The Garden Dirt | Spring 2019 Newsletter

The

FOR FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

SPRING 2019

Get Ready To Grow

AT OUR 50TH -ANNIVERSARY SPRING PLANT SALE!

Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2019 Board of Directors

NATIONAL PUBLIC GARDENS WEEK TOURS MAY 13—19, 2019 Join the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens for a free guided tour of the Gardens May 13–19 as we celebrate National Public Gardens Week! These tours, which will start at the main entrance of the Gardens at 11 a.m. daily, will share garden highlights and last about an hour. Guided group tours are also available throughout the year; for information about group tour costs and scheduling for other dates, visit bbgardens.org. Thank you for visiting, donating, volunteering, and being a member—your support helps us in our mission to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens!

2019 NATIVE PLANT CONFERENCE MAY 30—JUNE 2 Because they are adapted to our climate, native plants frequently require little maintenance and less water. They also provide important food and shelter for native birds and butterflies, and many have the ability to store the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Want to know more?

Join us for the Friends’ 2019 Native Plant Conference! The four-day event will explore native plants in Southern landscapes, history, and culture and will feature pre-conference workshops, talks, and post-conference field trips led by experts in our region and across the country. The conference lineup also includes plant vendors and sales of books authored by presenters, as well as a student poster session, art exhibit, and a pig roast dinner featuring locally sourced and sustainably raised ingredients. Visit bbgardens.org/npc to learn more!

NEW LOOK FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER! Stay up to date on Friends programs and events and what’s happening in the Gardens by perusing our newly redesigned e-newsletter, sent every other Wednesday throughout the year. If you are not receiving the e-newsletter but would like to subscribe, visit bbgardens.org or email communications@ bbgardens.org. Thank you for being a Friend of Birmingham Botanical Gardens!

John Smith T ���������������������������������������������������Chair Beverley Hoyt ����������������������������������������� Past Chair Wally Evans ����������������������������������������������Treasurer Emily Bowron ����������������������������������������� Secretary Peyton King ������������������������Chair of Development Chris Boles ������������������������������Chair of Education Bill Ireland ����������������������������Chair of Governance Cathy Adams ����� Chair of Government Relations Lee McLemore ���������������������� Chair of Operations

Members at Large

Brian Barr Craig Beatty Uday Bhate Sharon Brown Stephanie Cooper D.C. Coston Kate Cotton Norm Davis Bob de Buys Ian Dexter Kirk Forrester

Helen Harmon Chris Hastings Fred Hawkins Rick Heartsill Turner Inscoe Natalie Kelly Caroline Little John Miller Blevins Naff Tiffany Osborne

O ur M ission

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.

S taff Tom Underwood .............................. Executive Director Stephanie Banks ������������������������� Chief Financial Officer Mindy Keyes Black ����������� Director of Communications and Marketing Rachael Daughtry ��������������������������������Library Assistant Dawn DeFrank ������������������Donor Services Coordinator Ellen Hardy ������������������ Education Program Coordinator Penney Hartline ������������� Vice President of Development Molly Hendry ������������Garden Assessment Project Leader Jason Kirby ���������������������� Library Assistant and Archivist Dawn Coleman Lee ���������� Education Activities Specialist Hope Long ���������������������������Director of Library Services John Manion ��������������� Kaul Wildflower Garden Curator Brooke McMinn �������������������Director of Education and Visitor Experience Alice Thompson Moore ������������� Volunteer Coordinator Heather Oliver ��������������������Special Events Coordinator Michelle Phillips ������������������������������Office Coordinator Drew Rickel ���������������������������� Donor Relations Officer Jane Underwood ����������������������������Operations Manager Editor: Mindy Keyes Black Art Design: Ellen Padgett Cover Photo: Graham Yelton Contributors: Sarah Cook, Molly Hendry, Francie MacDougall, Drew Rickel, Graham Yelton ©2019 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, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the result of a successful 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’ quarterly newsletter. 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 sex identity.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Annual Member Celebration

WELCOME

Dear Friends: As you’ll see from our cover story, dedicated volunteers like Mary Phillips (our 2018 Volunteer of the Year) work year-round to prepare to ring in the season with the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale, which will take place April 12-14 under the big tent at Brookwood Village.

As we celebrate the sale’s 50th year, we hope you’ll take advantage of this great opportunity to grow your green thumb, gain expert advice from seasoned gardeners, and support the Gardens. Keep in mind that members of the Friends have early access to the sale at our Members-Only Shopping night April 11, so be sure to mark your calendar!

If you’re looking for gardening inspiration, plan a springtime visit to the Gardens to see what’s in bloom, explore our newly restored water features (learn more on pages 2-3 of this issue), or peruse our great class and event offerings (see pages 4-5)—including our new “Essentially Seasonal Design” and “Saturdays in the Gardens” programs. A highlight of the season is our biennial Native Plant Conference, which we are proud to say is recognized as one of the premier native plant events in the Southeast.

For those with an appetite for adventure, I invite you to consider joining me and my wife, Jane, in January 2020 for a 16-day garden travel experience to explore the spectacular scenery, gardens, architecture, artwork, cuisine, and wines of New Zealand! Co-hosted by our friends at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the tour will be led by Richard Lyon, a native Kiwi who practices landscape architecture in southeastern Pennsylvania. Richard has led tours of New Zealand for some of the most prestigious horticultural organizations in America for more than 30 years. See page 5 to learn more!

We have plenty on tap ahead as well for young gardeners in the making: Join us April 20 at the Gardens for Alabama’s longest-running Earth Day celebration, and explore our great summer camp offerings, which include daily explorations of the Gardens and plants to take home and grow.

I hope to see you at our Annual Member Celebration on May 14. In addition to informative updates on all the goings-on here at the Gardens, this year’s program will take its cue from the Alabama Bicentennial with a featured presentation by Dr. Bill Deutsch, author of Alabama Rivers: A Celebration and Challenge.

Thank you for your support and for sharing our commitment to protecting, nurturing, and sharing these extraordinary Gardens.

Spring is here, and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens beckons!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL MEMBER CELEBRATION Featuring Dr. Bill Deutsch, co-founder of Alabama Water Watch and author of Alabama Rivers: A Celebration and Challenge

TUESDAY, MAY 14 RECEPTION: 5:30 P.M.

Tom Underwood Executive Director Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING & PRESENTATION: 6–7 P.M. BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS AUDITORIUM Celebrate the beauty and biodiversity as well as the ecological and economic impact of Alabama’s rivers by joining us for this special presentation by Dr. Bill Deutsch, who has directed the community-based water-monitoring program Alabama Water Watch for 20 years. Bill is a Research Fellow, Emeritus, in the Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, with degrees in zoology, anthropology, biology and aquatic ecology. His book, which was published in cooperation with the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, describes how Alabama rivers form, flow, and are full of life, and what we can do to keep rivers clean and healthy.

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Just Add Water

Newly Renovated Fountains, Basins, and Streambeds Enhance the Sights and Sounds of the Gardens COME SPRING, VISITORS STREAM INTO

the Gardens. Children dart among the uprights at the Granite Garden fountain and dash to the Rose Gardens to see if the roses have started to bloom, or humor their parents and pose for photos. Whether they’re coming for exercise or inspiration, guests of all ages and interests have a chance to enjoy the sights and sounds of springtime, and among these—in no small part—are the artistry and lyrical babbling of the Gardens’ beloved water features.

Over the past two years, more than half of the Gardens’ 14 water features have undergone a transformation thanks to membership support and the combined efforts of Jane Underwood, operations

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manager with the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and Virgil Mathews, district horticulture supervisor with the City of Birmingham. During your next visit, check out these newly refurbished water features— a testament to the dynamic relationship between garden and water landscape.

The Cochran Water Wall in the Hill Garden was the first to be rehabbed. Dedicated in 1988, it is the focal point of the garden. “The water wall had stopped sheeting over the entire top edge—as a result, the basin was not filling up and recirculating,” says Jane. “We had to figure out where water was going and how to repair it.”

Jane and Virgil worked with Alabama Aquatics, who removed the tile on the back wall and

sealed the wall before replacing the tile.

Problem solved.

They then turned their attention to the 1967 Japanese Garden streambed because the water was not cascading over the waterfalls. “It was flowing into cavities before it ever reached the waterfall,” says Jane. Parrot Structural Services pumped the cavities with hydraulic cement to fill the voids. They applied the same treatment to the Abroms Rhododendron Species Garden basin, the Curry Rhododendron Garden pond, and the Fern Glade streambed.

The team was excited to discover a way to have the iconic North and South

Loblolly Pine Cone fountain in the Southern Living Garden BELOW: North Urn in the Formal Garden

Urns repaired on-site. Dedicated in 1988, the urns are fixtures of the Formal Garden and help frame the space. Estes Paint used epoxy to fill rust holes in the cast-iron vessels, sanded the urns, and repainted them. “Alabama Aquarium and Pool Services (AAPS) then installed new pumps and placed them in such a way that they’re not visible from the paths,” says Jane.

Other improvements were less extensive but no less important. In the Curry Rhododendron Garden pond, “horticulturist Tiffany Sutton had been filling the pond with a hose when the water level dropped,” says Jane. A new pump with an auto-fill feature now fills it as needed.

The 2006 Loblolly Pine Cone fountain by sculptor Brad Morton in the Southern Living Garden also received a new pump.

The Abroms Rhododendron Species Garden basin, which like most streambeds at the Gardens was created with shotcrete applied directly to the soil without rebar to reinforce it, was rebuilt using reinforced concrete. Thanks to the combined efforts of Bright Future Electric and AAPS, the McReynolds Garden pond greets visitors with the gentle welcome of a bubbly fountain.

“It’s amazing—the feel of the place— when the fountains are up and running,” says Jane. “When you walk through the Japanese Garden or sit in the new swings in the Abroms Rhododendron Species Garden, water makes such a difference in the aesthetic of these spots. The Gardens feels so alive.” —Francie MacDougall

BUILD YOUR SOIL

Tips From ‘Captain Compost’ WILLIAM CURETON LOVES organic, no-till gardening. But William­—known to many as Captain Compost—is even more passionate about modern “hot” composting, a technique used to make high-quality compost in a short amount of time. William, who recently taught the workshop “Build Your Soil” as part of the Friends’ new Saturdays in the Gardens series, has over the past 15 years developed a tried-and-true way to make more than a ton of high-quality, mature compost every one to two months.

His secret ingredients? Horse manure, sawdust, leaves, grass clippings, and grocery store produce food scraps. “I use this compost mainly as an organic mulch on my no-till raised beds, along the sides of my house, and in areas of my yard.” If you’re just starting out or simply want to enrich your compost, William recommends these top tips: TIP 1 Always use two to three times more “browns” (dry or woody plant material) than “greens” (recently growing material) in your initial composting pile. Carbon from brown material is an odor-eater and a key to creating nutrient-rich humus (decomposed organic matter), he says. “My favorite browns are plain sawdust from horse barns and lots of leaves from roadsides,” he says.

TIP 2 Always keep your compost pile moist, but not soaking wet, and aerate (turn) it frequently. William uses his tractor to aerate large compost piles; you can use a stick to aerate stationary piles. And rather than tap water, William uses “compost tea” made from rainwater and molasses to moisturize his compost piles. “This increases the microbial growth and speeds up decomposition,” he says.

TIP 3 Finally, always have a “starter” pile for continual composting and a “done” pile for immediate use in the garden. “I use compost as a soil conditioner, mulch, raised bed ingredient, and aerated compost tea agent,” he says.

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SPRING CALENDAR

APRIL

1 YOGA AT THE GARDENS: Ashtanga Series 2 THYME TO READ BOOK CLUB: A Taste for Vengeance 3 SUPER SPROUTS: All About Seeds (Ages 5+)

1 ART GALLERY AT THE GARDENS: Art by Yun Jian (through June 30)

4 FAMILY YOGA IN THE GARDENS

ROOTS: STORIES ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE SOUTH 3 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Invasive Plants 5 ROOTS: STORIES ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE SOUTH 5 SOLON DIXON PRESERVE & SPLINTER HILL BOG FIELD TRIP 6 FAMILY YOGA IN THE GARDENS 7 ESSENTIALLY SEASONAL DESIGN WORKSHOP Spring I Ephemerality 8 YOGA AT THE GARDENS: Ashtanga Series 11 FIESTA PREVIEW PARTY 50th-Anniversary Spring Plant Sale 11 MEMBERS-ONLY SHOPPING 50th-Anniversary Spring Plant Sale

12 50TH-ANNIVERSARY SPRING PLANT SALE (through April 14) 12 LITTLE SEEDS: Springtime in the Gardens (Ages 3+) 13 PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS: Water Features of the Gardens 15 YOGA AT THE GARDENS: Ashtanga Series 17 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Southern Favorite Plants 20 EARTH DAY AT THE GARDENS 20 SATURDAYS IN THE GARDENS: Plant an Herb Garden!

22 YOGA AT THE GARDENS: Ashtanga Series 26 OKEFENOKEE SWAMP & FLORIDA CAVERNS FIELD TRIP 28 PILATES IN THE GARDENS 29 YOGA AT THE GARDENS: Ashtanga Series

MAY

1 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Spatial Plantings For Veggies

Presented by ARC Stories and the Library at Birmingham Botanical Gardens Friday, April 5 | 6:30 p.m.

4–5 GET THE EDGE ON SEDGES 7 THYME TO READ BOOK CLUB: Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World 13–19 NATIONAL PUBLIC GARDENS WEEK: Free Guided Tours

14 ANNUAL MEMBER CELEBRATION 15 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Organic Insecticides 17 LITTLE SEEDS: Fantastic Flowers (Ages 3+) 18 RANDOLPH COUNTY “MOONSCAPE” FIELD TRIP 18 SATURDAYS IN THE GARDENS: Plant a Container!

18 FLORA PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS 29 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Growing and Arranging For Indoor Displays 30 NATIVE PLANT CONFERENCE (through June 2)

JUNE

4 THYME TO READ BOOK CLUB: Letters of a Woman Homesteader

5 FLICKS AMONG THE FLOWERS 8 FAMILY YOGA IN THE GARDENS 8 KIDS ‘N’ CAMERAS 12 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Seed Saving & Sowing 12 SATURDAYS IN THE GARDENS: Use Bamboo!

15 RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP 26 BROWN BAG LUNCH & LEARN: Pollinator Plants & Habitats 29 SOUTHERN FOLK MEDICINE 30 ESSENTIALLY SEASONAL DESIGN WORKSHOP Summer | Juxtaposition

Mark your calendar, and visit bbgardens.org for more information about these classes and events! We look forward to seeing you soon at the Gardens!

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Birmingham Botanical Gardens General Admission: $10 Purchase tickets: arcstories.com/tickets

EARTH DAY AT THE GARDENS Cultivate a love for plants, gardens, and the environment by joining us on Saturday, April 20, for Alabama’s longest-running Earth Day celebration! The free, family-friendly event will promote healthy communities, sustainable living, and human wellness through educational dialogue, informational displays, and outdoor activities.

Saturday, April 20 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Free and open to the public bbgardens.org/earthday

SAVE THE DATE:

FLICKS AMONG THE FLOWERS Presented by Publix Super Market Charities

June 5: The Sandlot July 17: Field of Dreams Films start at sunset (approximately 8 p.m.)

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Free and open to the public ($5 suggested donation) Bring friends and family, and don’t forget your blanket! bbgardens.org/flicks

A seasonally focused floristry demonstration, workshop, and discussion series led by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Holly Carlisle of ROSEGOLDEN in the spirit of local floristry legend Beth McReynolds and her iconic “Birmingham Style.”

Spring: Ephemerality | Sunday, April 7

We need teen volunteers for our summer camps! Email volunteer@bbgardens.org for more details!

Summer: Juxtaposition | Sunday, June 30 Fall: Transition | Sunday, November 3 2-5 p.m.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Members $185/workshop Non-Members $200/workshop bbgardens.org/essentiallyseasonal

CHILDREN’S SUMMER CAMPS 2019:

SUMMER’S ALMOST HERE!

ESSENTIALLY SEASONAL DESIGN WORKSHOPS

A FAMILY TRADITION! Our weeklong half- and full-day camps for age 4 through rising 9th grade promote creativity and the joy of discovery through fun learning experiences in the unmatched natural setting of Birmingham Botanical Gardens! Camp topics feature gardening, cooking, art, and more. All camps will include daily explorations of the Gardens and plants to take home and grow. To register or learn more, visit bbgardens.org/classes or call 205.414.3950!

Morning Camps: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $160 Members* | $200 Non-Members All-Day Camps: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $280 Members* | $350 Non-Members *Hydrangea Level and above

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

GARDENS, WINE & WILDERNESS: A TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND January 4–19, 2020 It’s not too early to plan your getaway for 2020! Join Tom Underwood, executive director of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and his wife, Jane Underwood, operations manager for the Friends, for an exclusive, 16-day garden travel experience to explore the spectacular scenery, gardens, architecture, artwork, cuisine, and wines of New Zealand!

Co-hosted by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the tour will be led

by Richard Lyon of Garden Adventures.

The New Zealand native and Pennsylvaniabased landscape architect has been leading tours to New Zealand for nearly 30 years for some of the United States’ most prestigious horticultural organizations. Early reservations are advised, as space is limited.

Contact Penney Hartline at 205.414.3961 or phartline@bbgardens.org to learn more!

Young Artists in the Gardens (Ages 4-5) June 3–7 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Young Artists in the Gardens (5K-Grade 2) June 3–7 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Young Artists in the Gardens (Grades 3–6) June 3–7 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Summer Garden Chefs (4–5 years) June 17–21 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

(Session 1) SOLD OUT June 24–28 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

(Session 2) Summer Garden Chefs (5K–Grade 2) June 17–21 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (Session 1) June 24–28 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (Session 2) Summer Garden Chefs (Grades 3–6) June 17–21 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (Session 1) June 24–28 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (Session 2) Little Seeds: Growing Little Gardeners (5K–Grade 2) July 8-12 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Summer Garden Explorers (Grades 3–6) July 8–12 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tropical Garden Chefs: A Conservatory Adventure (Grades 3–6*) July 8-12 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (All-day camp) *Also for children entering grades 1-2 who have previously attended our Summer Garden Chefs camp Spa Camp (5K–Grade 4) July 15-19 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Japanese Garden Exploration (5K–Grade 2) July 15–19 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Japanese Garden Exploration (Grades 3–6) July 15–19 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fairytales in the Gardens (Ages 4–5) July 22-26 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Secret Garden: A Summer Play in the Gardens (Grades 4–6) July 22-26 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Garden Hacks: How to Use Technology in the Gardens (Grades 6–9) July 29–August 2 | 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

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Every New Leaf

Since 1969, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale has served as a harbinger of spring and an invitation to novice, seasoned, and would-be gardeners alike to get planting. Throughout the year, volunteers gather weekly to prepare to offer a stunning array of plants and to share their passion and best tips for hands-on gardening.

RATING 50 YEA LEB RS E C

N NESTLED INSIDE A BUSILY HUMMING

By Sarah Cook; photos by Graham Yelton

potting shed alongside more than a dozen fellow gardeners, Mary Phillips sprinkles milkweed seeds into the cells of a seedling tray, making sure each is placed perfectly inside its designated space. She takes joy in this simple task, which will produce a bounty of beauty for landscapes and a welcome habitat for butterflies come summer.

“These are plants that can’t be found everywhere,” says Mary, who is one of more than 400 volunteers who donate their time and expertise to the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale.

“Milkweed is the only plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs on because it’s the only plant their caterpillars can eat.”

Expert advice from seasoned gardeners is a big part of the reason that the annual sale has attracted droves of locals for five decades. With volunteers representing a dozen growing groups poised to share their knowledge of gardening and plants, the 50th-anniversary sale is set to offer more than 100,000 plants selected specifically for Birmingham and the surrounding region.

“Everything that our group produces is native to the Southeast,” says Gail Snyder, leader of the Native Plant Group. “We’re trying to promote native cultivars that are well-suited to our climate. I don’t think there’s anything that our group sells that we don’t also grow at home so we can talk about it at the sale and share tips related to a variety of growing conditions.”

Debuted in 1969 by the Women’s Auxiliary—precursor of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens—the Spring Plant Sale was originally called “Fiesta.” Its premise has always been simple: to serve as a celebration of plants.

The first sale was hosted under five large tents at the Gardens and raised $4,500, which helped fund the Garden Center.

As the annual sale grew, it moved off-site and became known as the Spring Plant Sale. In recent years the event has grossed more than $250,000 to benefit the ongoing stewardship and enhancement of the Gardens, educational programs, and outreach > OPPOSITE: Native Plant Group volunteer Mary Phillips plants milkweed seeds in February so the young plants will be ready for the Spring Plant Sale. ABOVE: Marcia Mancill and teammates prepare to repot growing plants into larger containers. BELOW: Betty Anderson moves marsh blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium fuscatum) from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens greenhouse to an open-air lath house to acclimate the plants to the outdoors.

12 PLANT VOLUNTEER GROUPS ABC’s (Annuals, Biennials, and Climbers) Daylilies Herbs Natives Perennials Trees & Shrubs Tropicals Vegetables Alabama Orchid Society Birmingham Camellia Society Birmingham Fern Society Birmingham Rose Society

PICK YOUR PLANTS

4 FEATURED PLANTS

Visit bbgardens. org/springplantsale to read about the many spectacular varieties of plants you’ll find at our 2019 Spring Plant Sale!

Watch for these great plants (and so many more) at the sale!

Rhododendrons Heirloom Vegetables Tomatoes & Peppers Camellias Hostas Azaleas Hydrangeas Japanese Maples Ferns Dahlias Herbs Annuals Daylilies & Irises Trees Succulents Perennials Climbers Orchids Roses Natives Biennials Tropicals Shrubs And much, much more!

Southern ^maidenhair

fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)

‘Amethyst ^Pearl’ phlox

(Phlox paniculata ‘Amethyst Pearl’)

‘Sun Mouse’ hosta ^(Hosta ‘Sun Mouse’)

African blue ^basil (Ocimum

kilimand-scharicum × basilicum ‘Dark Opal’)

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RATING 50 YEA LEB RS E C

50TH ANNUAL SPRING PLANT SALE Preview Party

Thursday, April 11 I 5:30–7 p.m.

Help us celebrate 50 years by joining us for our 2019 Preview Party! Tickets available online for $45 each, or purchase at the door for $50 each. Visit bbgardens.org/ springplantsale

Members-Only Shopping Thursday, April 11 | 6:30-8 p.m.

Get priority admission to the sale by joining the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, available at the door or online at bbgardens.org/ membership

Public Sale Hours Friday, April 12 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday, April 13 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sunday, April 14 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Brookwood Village Macy’s upper parking lot (under the big tent!)

Free Admission Learn more at bbgardens.org/ springplantsale

GROW WITH US! Volunteering is a terrific way to get involved at the Gardens! Email volunteer@bbgardens.org for details!

GARDENING CALENDAR The Alabama Cooperative Extension system (ACES) is a great resource for tips on gardening in Alabama.

Visit aces.edu or call the Master Gardener Helpline at 800.644.4458.

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activities. The 2019 event marks the sale’s fifth year at Brookwood Village. Today, the Friends also hosts a Fall Plant Sale at the Gardens.

For volunteers in all 12 growing groups, preparing for the nonprofit’s largest plant sale fundraiser requires careful calculation to ensure that the hundreds of varieties of vegetables, perennials, annuals, flowers, herbs, trees, and more are ready when they need to be. It’s also a labor of love.

“I remember my first Spring Plant Sale: 2008,” says Mike Rushing. “I had just graduated the Alabama Master Gardener class of 2007 and was pleased to be accepted to the Trees and Shrubs Growing Group.

[Lead volunteer] Jeanie Sherlock pointed me to 400 (1-gallon) native azaleas, told me to organize them by species, and see what I could do about selling them. She remains one of my all-time favorite characters, despite assigning me, and only me, the overwhelming job of moving so many pots of naked, bare stems.

“Luckily, the azaleas sold themselves and Jeanie allowed me to ‘stretch my legs’ at the next sale,” says Mike. “She and her crew continue to challenge me.

The Tree and Shrub coworkers keep me coming back, spring and fall, to the great BBG plant sales.”

Chris Boles began volunteering with the Herbs Growing Group, or “Herb Army,” in 2000 as part of her service commitment for the Alabama Master Gardener Program. “I walked into the potting shed one day and was greeted by a couple of women who asked if I would like to help them move some herbs from small containers to larger ones in preparation for the Spring Fiesta. I was immediately hooked on the individuals who made up the group,” she says.

“Gardeners are the best. I have volunteered here just about every Wednesday since that time.”

For Chris, the sale also means a lot to the Birmingham community. “I find that people are always looking for unique plants that cannot be found just anywhere, and they come to this sale to find those special plants,” she says. “We spend time each year listening to what our customers are looking for, and we try to grow items that are often new to us so we can have them available at the next sale. We see a lot of the same customers each year, and they like to tell the story of the plants they bought in prior years and how they did or did not perform. The Herb Army also grows the new plants suggested by our customers in our own gardens, and then we compare notes to see what worked, what failed, and what we would like to try again. I believe the main value of the sale is that it introduces so many people to the love of gardening and educates them about plants that work well in our area, which in turn helps make our landscapes more valuable to the rest of nature.”

“The passion of our volunteers is infectious,” says Tom Underwood, executive director of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. “They are at the same time educators, learners, and advocates, and their enthusiasm shows that there is really no such thing as a ‘non-plant person’: Gardening connects us with one another, and with the earth.”

For volunteers like Mary, the connection extends to even the tiniest of plantings. As she transfers a tray of milkweed into the nearby greenhouse, Mary sings “You Are So Beautiful” to the seedlings.

“You have to be happy with your seeds so they’ll germinate,” she says with a smile. “It’s kind of like with your pets—they respond to your kindness.” n CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Members of the Native Plant Group work side by side to repot golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea). Using soil specially prepared by City of Birmingham Greenhouse Specialty Grower Gregg Clark, a volunteer pots spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata var. punctata). Gwendolyn Griffin wheels a cart of native phloxes to a lath house behind the Gardens’ potting shed. Volunteers Sally Price, David Jackson, and LaDonna Gaines talk plants at a 2018 sale.

GARDEN SUPPORTERS

The Gardens is You!

THE PLANTS, COLLECTIONS, CULTURE, TRAILS, EVENTS, AND THAT ENDURING SENSE of peace you feel walking into Birmingham Botanical Gardens is thanks to you and to all listed here who have taken that next step and invested in the Gardens.

Take a look at the people just like you who have decided that the memories created at the Gardens and all of the opportunities we offer to the community are worth supporting now and into the future.

Perhaps you’ve seen the thousands of children who come to the Gardens to get high-quality, hands-on natural science education, or the many planting and capital improvement projects throughout the Gardens’ 67.5 acres that make this a true urban oasis. The Friends’ accomplishments in 2018 and exciting plans on the horizon will make for an inspiring 2019, and we can do it only with the support of our dedicated community.

We thank those below who made the difference in the last quarter of 2018 and ask you to continue to help us protect the future of the Gardens by renewing your membership and giving generously each year to the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. To make a gift, visit us online at bbgardens.org/support, call us at 205.414.3950, or send your check, made out to “Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens,” to us at 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223. We thank you for your important support!

GARDEN SUSTAINERS As of December 31, 2018

Orchid Mr. Gregory R. Schumann Dahlia Dr. & Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. Camellia The Forman Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Carl E. Jones, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. D. Paul Jones, Jr. Azalea The Ann & Angelo Bruno Foundation Mrs. Camille H. Butrus C.S. Beatty Construction, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Dixon Southern Progress Corporation Anonymous Dogwood Mr. & Mrs. Brian Barr Maggie & Will Brooke C. Eugene Ireland Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Bob de Buys Mrs. Trudy R. Evans Mr. & Mrs. Christopher T. Fennell Mr. & Mrs. T. Michael Goodrich Mr. & Mrs. Christopher W. Hoyt Ashley & Turner Inscoe Mr. Leo Kayser III Mr. & Mrs. Jack A. Nesmith Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Noble III Rucker & Margaret Agee Fund Paula & Mike Rushing Mr. & Mrs. William J. Rushton III Mr. & Mrs. Murray W. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. South III

GRANTORS

Alabama Power Foundation, Inc. Baptist Health Foundation, Inc. Birmingham Park & Recreation Board

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Brasfield & Gorrie The Butcher Fund City of Birmingham City of Hoover City of Mountain Brook City of Vestavia Hills Dunn-French Foundation Energen Corporation The Goodrich Foundation Hill Crest Foundation, Inc. The Hugh Kaul Foundation Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation Jefferson County Commission Jemison Investment Company Inc. Junior League of Birmingham The Linn-Henley Charitable Trust Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation Nancy & John* Poynor Redmont Neighborhood Association Shades Valley Rotary Club The Strain Foundation Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust Vulcan Materials Foundation

THE PERENNIAL SOCIETY

The Perennial Society recognizes those who have included Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens in their estate planning.

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 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* Mr. F. Lewter Ferrell, Jr.* Dr.* & Mrs. Charles P. Grant Alicia & Ken Hall 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 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* Margaret H. McGowan* Mrs. Mary Jean Morawetz Mr. Philip Morris* Mr. & Mrs. Fred W. Murray, Jr. Dr. James L. Newsome* Dr. & Mrs. A. I. Perley* LeAnne* & Steve Porter Mrs. Carol P. Poynor Mrs. Dorothy L. Renneker* Deborah & John Sellers

Mr. & Mrs. William M. Spencer III* Frederick R. Spicer, Jr. 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 * Deceased

MEMORIALS

October—December 2018 Judith E. Abroms Mrs. Janet W. Rooney Edgar “Eddie” Aldridge Ms. Olivia E. Alison Kimberly & Fred Spicer Lula Rose Blackwell Mrs. W. Houston Blount Mrs. Karen S. Chapman Mrs. Jane W. Lamar Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Lindstrom, Jr. Justice & Mrs. Champ Lyons, Jr. Oak Street Garden Shop Josif Charny Mr. & Mrs. Vitaly Charny Homer E. Croasmun, Jr. Theresa A. Croasmun Nancy Lee Lane Diethelm Dr. Arnold G. Diethelm Dr. & Mrs. William L. Holman Mrs. Janet D. Peck Clare H. Draper III Mrs. Betsy Marbury Elza Eliza Stewart Drummond Mr. & Mrs. John Lyon Christine Ellicott Joan E. Crooks Eva Lyons Filer Mr. & Mrs. Phil Beetley Mr. & Mrs. John D. Carney III Mrs. Kathleen L. Fletcher Ms. Nancy S. Gober Mr. & Mrs. Michael Paradiso Ms. Rhonda L. Simmons Ms. Barbara W. Smith Ms. Donna L. Trapp Arthur Key Foster, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. W. Frank Cobb III Elizabeth (Betty) W. Jones Grapevine Garden Club Mrs. Mary Anne B. Weatherly Dorothy Barhite King Mr. & Mrs. Paul Reynolds Sue Goodwin Kreider Valley Offshoots Garden Club George Ladd Virginia Stockham Ladd Family Foundation F. Robert Lehmeyer Mrs. Joyce E. Lehmeyer Sibyl A. Lynch Mr. & Mrs. E. Daniel Swanson Florence Maluff Dr. T.J. Odom Jimmy E. Massey Mr. & Mrs. Tom Berres Ms. Mary W. Foy Ms. Jennifer Montano Ms. Peggy Montano Bridget McCaffrey Camellia Garden Club Margie Bonner McIntosh

Mr. & Mrs. Robin A. Wade III Mr. & Mrs. Robin Wade, Jr. Camille S. Butrus Mrs. Margaret Canterbury Ross Callaway Paula & Mike Rushing Holly Carlisle Mrs. Martha T. Davidson Jason Carlton Paula & Mike Rushing James Cater Brasfield & Gorrie D.C. Coston Paula & Mike Rushing Elizabeth Drewry Anonymous Katherine & Stephen Rostand Teri Dupree Brasfield & Gorrie Bob & Martha Eskew Ms. Rebecca R. Griffith Carolyn B. Featheringill Mr. & Mrs. Hobart A. McWhorter, Jr. John Floyd The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Paula & Mike Rushing The City of Birmingham Gardeners & Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Staff Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Snyder Paul Frith Brasfield & Gorrie Henry F. Hughes Mr. & Mrs. Michael G. Kendrick Marjorie & J. Brooke Johnston Mr. & Mrs. Hobart A. McWhorter, Jr. The Little Garden Club Junior Ladies Garden Club John Manion Arkansas Native Plant Society Betsy & Michael Fleenor

HONORARIUMS

October—December 2018 Paige Albright Triangle Garden Club Elsa Penso Allen Brasfield & Gorrie Sandra & Mike Arnold Mr. & Mrs. Hobart A. McWhorter, Jr. Brian Barr Brasfield & Gorrie Carol Beard Highland Lakes Garden Club Adam Benjamin Paula & Mike Rushing Hanna Berres Jefferson County Master Gardener Association Emily Bowron Jeanne & Mabry Rogers

Mr. & Mrs. Hobart A. McWhorter, Jr. Mike Rushing Blount County Master Gardener Association Paula & Mike Rushing Ms. Ann A. Benton Neal Schooley Paula & Mike Rushing Jeanie Sherlock Mrs. Elizabeth R. Thagard Zach Sims Brasfield & Gorrie Larry Stephens Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Snyder Mr. & Mrs. Michael A. Tate Jane Underwood Jefferson County Master Gardener Association

Martha & Robert Walthall Mr. & Mrs. Hobart A. McWhorter, Jr. Louise A. Wrinkle St. Tammany Master Gardeners

DONORS TO THE LIBRARY AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS October—December 2018 Dr. Thomas A. Amason Lindsey & Bill Barclift Jane Cannon Glenn T. Eskew Shannon Long Robin & James Sulzby Janet & Jarry Taylor Bryson Waldo Jesse Weldon Margaret Wendorf Louise Wrinkle In Memory of Edgar G. “Eddie” Aldridge Olivia Alison In Memory of Lula Rose Turlington Blackwell Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Memory of Henry A. Long, Jr. Elizabeth Drewry Gail & Robert Pless Bertice & Edwin Brown Olivia Alison In Memory of Ruth Holcomb Mears Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Memory of Robert E. Newton Billy Angell In Memory of John Martin Nielsen Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Memory of John Worrell Poynor Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Memory of Jimmy Massey Hana & Tom Berres In Memory of Dr. George F. Scofield Redmont Park Garden Club In Memory of Eugene C. (Bit) Sherlock, M.D. Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Memory of Robert K. Spotswood Jr. Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Memory of Pamela S. Vaughn Oak Street Garden Shop Employees In Honor of Jason Kirby Colonial Dames 17th Century George Maris Chapter In Honor of Hope Long Alabama Hydrangea Society

Elna Brendel Lyle Hohnke & Alleen Cater Cameron & Derrill Crowe Terri & John Lyon Minnie Rast Mandi & John Smith T Arnold Steiner Elizabeth & Fred von Herrmann Louise & John Wrinkle Ambassador Lindsey & William Barclift Debby & William Denson Diane & Winfield Fisher Doris & Alan Gertler Leah & Meredyth R. Hazzard Carlen & Thomas Williams Oak Peggy & Michael Balliet Cissy & Richard Brockman Kathryn & Francis Buchan LaRue & Paul Carter Gail & Thomas Cosby Rebecca H. Crum Mary Ann & Robert Doody Patricia D. Dreher Cynthia & Virgil Edwards Burgin & Henry Fowlkes Cathy & Jimmie Harvey Theresa & Charles Johanson Enid & Kent Keyser Frances & Wade Lamberth Hank Siegel & Janet Lyman Eugenia McWilliams Pamela & Joseph Morad Jeffrey Renegar & Barbara Kuzan Philippa & Michael Straus Carol Sutfin Dawn & Ingram Tynes Richard Wood & Wendi Brown Magnolia Glenda & Karl Albright William Angell David Baker & Lois Gaeta Sheila & Frank Benesh Mary Gene & Thomas Boulware Sara & Tommy Bright Madeline H. Burr Margaret Canterbury Susan & John Carroll Faye & William Clark Martha & Alton Comans Amanda & John Craig Paula & Francis Crockard

GARDEN SUPPORTERS

Mrs. Bettie D. Walker Ruth Holcomb Mears Peggy & Michael Balliet Oak Street Garden Shop Robert E. Newton Oak Street Garden Shop John M. Nielsen Oak Street Garden Shop John Worrell Poynor Mrs. W. Houston Blount Mrs. Karen S. Chapman Penney & Roger Hartline Oak Street Garden Shop Mrs. Anne Oliver Mr. & Mrs. Michael H. Poe Ms. Melissa Robinett Mr. & Mrs. Lathrop W. Smith, Jr. Anne Elizabeth Whaley Shepherd Mr. & Mrs. Randy M. Wright Eugene “Bit” Sherlock Oak Street Garden Shop Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Rogers Robert K. Spotswood, Jr. Oak Street Garden Shop Patricia Summerford Mr. & Mrs. John F. Stadtlander Earl J. Trafton, Jr. Birmingham Capital Management Co., Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Richard I. Chenoweth Mrs. Sharon F. Hydinger Mr. & Mrs. William W. Thomason Pamela S. Vaughn Oak Street Garden Shop David L. Wagnon Mr. & Mrs. D. Lawrence C. Faulkner Mary Bonner Wagnon Mr. & Mrs. D. Lawrence C. Faulkner Bob Wendorf Paula & Mike Rushing Fred P. Whittaker, Jr. Mr. Charles M. Love Hope Williams Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Lindstrom, Jr. Patricia Singley Wise L. E. Wise Kurt Joe Wittman Ms. Sara E. Gomez Ms. Kathleen M. Hagen Mrs. Jimmie Sue Harrison

NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

October—December 2018 President’s Circle Harold Abroms Richard M. Adams Peggy & Uday Bhate

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GARDEN SUPPORTERS

Meet our New Board Members!

D.C. COSTON D.C. Coston is a regular garden volunteer and part of the team of “Docs” who work closely with horticulturist Adam Benjamin to keep the Japanese Garden looking its best. Prior to retiring to Birmingham, D.C. dedicated his career to higher education and extension education, serving as president of Dickinson State University; vice president for Agriculture and University Extension at North Dakota State University; associate director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station at Oklahoma State University; faculty member and associate dean and director of the South Carolina Agriculture Experiment Station at Clemson University; and faculty/extension specialist at Virginia Tech. During his tenure at Oklahoma State, he organized the founding board for the Oklahoma Centennial Botanic Garden that today is the Tulsa Botanic Garden. A graduate of North Carolina State University, he also holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in horticulture from Michigan State University.

KIRK FORRESTER After earning a B.S. at Vanderbilt University in 2002 and an M.A. from Georgetown University in 2004, Kirk lived in New York and worked as an editor at Penguin and later Random House Publishers, working with fiction and nonfiction authors. She then moved to Texas with her husband, Tate Forrester, and began work as a contributing editor and writer, writing for the Texas Observer, Kirkus Reviews, Flower, and Virtuoso Life, where she was the books editor. She is currently an editor on staff at Birmingham-based Flower magazine. Kirk is the mother of four children, ages 15 months to 9 years, and loves to work in her garden. She also enjoys civic organizations and has served on the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Junior Board, the United Way Women’s Committee, and the Children’s Hospital’s Committee for the Future, and is currently a board member at Preschool Partners School.

RICK HEARTSILL Rick Heartsill is the founder and CEO of Direct Communications, one of Alabama’s largest and most successful public relations and political communications firms. Prior to forming Direct Communications, Rick served in Washington, D.C., as press secretary to Congressman Bill Nichols. In this role, he worked with key national and international publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, and The Associated Press and traveled internationally with an emphasis on issues relating to national defense. Rick also served as chief of staff to Congressman Sonny Callahan. He managed all political, communication, and legislative aspects of the office while serving in this role.

Rick has served as a senior strategist and counselor for many of Alabama’s leading Republican, Democrat, and independent elected officials, as well as corporate and university presidents for almost 35 years. Before moving to Washington, D.C., Rick worked for six years in Alabama radio and TV news.

He holds a degree in communications from Auburn University.

NEW TO OUR JUNIOR BOARD: Milan Ballard Katie Fagan Kelley Greer Kathryn Porter Elizabeth-Anne Ronk Erin Welch

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Wanda & Gerald Dake Rebecca & Larry Davenport Kay & Bruce Donnellan Evelyn & John Dunbar Katherine Fairley Barbara Fant Lori & Richard Feist Ellene & C. William Gladden Janet & Morton Goldfarb Marilyn & Michael Gross Susan & Wyatt Haskell Beth & Ronald Henderson Carol G. Hinshaw Susan & William Holden Janice & James Hughey Margi Ingram Mallie Ireland Jane & Thomas Johnson Jessie & Kenneth Key Caroline & Mark Little Jonathan Waddell & Lexa Magnus Elizabeth B. Marbury Rosalind & Daniel Markstein Nicole & Stanford Massie Maria & Coke Matthews Judy & Gerson May Amy & Lee McLemore Alabama & James Mills Ann & Richard Monk Janet & Michael Moore Sue A. Newton Phella & Guy Patterson Daina & Randy Pittman Carla & Robert Reich Suzanne Respess Carol Rosenstiel & Fran Hogg Paul Samuelson William Sockwell & Deborah Long Nancy & Neal Spangler Joan & Stan Starnes Arthur Stephens Deborah Strauss Mary & C. James Sullivan Donna & Gene Taylor Mary Alice & William Thurman John LeMunyon & Kathleen Tremblay Tinsley Van Durand Anne & Robert Waudby Lynda & Richard Whitney Leanne & William Woodall Elizabeth & Dusty Yates Angela & Philip Young

Hydrangea (Family) Shannon & Carter Adams Corinne & Taylor Anderson Harriet & William Anthony Jennifer & James Ard Suzan & Thomas Armstrong Linda Arnold Carol Leitner & Tom Baker Joni Barnett Jeanne & William Bearden Seth Wolnek & Michelle Bearman-Wolnek Elizabeth & Benjamin Benton E. Cason Benton Michael Berndt Johanna & Tom Berres Judy & Adrian Bewley Cindy & Peyton Bibb Elizabeth & Gary Bishop Virginia & John Blackmon Dalton & Jon Blankenship J.A. Cody Lemaster & Malissa Bowman Ethelyn & James Bradford Annette & Robert Brady Cathryn & Joseph Brady Christine & Jones Brown Angelique & Timothy Brown Georgia & Jack Bullman Elinor & Winfield Burks Cheree & Eric Carlton Lynn & Bill Carter Jane & Bryan Chace Larissa & Vitaly Charny Traci & Jason Cherry DeZell Plump & Kristy Chiles Erin & Nathan Clark Linda & Richard Cohn Jean & Richard Condrey Susan & Jeffrey Cutler Judith & W. Andrew Daniel Stewart Davis & Marilyn Lantz Susan & Arthur Davis Sara Lynn & A. Fox de Funiak Suzanne & Kyle DeLoach Florence & Charles T. Dodge Rebecca & Larry Donaldson Marsha & Richard Duell Juan & Larry Dunlap Kappie & Evans Dunn Mary S. Durant Anne & Lawrence Durham Lindsey & Daniel Durie Jo Ann Eberlein & Mark Widener Frances S. Emond

Illustration by Molly Hendry

Marian & Ronald Epstein Sandra & C. Brent Falkenhagen Linda & Charles Faulkner Marjorie Forney Jeanne Franks Thomas Friar & Carolyn Comer Terri & David Glasgow Bobbie & Warren Goldstein Richard Krause & Diane Gray Shaun & James Gray Candice & Juan Gutierrez Florence & William Hannigan Rona & Frank Harper Susan & James Harper Catherine & D. Michael Harris Sandra & James Harris Beth & William Hawley Vicki & Lane Herring Karen & Mike Hoar Virginia Holbrook & Mary Beth Vasu Margariette & Robert Hoomes Rebecca & William Hutto Mary & Raymond Ideker Sheryl & James Isobe Karen & Gregg Janowski Jeannie & David Jenkins Nancy Jennings James Johns Natalie & Michael Johnson Karen & Michael Keel Jane & Whit Kennedy Shelby & Joel Kimerling Sheryl & Jon Kimerling Beverly & Gerald Kimes Kay Kinnear Lara & Brad Knight Mary & Chris Krebs Jamie & Powers Lane Joyce & Jerome Lanning Anne & Blake Lary Janet Lauer Janet LeGrand Faye & Robert Levin John Lovejoy Karen & Michael Luce Anna Manasco Claire & John Martin Sylvia Martin Ginny & Ronald May Linda & Douglas McCullough Catherine & Emmett McLean Judy A. McNutt Christine & Terry Meredith Regina & Ken Meyer Candy & Edward Meyerson Kathryn & Larry Michael Lisa & Charles Miller Margaret & William Moor Jane & Sam Murphy Meredith & Daniel Odrezin Jacqueline & Jay Oglesby Katherine & Jim Park Joy & Jason Parker Melanie & Robert Parker Thomas Patchen & John Vintson Donald Patterson & Vickie Tolbert Sheryl & Charles Perry Bragan & Banks Petrey Lee Ann Petty Mary Margaret & David Phillips Donna & Harold Phillips Page & Peter Poerschke Laura Pointer Linda & William Prewitt Ashley & Jason Pruitt Betsy & Chuck Rabolli

L. Susan & Rodney Ramsay Joan & Ricky Ray Joan & Edward Reisinger Phyllis & James Riddle Melissa & David Roden Michelle & Michael Rosemore Marjorie & Emmet Ross June & Robert Russell Barbara & Joseph Sandner Elizabeth & John Saxon Sharon & J.L. Shaia Jacquelyn & Leo Shaia Trinket Shaw & Joellyn Beckham Chase & William Silsbee Susan & David Silverstein Lorelle & Jerry Singleton Aimee & Aron Smith Catherine & Stewart Smith Elizabeth & Ralph Smith Alice & Robert Smith Cindy & Deron Smithy Betty & Thomas Snoddy Carleton & Bruce Sokol Cynthia & J. Elliott Speake Martha & James Stagg Susan & Bruce Steele Martha Strange & Calvin Crowder Rebecca & John Thomas Peggy & Robert Thompson Elizabeth & James Tulloss Nettie & Willie Turner Lissa & Marc Tyson Mary & Laurence Vinson Despina Vodantis Ann Wade & Ellen Dossett Barrow & Michael Wade Jeanette & Robin Wade Mary & Joseph Waldman Candace & Jack Wallace Barbara Waltz Janet Waters Tonya & Chris Watkins Kristen & Tripp Watson Phillip Foster & C. Diann Weatherly JoAnn & Terry Weber Lori & Jim Weil Kitty White & Tryg Hoff Wendy & William White Susan & James Williams Steven Hodges & Janice Williams Elizabeth & Ronald Wolff Susie & Charles Youngson Dorothy & John Ziegler Trillium (Individual) Bryding Adams Priscilla S. Adkisson Edmund Agee Charles L. Allen, Sr. Wendy Allred Margie J. Argo Carole C. Armistead Deborah Baker Debbie Bennett Margaret Bish Michelle Blackwood Jesse Bryson Lyn Chappelle Juanita J. Collinsworth Judy Courington Susan Davenport Shirley G. Dawson

David Doggett Anne Doty Arthur Drott Pattie R. Finney Joann Fox Mary Foy Gerald Fuller Diane G. Gay Norman Geisinger Ann George Dorothy Gerr Linda M. Gilliam Nancy Goldfon Myrna B. Goldstein Holly Goodbody Catherine Gross D. Ward Haarbauer Faye Hallman Kathryn F. Harwell Christine Heckemeyer Brenda Henson Nanaline Holt Peggy Hsu Nancy Hubert Lynn B. Jackson Lectora Johnson Lydia Johnson Debora Keith Carol King Paula W. Lea LaRue Lockhart Gail Lucas Virginia H. Lusk Robert M. May Inez McCollum Charlotte McDavid Billy R. Mills Richard Mills Kimberly Moore Mary Moore Bettie Morales Marty Mullins Catherine Murphy Katharine Musso J. Wallace Nall Barbara Newman Bonnie O’Bannon Paulette L. Ogard Donnie Olis Miriam Omura Ives B. Ort Sherilyn Osborne Dinah L. O’Sullivan Sarah Pass Ann Pierce Marion Plylar Rebecca Posey J. Walden Retan Missy Reynolds-Turner Annette Rodgers Mary F. Samuels Sarah Scholl Kathryn Seigler Janet Sharpe Kathy Smith Mary Smythe Sydney Sparkes Camille Spratling Katherine Tierney Doug Unkenholz Curtis L. Walthaw, Jr. Caroline T. Ward Pat P. Weil Madelyn Wilson

If we have inadvertently left your name out or incorrectly listed you, please accept our apologies and contact Drew Rickel, donor relations officer, at 205.414.3955 or drickel@bbgardens.org.

Planting a Legacy IN MEMORY OF DR. BOB WENDORF

As the Japanese cherry blossoms put on their brief but wondrous display of color, a beacon of spring, we also face the first spring at Birmingham Botanical Gardens without Dr. Robert J. Wendorf. Bob was a perennial fixture of the Japanese Garden, helping to guide the gardeners and volunteers there while offering his expertise in Japanese culture and gardens. Since his passing last year, all those who have a connection to the Japanese Garden have felt the void Bob left us.

To honor Dr. Bob Wendorf and all of his contributions to our most visited and revered garden of culture, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, his family, and those who worked most closely with him in the past years are creating a memorial to him here.

The Bamboo Grove in the Japanese Garden is a new place of interest thanks to the creation of the Bamboo Boardwalk made possible by Protective Life Insurance Co. and the relocation of the large Japanese lantern—formerly at the point of Cahaba and Lane Park roads— to the end of the boardwalk. This has created a need and opportunity to add new plantings and educational signage.

This effort will be dedicated to Bob and all that he has meant to our progress over the years.

You can join with those who fondly remember Bob and honor his contribution to our community by making a donation toward this memorial. Make your gift online at bbgardens.org/support or send your check, made payable to Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, to us at 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223. In the Notes field, please indicate “Wendorf Memorial.” Thank you for your support.

—Drew Rickel

Non-Profit Org. US Postage

PAID

Birmingham, AL Permit No. 2513

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

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

“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.”

—GEORGIA O’KEEFE

Iceland poppies herald the arrival of spring in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Herb Terrace and Forman Garden.