahaButt: 1st Place, JRW’s Blowin’ Smoke; Runner-up, Porkfolio Masters and 3rd Place, Smoke Your Butt Whole. Best Sauce: 1st Place, Silence of the Hams; Runner-up, JRW’s Blowin’ Smoke and 3rd Place, Free Lunch.
More than 1,300 guests attended and voted for their favorites in these categories: People’s Choice Butt: Chief Grilldaddy and the Hose Draggers; People’s Choice Side: Pleasure is all WINE and Most Creative Team Name: Smoke Your Butt Whole. OTMJ
Sean Russell, Glenna Bridges, Arlynn and Abby Zajac
Frank Garrison, Kelly Ward, William Lynch and Carson Hull
Rachel and Kyla Burks
Emily McClendon and Kris Burbank
Tate Pickle, Abby Lavender, Mallory Stubbs and Tyler Couch
Wells Dutton, Robert Chapman, Powell Larson, Alex Thompson, Eleni Gulas, Logan Linville and Matt Boors
Katie Ly and Randon Hewitt Kyle Ezra and McKenzie Hale
The Funky Fish Fry celebrated its 15th year at Avondale Brewing Company Saturday April 12th. This year’s event spotlighted Autism Acceptance Month and helped raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). All proceeds from the event benefited Mitchell’s Place and Autism Support of Alabama, two local organizations that provide support and services to individuals with autism and their families. The Funky Fish Fry is a beloved community event that brings together friends, families and neighbors to enjoy delicious food, music and fun activities for all ages. Attendees ate fresh fried catfish and chicken tenders with all the fixins.’ Live music from The Drennen Brothers, Murph and Alabama Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Automatic Slim kept the crowd energized while games and activities for children made this a perfect day out for the whole family. “Autism affects so many families in our community, and we are proud to support Mitchell’s Place and Autism Support of Alabama in their mission to provide essential services and support to those affected by autism,” says Mitchell’s Place Junior Board immediate past President, Doug Corey. To learn more about Mitchell’s Place and Autism Support of Alabama, visit funkyfishfry.com or contact Lucy Funk at advancement@mitchells-place.com OTMJ
FUNKY FISH FRY
Haley Palmer, Taylor Lander and Anna Maple
Kevin and Jeannie Adams and Sara Nal
Anna and Alex Kaminski
Julia Riedel, Lucy Funk and Haley Grace Evans Summer Rhynes, Kat Candela, Truett Candela and Elizabeth Schmuck
Shannon Toomey and Jaden Kring Sunny and Chanley Whitcomb
Mountain Brook Easter Egg Roll
With baskets in hand and big smiles on their faces, children hunted for eggs at the Mountain Brook Easter Egg Roll on April 19. The annual event presented by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce drew families to the grassy field across from the O’Neal Library. There, youngsters collected treatfilled eggs, which numbered in the thousands. Children also had the opportunity to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.
George Jones, owner of Snoozy’s Kids, served as master of ceremonies. OTMJ
Mary and Logan Andrews, Julie Kash, Abigail Andrews and Michael and Annie Kash
Carter and Kamren Edwards, Jhett Griffin, Mattie Robinson, Laquoya Griffin and Tasha Robinson
Grant, Ashley and Mary Madeline Reese
Andrew, Kate and Lauren Jones
Ridge, Jim, Charlie and Arabella Schaeffer
Grace and Julian Galliera
OLD ELYTON DAR
The Old Elyton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met March 18 at The Country Club of Birmingham. The Chapter welcomed new members Sandy Berglund, Mena Brock and Tracy Sheehy.
The meeting’s program featured a presentation by Jim Etheredge, Executive Director of the Brother Bryan Mission in Birmingham. The mission has a 100-bed facility where it runs two distinct residential programs.
Etheredge spoke of the work and success rates of the organization and emphasized its mission to minister to economically, emotionally and spiritually impoverished individuals in the central Alabama area. Intern Josh Kepple also made a presentation on the positive impact that the mission has on its clients. OTMJ
New members of the Old Elyton DAR from left: Sandy Berglund, Mena Brock and Tracy Sheehy.
from left: Old Elyton chapter Regent Stephanie Byrne, Josh Kepple and Jim Etheredge, Executive Director of the Brother Bryan Mission.
Sons of the Revolution in Alabama
The Sons of the Revolution in Alabama, or SORA, held a flag retirement ceremony in Mountain Brook on April 17.
Two Boy Scout troops from Mountain Brook participated: Troop 53, based at St. Peter’s Anglican Church and led by Scoutmaster Franklin Bradford, and Troop 63, led by Scoutmaster Troy Carmichael and based at Canterbury United Methodist Church.
A flag retirement ceremony is a solemn event governed by the U.S. Flag Code. The scouts reverently and patriotically retired American flags that were soiled or worn out, which according to federal law, is by burning or burying.
Following the ceremony, SORA members and members-elect enjoyed a Spring social at the Mountain Brook home of Katherine and Bill Cox.
SORA is a genealogical organization for men who are generally lineal descendants of actual military service personnel to the Continental Congress or the 13 colonies during the American Revolutionary War and who are of good moral character. The group financially supports American Village, hosts programs on American patriotism and U.S. veterans and cultivates genealogical research in Alabama. OTMJ
David Tickle, James Moore, Martin McCurry, Bobby Moore, Henry Rutherford, Harrison Tickle, Spencer Brown, Mac McCurry, Mills Marcoux and Thomas Weiss
Retiring the flag with a traditional flag burning ceremony.
John Weston Wood, James Ball, George Clements and John William Marks
COCKTAILS AND COUTURE
The Valley Hotel in Homewood was the setting for Cocktails and Couture, a fashion show and silent auction presented by Assistance League of Birmingham on April 17.
The fashion show presented items from Bearden Design et Boutique in Homewood, which features upscale women’s apparel, footwear, jewelry and home décor.
Guests nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and sipped drinks from the cash bar.
Funds raised at the event will benefit the league’s programs: Operation School Bell, which provides free clothes for children in Birmingham city schools, and Operation Literacy, which provides children with a free book when they are fitted for their clothes.
The Assistance League also runs the Encore Gift Shop on Oxmoor Road. OTMJ
Kay Frazier, Alden Sain, Melanie Valekis and Caroline Sain
Cathy Stark, Jennie Parrish and Colette Tatum
Karen Bownes, Allison Cambre and Laurie Hosmer
Anne Graham and Jennifer Hemstreet
Nancy Corona and Andrea Briggs Pam Witt, Carolyn Shelton, Christy Brewer, Darien Roche and Misty Burdett
Diane Wallace, Carol Carlson and Rosemarie Kramer Jane Moore and Ellen Witt
KING’S HOME SHELBY AUXILIARY
Spectacular table settings and décor drew guests to Tablescapes, the annual fundraising event presented by Kings Home Shelby Auxiliary, at Asbury United Methodist Church Williams Chapel on April 10.
Twenty-two tables decorated in a variety of styles were on display for guests to admire, and three took top honors. Sharon Suellentrop’s themed table, “Under the Tuscan Sun,” took first place; Susie Latham’s table, “Secret Garden Soirée,” placed second, and LaVerne Reese’s themed table, “A Tale of Peter Rabbit,” took third place.
Christian writer Stephanie Smith was the guest speaker. The mission of King’s Home Shelby Auxiliary is to provide support to the women and children of King’s Home Shelby who have been victims of domestic abuse, drug abuse or other violence. OTMJ
Rachel Hoagland, Tammy Lucas, Carolyn Ramey, Lori and Bobbie Breeding
Hillary Ryan, Katie Rutledge and Victoria Charles
Meredith Darroch, Haley Brandstater, Beth Gossett and Diane Caldwell
Beth Campbell, Christy Manahan and Susan Peeples Tammy DeWeese, Susan Spruiell and Alison Webber Tammy Lucas, Julie Kim and Hannah Lucas
Jennifer Novak, Carol Doria and Martha Fortenberry
Jessie Duren, Madison Smith, Jenna Kapral and Sharon Suellentrop
Creed Eladaria is a modern rose fragrance with a plush bouquet alongside the brightness of citrus and musk. Price: $455 for a 75mL bottle.
Gus Mayer, 205-870-3300
Inspired by Hawaii’s precious flora, Maui Jim’s Blossom features a Rainforest Kapa design on the temple interior, $349. Barton-Clay Fine Jewelers, 205-871-7060
Celebrate mother with this pearl blossoms pendant. The Village Poodle, 205-423-5443
Tizo and Siena sterling frames made in Italy by Tizo Designs. Wallace-Burke Fine Jewelry, 205-874-4044
Gorgeous necklace for Mom, 14k gold opal and diamond pendant and chain, $1,850.
Hanna Antiques, 205-323-6036
GIFT GUIDE HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Beautiful 14kt yellow gold baguette and round diamond flower earrings, $3,725. Honeybee Collection, 404-915-2738
Elegant one-size bathrobes by One Hundred Stars will make Mom feel like a princess. Marguerite’s Conceits, 205-879-2730
Glass pocket cross or butterfly! A special keepsake any Mom would treasure!
Piddlin Art & Antique, info@piddlin.studio
Elegant stackable birthstone rings, starting at $400. Shay’s Jewelers, 205-978-5880
Beautiful Antique GF Bangle Bracelets, $175-$595. JB & CO, 205-478-0455
The William Yeoward Posy vase in a special gift box is the perfect height for the dining table used in a grouping or on a side table individually, $150 each. Bromberg’s Mountain Brook 205-871-3276 and The Summit 205-969-1776
The All Day super soft tank is crafted from Tasc signature bamboo fabric, Tasc Performance, 659-599-9240
Amish-made aggregate concrete birdbath with a beautiful, natural look for your yard, $179. Wild Birds Unlimited, 205-823-6500
14KT yellow gold oval locket with chain, $940. Southeastern
205-980-9030.
Mom appreciates personalized fine jewelry starting at $590. Etc…, Mountain Brook 205-871-6747 or West Homewood 205-381-6840
Beatriz Ball melamine centerpiece/ drink holder/salad bowl/planter. In matte or shiny melamine, $90. The Cook Store, 205-879-5277
Mom will hear you loud and clear with a Mother’s Day mixed bouquet from Piggly Wiggly.
Jewelers,
Gold bird perched on crystal orb, $27. Attic Antiques, 205-991-6887
EDUCATION
COLLEGE BOUND
As high school seniors near graduation, college bound yard signs are popping up in front of homes throughout the area. Before parents could proudly display those signs, many families turned to private college counselors to help with their students’ course selection, summer plans, extracurriculars, standardized testing and application strategy.
One thriving local private college counseling practice is Mayfield College Advising. MCA was founded by Ginger Mayfield in 2018 to support students and families undertaking the college search and application process. Inspired by her father’s college counseling work, Mayfield is a trusted and discerning advisor for families navigating an increasingly complex and competitive landscape. Mayfield, a Vanderbilt graduate with an MA in Counseling from UAB, has grown her business beyond its Mountain Brook roots. She and her team currently serve students throughout Birmingham and the south, beginning as early as their freshman year in high school.
“Our mission is to equip students with the personalized guidance necessary to deliver attractive and attainable college options,” says Mayfield. Meredith Robinson, MCA’s Director of Operations and Essay Specialist, continues, “Our seniors have had exciting outcomes this year and now get to enjoy the end of their high school experience knowing where they are headed in the fall.” When asked to provide general advice to high schoolers considering
applying to college, Mayfield says that she makes sure to drive home the following points:
1.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
At MCA, we see parents repeatedly get caught up in the carpool or sideline rumor mill surrounding standardized testing. With the best of intentions, parents often develop a standardized testing plan spurred by these conversations, not by data-driven insights. There is absolutely a right way to time these tests. Taking official tests too early is by far the most preventable mistake we see. Seek out free diagnostics from tutoring centers, and get your scores in your target range before you sit for an official test.
2. COLLEGE VISITS
With over 4,000 higher education institutions in the U.S., what is the best way to narrow down your college list? In our view, there is no replacement for the experience of setting foot on campus. It’s essential to carve out time to take these visits, research the best time to visit a school and make an effort to connect with the most fruitful opportunities that students can have during the visit. Reach out early to
admissions offices to book a tour, sit in on a class, meet with a professor, and if possible, have the student stay overnight on campus.
3. MERIT AID
Ever been shopping for a really expensive and indispensable item, only to have the cashier ring up an entirely different price than what you were expecting? That is the experience for far too many families when it comes to college expenses. Though the most elite schools typically can and do charge the “sticker price,” the majority of colleges have complicated algorithms and internal mandates that can cause your tuition bill to vary significantly from the tuition costs posted online. First, Google the school’s Net Price Calculator, and take the time to complete the questions so you can have a clearer picture of what your family will pay if your student is admitted. Then, reach out to the college’s admissions officer assigned to your area and request information about what type of applicant receives merit aid. Clearly, the greater your student’s academic accomplishments exceed the typical admitted students’ range of qualifications, the more leverage you will have in lowering that bill.
4. COMMUNICATION
Paying for college can easily be the largest financial decision your student has ever confronted. Yet, parents often hold back from engaging in necessary conversations about this decision. This hesitation may stem from a desire to shield the child from the nuances of family finances, or because parents may hold varied value perceptions of different colleges and therefore, may struggle to articulate what price tag they are willing to accept at different schools. Expectedly, this opacity can lead to needless frustration on both sides. To prevent misunderstandings, determine an acceptable range of financial investment per year, per child, and speak about it openly. When framed correctly, this conversation can be a relationship and trust-building exercise, rather than an added layer of avoidable confusion.
5. JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR
We put the last two years of high school on a pedestal, and for good reason. Very often, the years as upperclassmen are filled with challenging coursework, activities, leadership roles, sports, celebrations and competitions that have kept students up at night, refined their interests, fostered their social community and revealed glimpses of their incredible potential. Yet, juxtaposed against this meaningful and fulfilling time is the college admissions process, an experience that can fill families with an ever-constricting sense of dread. Instead of letting these concerns overshadow the excitement of these last two years at home, take the right steps to find a support system, be that your high school counselor or private advisor, that will help your family embrace this season of life with confidence and joy.
As the end of the school year approaches, these insights will help families plan and prepare for the summer with their younger high schoolers. If you have further questions, be sure to visit mayfieldcollegeadvising.com for more information. Congratulations Class of 2025! OTMJ
Thurs., May 1 CRAWFEST
Chow down on a Cajun buffet featuring crawfish and shrimp while supporting the Coastal Conservation Association and its work in coastal Alabama! Admission tickets include dinner, drinks, raffles, live music and more at this lively fundraiser.
WHEN: 5:30-9 p.m.
WHERE: The Birmingham Zoo
May 1-2
LEIGH NASH
Leigh Nash, lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer, and the voice behind hits such as “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes” brings her musical talent to the stage in two concerts.
WHEN: 7 p.m. both nights
WHERE: Hoover Library Theatre
May 2-3
ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: BARBER + BRUCKNER
The symphony’s program for this evening performance includes works by Barber and Bruckner.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
May 2-4
THE LITTLE MERMAID
In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, make a deal with the sea witch Ursula and convince the handsome Prince Eric she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: Red Mountain Theatre
Sat., May 3
SPRING CONCERT & FOOD DRIVE
The Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra presents a concert and will collect nonperishable food items for the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.
WHEN: 2 p.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
Sun., May 4
PUNCH PARTY
Support GirlSpring Inc. while tasting potent punches mixed by Birmingham’s best bartenders, and cast your vote for your favorite at the Punch Party, hosted by GirlSpring’s Junior Board. GirlSpring provides access to reliable information, inspiring events and positive role models so girls ages 9-18 are empowered to reach their full potential.
WHEN: 4-6 p.m.
WHERE: Juniper
Tues., May 6
FRENCH IMPRESSIONS
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster and Friends will present a program featuring French composers such as Debussy, Faure, Ravel and Massenet.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Samford University Brock Recital Hall
May 6-11
BEETLEJUICE
The beloved Broadway musical based on the hit Tim Burton film makes its Birmingham debut as part of the Broadway in Birmingham Series. Directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, Beetlejuice promises fun and laughs for the whole family!
WHEN: Various showtimes WHERE: BJCC Concert Hall
Thurs., May 8
TUNES ON TAP
Tunes on Tap is a free concert series that brings together classical music and a casual, laid-back atmosphere at local bars and breweries.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Monday Night Brewing
Fri., May 9
TAILS IN THE TRAILS
Join the fun at the 15th annual Tails in the Trails fundraiser at the zoo’s Trails of Africa exhibit.
This outdoor celebration features music, animal encounters, small bites from area restaurants and a silent auction. The fundraiser will benefit Carlito’s Casa, the giant anteater’s habitat.
WHEN: 6-9 p.m.
WHERE: The Birmingham Zoo
Sat., May 10
15TH ANNUAL FIRST RESPONDERS CELEBRATION
Bring a lawn chair and sunscreen, and get ready to celebrate First Responders in Vestavia Hills. There will be food, beverages, door prizes, live music and plenty of family friendly activities to celebrate these vital members of the community. It’s also a fundraiser for the city’s police and fire departments.
WHEN: 3-6 p.m.
WHERE: Vestavia Hills City Complex
Thurs., May 15
ORGAN CONCERT
Frederick Teardo, director of music at the
Cathedral Church of the Advent, will perform a free concert on the organ in commemoration of the 275th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach’s death.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Cathedral Church of the Advent
Fri., May 16
COFFEE CONCERT FEATURING TCHAIKOVSKY
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 at this morning concert.
WHEN: 11 a.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
May 16-17
TCHAIKOVSKY: OVERTURE, CONCERTO & SYMPHONY
Guest pianist Dina Kasman will join the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for a concert featuring three works from the legendary Russian composer.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
May 16-18
ALABAMA BALLET’S UNBOUND
“Unbound: A Series of Ever-Evolving Performances” will be presented by the Alabama Ballet. It’s a mixed-repertoire production featuring Christopher Stuart’s Johnny Cash inspired ballet “Under the Lights” and a new contemporary ballet by world-renowned dancer and choreographer James Whiteside. WHEN: Various showtimes WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
Sat., May 17
HATS AND HEARTS FOR HEIDI’S KIDS
Dress in your finest country chic, and enjoy live music by the Whiskey River Band, great food and a silent auction, plus a bourbon tasting at the Hats and Hearts for Heidi’s Kids fundraiser in Irondale. For tickets and to learn more, visit heidiskids.com/2025-hatshearts-for-heidis-kids. All proceeds from the evening will benefit Heidi’s Kids.
WHEN: 6-11 p.m.
WHERE: Dawgwood Farms, Irondale
Sun., May 18
BIRMINGHAM BOYS CHOIR SPRING CONCERT
The renowned boys choir presents a free community concert.
WHEN: 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Canterbury United Methodist Church
Sun., May 18
JEWISH FOOD AND CULTURE FEST
Sweet noodle kugel, tender braised brisket, falafels, pomegranate-walnut chicken and perennial favorites corned beef sandwiches are some of the kosher delicacies to enjoy at the Levite Jewish Community Center’s annual Jewish Food and Culture Fest. Live music and demonstrations, bounce houses for the youngsters and a small-scale recreation of a typical Israeli open-air shuk market are not to be missed.
WHEN: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
WHERE: Levite Jewish Community Center
Sun., May 18
BIRMINGHAM TACO FEST
Taco ’bout a lot of fun! Birmingham’s top taco vendors and food trucks, dessert vendors, music, dancing, community arts activities, farm stand and art market await at the 8th annual Birmingham Taco Fest. The event is a fundraiser for Bare Hands Inc., a nonprofit that fosters and celebrates community arts education.
WHEN: 1-7 p.m.
WHERE: Sloss Furnaces
Mon., May 19
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE GOLF CLASSIC
Spend the afternoon at the Vestavia Country Club, enjoying lunch, time on the links, dinner and an awards ceremony in this fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House.
WHEN: Noon-6 p.m.
WHERE: Vestavia Country Club
Mommy & Me
With
Mother’s Day just around the corner, Sarah Black’s 1st Graders at Crestline Elementary share their favorite thing to do with their moms.
BY TALLY REYNOLDS DETTLING PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD
“My favorite thing to do with my mom is watch movies together.” —ISAAC
“I like to jump on the trampoline with her, while she plays music.” —FORD
“I love to eat breakfast with her at Crestline Bagel.” —ANN-BRANTLEY
“I like to go on runs with her.” —EMORY
“I love to bake and go to the library with my mom.” —ANN
“My favorite thing to do with my mom is to snuggle.” —HUDSON
“I like to take Emma, our dog, on walks with my mom!” —GEORGE
“I like to cook with her. We have Jonatha-and-mommy snuggle time.” —JONATHAN
“We like to go on walks, bike rides and watch movies together.” —HENRY
“We go on the electric scooters and get cool stuff.” —MATHIS
SECRET GARDEN
BY
Tucked away on a quiet street in Edgewood is a garden that harkens back to another time. Native flowers and plants flourish in the shade of mature hardwood trees while charming paths meander throughout.
Before Miss Sims Garden was, well, Miss Sims Garden, it was simply the private home of longtime Homewood resident Catherine Sims, known familiarly as “the plant lady” of Homewood. For years, Sims shared plants, cuttings, and seeds from her home garden with neighbors and friends. When she passed away in 2006, Sims designated in her will that the property—the house built in 1927 and extensive gardens on five lots—be deeded to the city to be maintained as a botanical park.
After an extended probate period, in 2009, the city took ownership of the property, which had become overgrown in the intervening
Miss Sims Garden is a hidden gem in the Edgewood neighborhood.
BARRY WISE SMITH PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD AND COURTESY OF MISS SIMS GARDEN
Native plants flourish in Miss Sims Garden.
“This unique opportunity for Homewood to support the creation of Miss Sims dream for an educational botanical garden in the middle of Edgewood is such a gift we can all be proud to support.” –melanie geer
years. In 2010, the city contracted with The Southern Environmental Center (SEC) at Sims’ alma mater Birmingham-Southern College to oversee and tend the gardens. The city paid for needed repairs to the house, and the SEC received one-time grant for $150,000 over five years from the Sims Advised Fund. The first caretaker was hired, and landscaping improvements began. A series of student caretakers cycled through over the next several years, with no strategic plan for maintaining the gardens for the future.
A NEW ERA
In 2018, the city of Homewood advertised for a full-time caretaker for the garden. Amy Weis, a Homewood resident who was involved on the city’s Environmental Commission, was contacted by the caretakers who asked if she would be interested in the job. Weis, who has a degree in Biogeography from the University of South Alabama, a master’s degree in GIS from the University of Cambridge in England, and had worked for the United Nations Environmental Program and as an adjunct professor at Samford, hadn’t heard of Miss Sims Garden and set about educating herself. Once Weis learned about the garden, she wrote a proposal outlining her ideas and presented it to the Ward 1 City Councilors at the time, Britt Thames and Andy Gwaltney. “I took the challenge to heart,” Weis recalls. “I really started thinking about what I could do to grow and expand the gardens and bring more awareness to what we were doing.” In July 2018, Weis was hired as the Executive Director of the Sims Garden and met with Mayor Scott McBrayer
and his Chief of Staff J.J. Bischoff to confirm the city’s support. “J.J. has been formative for making this happen,” Weis says.
Weis moved into the house on the property and quickly discovered that her job was not going to be without challenge. “The challenges started right from the beginning,” she says.
Jefferson County gave notice about an impending sewer project that would include work in the garden, and where four 1920’s cottages once sat, nine, large new-construction homes had been built surrounding the gardens, significantly increasing stormwater runoff onto the property.
Weis put together a team of experts to help address the problems and think strategically about the growth and future of the garden. The group developed a three-phase Master Plan that included addressing stormwater concerns; adding a greenhouse and hydro-powered irrigation systems; creating interpretive/ education signage and programs designed for professionals, adults, and k-12 students;
addressing ADA compliance issues; planting food gardens and native plants and pollinators; adding an outdoor kitchen; and providing support for wildlife and native pollinators.
Current Ward 1 City Councilor and Sims Garden neighbor Melanie Geer sees great value in having the garden in Homewood. “Living less than a block from Miss Sims Garden has given me a close perspective on its history and significance over the years,” she says. “While I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Miss Sims herself, many of my longtime neighbors were friends with Miss Sims and still have her passalong plants in their gardens.”
As for the master plan’s implementation, Geer feels strongly that the garden is and will continue to be an asset in Homewood. “This unique opportunity for Homewood to support the creation of Miss Sims dream for an educational botanical garden in the middle of Edgewood is such a gift we can all be proud to support.” Geer continues. “I look forward to continued progress and participation as Miss Sims dream garden becomes a reality for Homewood and the many visitors each year. The outreach and educational aspects of the plan, if they are actualized, would be such interesting and useful elements of the garden for our community!”
In 2021, the city ended its contract with BSC, and in 2022, Weis established the Miss Sims Garden Foundation 501© (3) and formulated a fundraising plan to help make the gardens
sustainable. Weis started small by hosting movie nights in the gardens and Jazz & Coffee events. “I wanted to start by building community in the garden,” Weis says. In 2020, Weis started her most successful fundraiser to date, the Pumpkins & Mums sale in the garden in advance of Halloween. The popular fundraiser has raised nearly $40,000 each year since it started. Weis also added Santa photos in the gardens during the holidays.
“We have diverse events,” Weis says. “We rent the garden for parties and events—garden clubs, Bible study groups, Sunday School classes, and more.” Recently Weis did her first private sponsorship drive, asking residents and neighbors to financially support the garden. “And for the first time this year, we’re bringing back Miss Sims’ infamous plant sale,” Weis says of the sale she’ll hold in conjunction with We Love Homewood Day on May 3. The sale will feature heirloom plant varieties and native plants found in the garden.
Through a project of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Weis has planted Grow More-Give More gardens on the property, with the produce grown being donated to people in need of fresh food. What is not donated to neighbors, goes to the Trinity West Homewood campus’ food share program.
“We want to be a vital part of the community,” Weis says. “It is hard work, and there’s always more to do, but it is important.” OTMJ
To learn more about Miss Sims Garden or donate, visit cityofhomewood.com/sims-garden.
above: The playhouse is a special place for garden visitors.
LEFT: Amy Weis, executive director of Miss Sims Garden.
BOOK
ON THE ROAD TO FIND OUT
One family’s search for meaning, connection and adventure.
In 2013, Vestavia’s Dale and Kellie McIntyre along with daughters Delaney (14) and Riley (12), uprooted their comfortable and content lives for a five-month do-it-yourself journey around the world.
Friends and family questioned their reasoning. Others wondered about the wisdom of withdrawing their daughters from Liberty Park Middle School. And yet Dale and Kellie ascribed to the Mark Twain philosophy of “don’t let school get in the way of your education.” So, off they went.
As they traveled across Europe, Asia and Oceania, keeping journals along the way, important life lessons were learned and relearned. Some were humiliating—like surviving public nudity; some were valuable—like learning to outsmart scam artists; others were terrifying—like being detained
in a communist country. But this journey helped stitch the fabric of their lives in interesting and unique ways.
During the Covid lockdown, Kellie aggregated her recorded memories along with her daughters’ blogs and personal journals into a book called The Passport Project: Two Sisters Ditch Middle School for a Life-Changing Journey Around the World. The memoir is equal parts adventure, education and encouragement offering a literal and figurative map for other families who want to seek out meaning and adventure through travel.
Their journey begins and ends in Vestavia Hills, but it has been named to the California, Indiana and Mississippi reading lists in 2024 and sold copies on five continents.
above: Learning the latest Bollywood dances at Delhi Dance Academy; New Delhi, India.
Buying snacks from local fruit sellers while exploring charming Hoi An’s old town; Vietnam.
THE COBRA SHOW
Delaney, 14
“Whose bright idea was this?” Dad shakes his head.
“Mom’s,” Ri and I say at the same time. “Jinx! One-two-three.”
“C’mon, y’all. You can’t go to Thailand and not see a king cobra show.”
“I could,” I say. Dad and Ri agree.
We enter the cobra show arena. On the floor is a ring that looks like a giant baby pool. The edge stands about a foot high. Four rows of wooden bleachers curve around the snake stage. We climb to the third row. We are the only people here, so we could sit in the front row. But what moron would sit four feet away from a 15-foot-long snake?
The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world. They can grow up to 18 feet long. One bite, and you’re dead within 30 minutes. Even an elephant can die within three hours. And here we are, sitting less than 10 feet from the circle-of-stupidity.
“Welcome to the Krabi King Cobra Show!” a man yells into his microphone—like there’s an audience of 400 instead of four. “Introducing the bravest cobra charmer in Thailand…Paithoon.”
Paithoon enters the ring, where a couple of large boxes already sit. He opens box-number-one. Using a long hook, he pulls a cobra out. Then another. And another. Three six-foot cobras
BOOK EXCERPT
The Passport Project
CHAPTER 13 LAND OF SMILES (THAILAND)
November 13-28
Pull
a thread here and you’ll find it’s attached to the rest of the world
—Nadeem Aslam, The Wasted vigil
slither around him. Paithoon gets down on his knees and elbows. He clasps his hands in front of his face like he is praying. Which is exactly what I’d be doing if I were in his flip-flops. The three cobras form a semicircle around him. They’re in cobra pose with their necks standing tall and hoods flared. The hairs prickle on the back of my neck, and my arms breakout in goosebumps, even though it’s 90 degrees out.
Paithoon grabs one. He holds the serpent in one hand with his arm outstretched. The cobra stiffens into a six-foot rod. I want to die. After showing us a few more cobra tricks, Paithoon puts the snakes back into their box. Hallelujah. It’s over.
“Let’s G-O.” I stand, rubbing the goosebumps off my arms.
“It’s not over.” Mom nods toward the ring.
Paithoon opens box-number-two and pulls out a monster-sized king cobra. This snake—that’s longer than an SUV—slithers around the ring. Ri and I move up to the fourth row. We sit glued together like Siamese twins.
I picture the snake turning into a king-cobra-rocket and launching at us. The cobra is longer than the distance between the ring and the fourth row.
I. Hate. This.
My heart races. Paithoon teases the cobra like he wants it to strike him. He kneels and stares in its eyes. The cobra flares its hood, bobbing his head back and forth like a boxer. Paithoon moves closer and blows in his face. The snake strikes! Paithoon ducks to the right just in time. Paithoon continues to harass the snake by tapping on its head or pointing his finger right in its face. And just as the cobra strikes, Paithoon moves out of the way.
I’m frozen in the tropics when Paithoon puckers his lips and moves in for a kiss. He is going to die! And then we’re all gonna die! Will my school yearbook include a page dedicated to my tragic death-by-king-cobra on a stupid family trip? All the kids in my school will be so glad they have normal families.
The announcer yells into his microphone, “SAVE YOUR LIPS, MAN. SAVE YOUR FACE!” over and over.
Paithoon slowly goes in for the smooch. Somehow, he plants a kiss on the cobra’s head without getting a fang in the face. The torture is over.
“Y’all need to give him a good tip. He deserves it,” I tell my parents.
“No doubt,” they agree.
Dad two-hands Paithoon a wad of baht, and we leave. Alive. No yearbook dedication page necessary. OTMJ
WHERE ARE THE MCINTYRES NOW?
While Delaney and Riley love traveling the world, they found their true loves in Vestavia. Riley is engaged to marry Vestavian, Cole McPheeters, in August. Delaney married William Tapscott, also from Vestavia, in 2022. Delaney is a labor and delivery nurse at Brookwood Hospital, and she and her husband are expecting their first child in May. Dale continues to sell real estate in the OTM market, and Kellie speaks to schools and organizations on the intersection of travel and cultural intelligence.
To buy The Passport Project or for more travel inspiration, visit 4wornpassports.com.
above: Embracing the local customs with the Kayah indigenous tribe; Kayah State, Myanmar. right: Dale, Delaney and Riley watching a cobra show in Thailand.
Taking the Road More Traveled
For writer and photographer Jenny Adams, the world is her office.
Jhardly the whole story. A dizzying path has taken the renowned freelance writer and photographer from her hometown to a city roughly 350 miles down the road.
“I went to College of Charleston, and I stayed there for a year after college,” Adams says, speaking by phone from her Crescent City home. “I majored in Corporate Communications and Eastern Religious Studies. I moved to Montana for six months just to check it out, and then I moved to New Zealand for almost a year. I ended up going to Thailand for two months—which plays into the Eastern Religious Studies thing—and I became infatuated with Southeast Asia.”
But a decision to return to the U.S. proved formative in Adams’ eventual career track. “I went home and enrolled in graduate school at Ole Miss,
above: A rickshaw driver waiting on a customer.
left: in the Jemaa el-Fnaa market in Marrakech, Morocco.
got a job at a magazine, and that’s when I got into the magazine world. I didn’t complete grad school—I took a magazine job for four years and then went freelance in 2007. Then I went straight back to Southeast Asia and, since 2007, I’ve been splitting my time between America and Asia.”
And, by the way, Adams tosses in one more stop along the way, which also proved life-changing. “I moved to New York and was off-and-on with New York for about 10 years,” she offers. “During that time, I met my husband who had a company in Manila, and we started dating long-distance.”
At first, Adams’ writing focused on the food and beverage industry. These days, however,
she focuses exclusively on travel writing. Some of Adams’ recent work can be found in Food & Wine, Fodor’s Travel and Conde Nast Traveler among others.
So, the question must be asked—of the places in the world she has visited and lived, how did New Orleans become her adopted hometown?
“When my husband and I began dating, he was in Manila, and I was in Manhattan. We finally decided it was time to move in together, but we’d both been in big, crowded concrete cities. We wanted a place with more green spaces and a more affordable approach to living. We chose New Orleans because I already had several friends living there, and it seemed like a fit. We love dining and music and colorful characters.
right: Part of Adams’ landscape photo series, captured in 2025, in the Maurepas Swamp Reserve, outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.
below: A souk vendor selling his wares in the Jemaa el-Fnaa market, Morocco.
left: A fisherman pauses for a photo (and a smoke) on Inle Lake, in Myanmar.
It’s been a perfect spot for us. We are headed back over to Asia for a month in May. So, we are still half in this hemisphere and half in the other,” Adams says with a laugh.
While incessant travel can seem daunting and unsettling to many, Adams maintains that a transient lifestyle feels comfortable to her. “It’s all sort of convoluted, but it works for us,” Adams says of her and her spouse, Chris. “I just love to travel. When I’m out of a suitcase is when I feel most normal.”
To live a global life as a married person obviously requires a like-minded, adventurous companion,
I grew up with these Southern women who were very fond of the written word and very fond of the English language. I take my influence from them and am very grateful to them.”
–jenny adams
and Adams has found that in her husband. “He owns a company in the Philippines that is an outsourcer for special projects for airlines,” she says. “That has morphed into him getting his pilot’s license. We both just love to travel so it works out well.”
Though she didn’t formally pursue writing until her post-grad days, a passion for writing was within her from an early age and has played a large role in her family’s life. “My mother Cathy is an author, my aunt is an author, my grandmother was a newspaper reporter and my other aunt was an author,” Adams says. “I grew up with these Southern women who were very fond of the written word and very fond of the English language. They were always big readers and big writers, and I take my influence from them and am very grateful to them. I always thought I’d be a writer, but I wasn’t sure until grad school that I knew I wanted to do magazine work—I knew I wanted to write. I’ve always kept journals and written stories.”
In addition to her writing, Adams brings an added skill to her freelance projects as she has become an accomplished photographer. “I was in New York, and I took an ‘Intro to Photography’ course at the School of Visual Arts,” she recalls. “A lot of editors would ask, ‘Do you have a picture of this one thing we’re asking you to write about?’ I basically took that class and then taught myself. Now, I can shoot my own stuff, which makes me more valuable. And I really love it—it’s become a huge passion of mine. I’m obsessed with cameras and photography.”
So, which of her two talents holds the most importance to Adams or is it 50/50? “I’m a writer all day,” she says without hesitation. “I love photography, but photography is hard for me whereas writing comes naturally. Photography is a lot of math, distance and numbers, and I’m a word person. I don’t do well during tax season. For me, photography is cool because it’s hard. The more I learn about photography, the harder it gets. I’m fascinated by it, but I’m not naturally gifted at it.”
above: The French Quarter in the doldrums of August, this image was part of an art show at the Old 77 Hotel in the city in 2023.
right: Cathy and Jenny Adams with their family dog, on the front porch in Birmingham, Alabama.
Given that her occupation goes hand-inhand with her passion for travel, I ask Adams if her trips foster her projects or if the projects dictate her trips. “Typically, I pitch a story to my editors about a place I’ve already been that I want to write about, and then they agree to that, or I will say to them that I have an interest in going somewhere and they will send me,” she explains. “The latter doesn’t happen as much these days with budget cuts. They used to say, ‘Hey, we need a feature on Key West. We’ll send you down there and pay for everything.’ In modern times, I get myself there, and I start selling before and during the trip. I’m headed to Istanbul this spring and, once I booked my flight, I started reaching out to tourism boards and hotels to get everything lined up. If you’re buying your own plane ticket, then you have more autonomy in how you want to set up your schedule.”
Despite the exotic locales that she has visited, Adams still has a list of places she wants to see one day. “I would like to do some more work in South America,” she says. “I’ve been to Bogota and Bolivia, but I’ve never been to Argentina, Chile or Patagonia. We would also like to go to Estonia and Norway, so those are on the radar.”
But for now, Adams is happy to call New Orleans home. “We just bought a house, and we have a new dog. Everybody’s an artist of some sort, and it’s super colorful.”
Adams loves all animals, but she has a super soft-spot for cats. This one she met in Milos, Greece, in 2020.
AIRBORNE
“A lot of people overthink it. I don’t think about anything. My mind is completely blank as I am running on my approach, and when I jump, I am kind of just flowing.”
–jack stubbs
Classic. He clocked 10.59 seconds to win the 100 and 21.39 seconds to win the 200.
Vestavia Hill’s Jack Stubbs soars to new heights as a long jumper.
BY RUBIN E. GRANT PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD AND OWEN VAN HORN
During his freshman year on the Vestavia Hills track and field team, Jack Stubbs annoyed his coach with one nagging question. “He kept begging me constantly about letting him jump, to the point it was getting on my nerves,” Rebels track coach Richard Anderson says with a bit of a laugh.
Stubbs’ passion for jumping is all about how it makes him feel. “I feel free when I’m jumping, and I have fun with it,” he says. “Flying through the air takes all the pressure off.”
Anderson eventually relented and let Stubbs jump.
Now a senior, Stubbs has become one of the top long jumpers in the state. In the 2024 AHSAA State Outdoor Track and Field
Championships, Stubbs claimed gold in the Class 7A long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 7.25 inches. It was his first individual state title. “That was pretty special,” Stubbs says. “I was the last guy to go, and I was in fourth place. Then, I jumped up to first.”
Stubbs followed that up by winning the Class 7A long jump in the state indoor meet in February, soaring 22 feet, 5 inches.
He has continued to perform at a high level this spring during the outdoor season. At the Carrollton Border Duel in Georgia on March 12, he set a school record with a jump of 24 feet, 11 inches. Two days later, he won at the Homewood Invitational, leaping 24-02.25. In April, he finished first at the Mountain Brook Invitational with a jump of 22-3.
The secret for Stubbs is staying relaxed before a jump. “The long jump is my bread and butter,” he says. “A lot of people overthink it. I don’t think about anything. My mind is completely blank as I am running on my approach, and when I jump, I am kind of just flowing.”
The long jump isn’t the only event Stubbs has excelled at this spring. He’s become a topnotch sprinter.
During the Mountain Brook meet, he twice got the best of his close friend and teammate Chase Webb to win the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Stubbs clocked 10.61 in the 100 with Webb second in 10.65, and Stubbs clocked 21.48 in the 200 with Webb finishing in 21.52. Stubbs also swept both races at the Spain Park
“In the four years he’s been a part of our team, he has evolved as an athlete,” Anderson says. “He’s bought in to what we’re doing, and he’s fun to watch.”
Stubbs began running track in the seventh grade at Liberty Park Middle School. He had always jumped but started sprinting on the side. In his last year in middle school, he truly became a sprinter, but it wasn’t until he got to high school and developed a friendship with Webb that he began excelling in the 100 and 200. “I promise I wouldn’t be running as fast as I am if I didn’t have him running by my side,” Stubbs says. “He pushes me, and I push him.”
Both Stubbs and Webb, who also runs the 400, are headed to Samford on track scholarships and plan to room together. But first they will try to go out with a blaze of glory at the 2025 AHSAA State Outdoor Championships May 1-3 at Gulf Shores. “I’m looking forward to it,” Stubbs says. “I want to get more than one gold medal. It’s my last high school meet, so I want to go out with a bang.” OTMJ
OTM athletes honored at the Bryant-Jordan awards banquet.
Mountain Brook senior wrestler Jack Abenoja was named the 2025 Class 6A Scholar-Athlete winner during the 40th annual Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Awards Banquet on April 14. Abenoja also received the Dr. Gaylon McCollough Medical Scholarship.
Vestavia Hills senior basketball player Jack Cobb was a regional winner and awarded one of the two Auburn Football Lettermen Club Scholarships, and Homewood senior basketball player Charlie Sims received the Region 5, Class 6A Student-Athlete Achievement Award.
SPORTS
Thursday, May 1, 2025
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Homewood’s
Colvin Bussey is part of generational track and field excellence.
BY RUBIN E. GRANT PHOTOS BY SCOTT BUTLER AND COURTESY OF THE BUSSEY FAMILY
Colvin Bussey knew about his family’s rich track and field tradition, but he wasn’t dead set on becoming a part of it.
His grandfather, Randy Faust, grew up in Blount County and ran track at Cleveland High School, competing in the 440- and 880-yard runs. He went on to become an All-American at the University of Alabama. After college, Faust was the head coach of track and field and cross country at Vestavia Hills High School for 27 years, from 1974-2001. He is a member of the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame.
Bussey’s mother, Ashley Faust Bussey, ran track at Vestavia Hills under her father’s tutelage from 1994-1998 and went on to run 400 hurdles at Samford University. She is now in her seventh year as an assistant track coach at Homewood High school.
Although Colvin Bussey began running track in elementary school, he also had an affinity for baseball. He competed in both sports until he reached high school at Homewood.
“When I got to the ninth grade, I had to make a decision between baseball and outdoor track since they are both spring sports,” Bussey says. “I knew I kind of wanted to do track, and I definitely knew after I started running the 800 and 400 (meters).”
Since settling solely on track, Bussey has become one of the top middle distance high school runners in the state. Now, a senior at Homewood, he won the 400 meters with a time of 49.60 and the 800 with time of 1:54.33 at the AHSAA state indoor track meet in February, helping the Patriots capture the Class 6A state championship. “That was a great day for me, winning my first individual title and helping the team come home with the state trophy,” he says.
Bussey now holds the indoor school record in both events.
His success during indoor season has carried over to the outdoor season. In April, he finished a close second to two Class 7A runners in two meets. He ran second in the 400 meters at the Spain Park Classic with a time of 49.33 seconds, right behind Vestavia Hill’s Chase Webb, who clocked 49.13. He finished second in the 800 in 1:53.82 at the Mountain Brook Invitational behind Oak Mountain’s Cooper Jeffcoat, who clocked 1:53.29.
“The Mountain Brook meet is always one of my favorite events,” Bussey says of his strong finish. “It’s run at the perfect time, around 9 o’clock in the morning when it’s still cool. I was able to set my personal record.”
Although he competes in both events, Bussey prefers the 800. “I’ve got some top-end speed, and that’s my event,” he says. “It fits my body, and I know how to run it.”
Ashley Bussey has enjoyed seeing how Colvin has developed. “I am very proud of
school. He’s a natural runner. He has a fluid stride, and he has a desire to compete.”
This spring, Bussey has gotten an opportunity to run with his younger brother Hudson, a junior who is in his second year on the Homewood varsity. “It’s really exciting getting a chance to run with him,” Bussey says. “We’ve run a couple of relays together. In one, he handed the baton off to me and in another, I handed it off to him. It’s fun seeing him out there running.”
Bussey also has a younger sister, Caroline, a seventh grader who competes in hurdles on the Homewood Middle School track team.
Bussey will continue to run in college. He has signed with Alabama, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. “I’ve always been a Bama fan, I liked the track team, and I like the coaches,” Bussey says. “They really wanted me to come, and they were always checking on me. I think I belonged at Alabama, and I think I’ll succeed there, not just in track but also in education.”
him,” she says. “It’s just fun to see how far he has come. I don’t get to coach him because I coach hurdles, but I get to see how hard he works behind scenes and at our house. It’s been an incredible ride.”
Faust is also thrilled to watch his grandson run. “It’s been such a dream for me,” Faust says. “I encourage him all the time and try not put any pressure on him. He showed an interest early. We used to go up to Homewood Park and work out. I coached him until middle
Meanwhile, Bussey is getting ready for the AHSAA State Outdoor Meet May 1-3 at Gulf Shores. “I think it would be great to win the 800 in outdoor,” Bussey says. “I think it’s doable. The 400 would be more difficult. I also hope we can win the team title like we did in indoors.”
After the season, Bussey plans to compete in some national meets. “I don’t know which ones yet,” he says. “My goal is to break 1.50 (in the 800). If I can’t, then I think a sub-1.51 is something I’m capable of doing.” OTMJ
left: Colvin Bussey running the 4 x 400 relay. above: Bussey’s grandfather Randy Faust was an All-American runner at the University of Alabama.