From our volunteer-driven Harvest for the Hungry initiative to our educational programs and outreach efforts, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens shares the bounty of the Gardens and the benefits of growing food sustainably
Stop by our 2020 Fall Plant Sale and choose one of three complimentary camellias exclusively for our Members! Selections include Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide,’ ‘Shishigashira,’ and ‘Hot Flash.’ Visit our Membership table during Member Priority Shopping or our Public Sale to claim your camellia.
Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
John Smith T Chair
Beverley Hoyt Immediate Past Chair
Wally Evans Treasurer
Emily Bowron Secretary
D.C. Coston Chair of Communications & Marketing
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
Norm Davis
Bob de Buys
Wendy Evesque
Kirk Forrester
Helen Harmon
Chris Hastings
Janet Kavinoky
Natalie Kelly
Caroline Little
John Miller
Blevins Naff
Tiffany Osborne
Jim Pickle
Sharon Sherrod
Director Emeritus
John Alex Floyd, Jr.
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens seeks to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We are dedicated to serving the Gardens, serving the community, serving our visitors, and inspiring a passion for plants, gardens, and the environment.
Staff
Tom Underwood ..............................................Executive Director
Stephanie Banks Chief Financial Officer
Mindy Keyes Black Director of Communications and Marketing
Dawn DeFrank Donor Services Coordinator
Jamie Haas Communications and Marketing Associate
Ellen Hardy Education Program Coordinator
Penney Hartline Director 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
Michelle Phillips Office Coordinator
Drew Rickel Donor Relations Officer
Jane Underwood Director of Operations
Editor: Mindy Keyes Black
Art Design: Ellen Padgett
Cover Photo: Graham Yelton
Contributors: Susan Emack Alison, Dawn DeFrank, Jamie Haas, Ellen Hardy, Penney Hartline, Molly Hendry, Dawn Coleman Lee, Brooke McMinn, Drew Rickel, Jane Underwood, Graham Yelton
©2020 Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. All rights reserved. 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223 205.414.3950 | bbgardens.org communications@bbgardens.org
A facility of the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board, Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the result of a successful public/ private partnership between the City of Birmingham and the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a missiondriven membership organization that seeks to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens. We hope you enjoy this issue of the Friends’ award-winning quarterly publication, The Garden Dirt. Thank you for visiting and supporting the Gardens!
Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens practices a policy of equal opportunity and equal access to services for all persons regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, orientation, or sex identity.
Dear Friend,
Gardens provide so much to us. A quiet respite. A healthy alternative. A generational bridge. A place to learn and grow. Here at the Gardens, our outdoor spaces remind us daily that as we care for them, thoughtfully and sustainably, they return the favor many times over, feeding mind, body, and soul.
During this challenging time, Birmingham Botanical Gardens stands as a beacon of commitment and resilience. This community treasure shows us again and again how those dedicated to this special place expand its reach and impact, sharing the bounty and promise of the Gardens with new audiences and ensuring its wonders are here for years to come.
In our cover story, “Feeding People, Community, and Environment” (page 6), we are honored to highlight our volunteer-driven “Harvest for the Hungry” program, which donates more than 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables annually to feed Birmingham-area residents in need, and the Friends’ involvement in the Kingston Teaching Garden, where young people are learning how to grow their own food in the heart of an underserved neighborhood thanks to the vision and dedication of passionate individuals and community partners. In the pages ahead, you’ll also read about how we are bringing the Gardens to local schoolchildren whose in-person field trips have been canceled this fall (page 5) and how we’ve formed a new partnership designed to help children and families connect with nature (page 9).
As a Friend of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, you make our work here possible—enabling us to serve not only the Gardens and its many visitors but also members of our community whose need is great but access often limited. We thank you for the ways you have given back to support our efforts in 2020: through membership, donations, plant purchases, volunteer service, honorary and memorial contributions, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving.
In a year marked by the cancellation of our Spring Plant Sale and the postponement of Antiques at the Gardens, our two largest fundraisers of the year, we need your support now more than ever as we seek to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens. Through your ongoing commitment, we—and these beloved Gardens—will remain resilient.
With heartfelt thanks,
Tom Underwood
Executive Director
Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Bruno Vegetable Garden continues to inspire Chris Hastings, Chef and Co-Owner of Birmingham’s Hot & Hot Fish Club and OvenBird and Member of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Board of Directors. Here he shares a garden-fresh favorite.
This salad was born out of availability. Almost all of the ingredients are grown by farmer Dave Garfrerick. Feel free to substitute other produce if some of the ingredients are not available in your area. We believe that cooking is dependent upon great ingredients. It’s an art, not a science. Have fun, be flexible, and allow the quality of the product to rule your purchasing decisions. —Chris Hastings SERVES 4
1 large heirloom tomato, sliced into 8 (½-inchthick) rounds
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
8 (¾-inch-thick) eggplant slices
1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 small heirloom peppers, such as Anaheim, Cubano, banana, or poblano peppers, roasted, seeded, and peeled
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup fresh goat cheese
½ cup basil pesto
¼ cup fresh microgreens, for garnish
Arrange the tomatoes in a 7- x 11-inch baking dish. Pour the vinegar over the tomatoes, and add the basil and green onions. Allow the tomatoes to marinate at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. While the tomatoes are marinating, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (350˚F to 400˚F).
Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt and pepper, and set aside for 10 minutes. Cut the roasted peppers into 8 equal squares, and set aside until ready to serve.
Lightly brush the salted eggplant slices on both sides with the olive oil. Grill the eggplant slices for 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and softened. Remove the slices from the grill, and top each slice with 1 tablespoon of goat cheese. Spoon 1 tablespoon of pesto on each of 4 salad plates. Place a goat cheese-topped eggplant slice on each plate. Arrange a roasted pepper square over each eggplant, and top each pepper with a tomato slice. Repeat layers with remaining eggplant, pepper, and tomato slices until all of the vegetables have been used. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the remaining pesto around each vegetable stack. Arrange 1 tablespoon of microgreens on top of each salad. Serve immediately.
By MOLLY HENDRY
I OFTEN WISH I COULD TALK TO TREES and ask them what they have learned in their decades of living, looking down on the world below from their lofty fortress. Trees are the fabric into which Birmingham Botanical Gardens is woven, each individual garden nestled into the unified whole of the woodland. All around these silent stalwarts life busily hums. Birds nest in thick branches, their joyful songs echoing through the tops of fluttering canopies. Down below on the forest floor critters scamper and an array of plant life ebbs and flows through the seasons. Meanwhile, the trees remain steadfast, the firm-footed watchmen of the forest. Trees are the strong reverberating note in nature’s melody.
Just as at BBG, your home garden is a place where you carve a little space for yourself out of the wild. Many times the anchor of our gardens is a tree, its branches creating critical structure and its leaves providing that intoxicating drink of shade. But the looming question is, what tree is the right tree? How do we once again capture the harmony of the wild in our contrived garden paradise?
Since, to the best of my knowledge, we cannot talk to the trees about their
Looking for inspiration?
Watch for these beauties during your next visit.
What it is: Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)
What we love about it:
This majestic tree once covered large portions of Alabama and is recognized as our state tree. If you have several acres, planting longleaf pines helps preserve
thoughts directly, it becomes very tempting to answer these questions with only our own needs in full view. “I need a tree that grows fast,” we say, hastily adding, “one that does not need any maintenance ... and is breathtakingly beautiful 365 days of the year!” These demands will likely lead us to an assortment of dazzling options, which often stand out in those perfectly curated nursery catalogs with flashy descriptions. However, what these trees possess in a beautiful headshot they often lack in strength and stamina to stand the test of time. In demanding instant bang for our buck, we often forsake those mighty pillars of the Southern landscape that have graced these lands longer than our grandmothers’ buttermilk biscuit recipes.
And it is here that we stumble upon another answer, one that lifts our gaze from ourselves and dares us to ask what the place itself is longing for in a tree. If we start with the place’s needs and match these to the tree’s needs, we will get a happy tree perfectly nestled into the context of its surroundings that will in turn meet our wildest dreams. How is that for a win-win situation?
While the options are endless for trees, the key is to begin limiting your choices by approaching from the correct direction. Start with a wider view. What kind of landscape are you in? Is it a piedmont forest, a woodland edge, a bright open meadow? Next, zoom into your garden. What kind of effect are you wanting to create in your garden? Do you want to use timeless Southern trees, screen a busy road, have a spring bloom out your kitchen window? Then you can dive into those nitty-gritty questions. What kind of soil, light, and moisture conditions do you have? What shape is needed for the space?
With each question you will arrive a little closer to your answer. Your garden is a melody in which the right tree will beautifully harmonize. Perhaps one day the trees will answer, but until then we keep asking the right questions.
an endangered ecosystem, expanding the three percent of this species’ original range that is still intact.
Where to find it: Kaul Wildflower Garden
What it is: American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
What we love about it: The white trunks and translucent brown leaves pull the American beech to the forefront of our woodlands in autumn. It is an asset to any landscape not only aesthetically but also ecologically, as many birds and mammals will flock to the tree to snag one of its tasty nuts.
Where to find it: Kaul Wildflower Garden, Barber Alabama Woodlands
What it is: Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla)
What we love about it: Many visitors often stop in their tracks when they find themselves looking up under the 30-inchlong leaves of the aptly named bigleaf magnolia. In autumn, this woodland giant’s leaves turn and fall, often with the white backs of the leaves facing up, creating a snowlike groundcover.
Where to find it: Southern Living Garden, Kaul Wildflower Garden
What it is: Bartlett pear (Pyrus communis҅Williams҆)
What we love about it: Not only are pear trees beautiful, but also they come bearing gifts of delicious fruit! The Bartlett pear is a great choice for its resistance to fire blight (a disease caused by a bacterium) and its flexible personality, which allows it to be trained into interesting espalier forms.
Where to find it: Thompson Enthusiasts Garden
What it is: Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
What we love about it: This tree seems to have it all!
Photos by Graham Yelton
Serviceberries have a lovely multitrunk structure that creates a sculptural form in the winter garden. Its spring blooms give way to fall berries that you can enjoy before the birds discover them. Where to find it: Forman Garden
What it is: Southern sugar maple (Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum)
What we love about it: With striking foliage that makes for a fall showstopper, this Southern cousin of the sugar maple is a cherished gem in autumn. Where to find it: Barber Alabama Woodlands
A fond childhood memory at the Gardens sparked Carson Hughes҆ choice of Eagle Scout project.
By ELLEN HARDY
OUR NATIVE AMERICAN DISCOVERY FIELD TRIP invites us to journey back in time as we learn how the native people of Alabama lived their lives. We discover their way of companion planting through a Three Sisters Garden composed of the three agricultural staples of indigenous people in Alabama: squash, maize, and climbing beans. We learn how they used gourds to craft bowls, dippers, musical instruments, and more while using other plants to construct structures and tools. Their knowledge of native trees and how they could provide medicines, baskets, and dugout canoes for travel is still recognized today. This year we were able to continue the program’s decades-long legacy of displaying structures and a dugout canoe replicated and hand-constructed by Eagle Scouts.
We would like to thank Carson Hughes of BSA Troop 83 for choosing Birmingham Botanical Gardens and adopting the Native American Area for his Eagle Scout Project. Years ago, as a third-grader in Mrs. Simon’s Vestavia Hills Elementary West class, Carson attended a Discovery Field Trip program. He says, “The flowers were nice, but I was amazed that there were Native American structures, and the dugout canoe blew me away.” He remembers his enthusiasm, which is why he selected the Gardens for his Eagle Project as a rising senior at Vestavia Hills High School. Carson’s craftsmanship and leadership will make it possible for others to have the same memorable educational experience. Students and visitors will be inspired to see this example of reaching goals and giving back.
Carson crafted a dugout canoe from an American sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua). He enjoyed hand-chipping the dugout every day and spending time outdoors as he experienced this legendary crafting process from start to finish.
He and his fellow Scouts also constructed a new Summer Shelter and Drying Racks for the area by hand-tying cedar poles with square and tripod lashings. The most challenging part, he says, was ensuring the stability of the roof. To complete the
“The flowers were nice, but I was amazed that there were Native American structures, and the dugout canoe blew me away.”
—CARSON HUGHES
educational experience for student visitors, he also donated handmade tools, including a blowgun crafted from hollow plant material, a bow and arrow, and a gourd vessel with a basket. The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens thanks Gardens Director Virgil Mathews for enabling the project to be a success.
Carson shares, “If I had one piece of advice for Eagle-seeking Scouts, I would say persistence is everything. Just like hiking, it’s all about putting one foot in front of the other, making steady progress. I would like to thank my fellow Scouts in Troop 83; my Scout Master, Jim Henry; and my dad, Paul Hughes.” We are grateful to all who contributed!
Hear more from Carson: Visit youtube.com/ birminghambotanicalgardens
By JAMIE HAAS
BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS has long served as an inspirational backdrop to the hands-on learning experiences of school-age children from across the Birmingham-metro area. With more than 67 acres brimming with botanical wonders, it’s no surprise that curious little ones yearn to explore every nook and cranny of this fascinating place.
To help transform this childhood fascination into a lifelong connection to and respect for the wonders of nature, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens has provided on-site Discovery Field Trips to thousands of students annually for more than 20 years, opening new worlds for those taking part.
Driven primarily by science content, the curriculum-based field trips meet students where they are developmentally, highlighting Alabama history and offering insights into thematically rich topics such as the scientific contributions of Dr. George Washington Carver and plants’ roles in the Native American cultures of Alabama.
This year, as many Alabama schools choose to limit field trips and embrace socially distant learning to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Friends is expanding its educational toolkit to offer these iconic Discovery Field Trips virtually.
Facilitated by the Junior League of Birmingham, the virtual field trips will allow the Gardens’ scholastic reach to extend far beyond its grounds during a time when many students may not have a chance to visit in person. The Friends’ new partnership with The Literacy Council of Central Alabama will enable us to share a Spanish-language version as well.
“Virtual field trips don’t replace, but enrich the learning experience,” says Education Program Coordinator Ellen Hardy. “They present a unique opportunity to experience the Gardens at any time of day, from any distance away, throughout the course of the year.”
With new plants blooming each season—and never the same way twice—the Gardens is truly a living collection, and, since their inception in 1998, Discovery Field Trips have changed and grown right alongside them, she notes. Adapting to meet the needs of the Gardens and its many visitors has always been a tenet of the programs, making their digital shift a natural next step in the progression of these learning experiences.
“We want families, children, and teachers to think of us as a resource for those eager to discover nature and plants,” says Hardy. “The people of Birmingham—and of Alabama as a whole—have us as a partner in education, not just now but always.”
From our volunteer-driven Harvest for the Hungry initiative to our educational programs and outreach efforts, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens shares the bounty of the Gardens and the benefits of growing food sustainably
By
8 a.m., and it’s already so hot and humid that the air outside feels like a steam room. The sun beats down on the Bruno Vegetable Garden, but our volunteers don’t seem to mind any more than the plants that drink it up all around them. They are in their element, fulfilled by their work and their fellowship with each other. The bounty they harvest—tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and squash all sustainably produced and carefully collected—is not for themselves but instead for Harvest for the Hungry, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ program to feed those in the greater Birmingham area who are food insecure. Through this program, more than 2,000 pounds of produce annually goes to feed people who have fallen on hard times and to whom a donated meal may mean they do not have to choose whether to keep the lights on and go hungry or to eat in the dark. This program is one of many ways the Friends works to feed the people, the community, and the environment in Birmingham.
Randy Yarbrough, with The Community Kitchens of Birmingham, is appreciative of donations from Harvest for the Hungry because they often include “vegetables we don’t normally see. We buy from the Food Bank. We don’t get a lot of fresh tomatoes. We don’t get many fresh cucumbers or zucchini or squash. Being able to serve okra ... our guests love okra, and they love it when we fry or roast your okra.” The Community Kitchens is a communitybased nonprofit organization that provides meals to those in need in Birmingham’s Five Points South and Woodlawn neighborhoods every day of the year, over 65,000 meals annually. Mr. Yarbrough says that “the fresh food from the Gardens is almost like an extravagance that we don’t have money for, so when you give us fresh produce, we’re able to give our guests dishes we normally couldn’t serve them. A lot of times, when we serve okra, or when we’re able to serve cucumber-tomato salad, our guests will remember, ‘My grandmama used to make that,’ and they love it.”
Not only are the volunteers who make this program possible supporting the greater Birmingham community through this work; they also are creating their own smaller but vibrant community of people who are passionate about coming together in this public space to learn and grow. Some, like our seasoned Master Gardeners, are vegetable gardening experts in their own right. But this horticultural cohort is every bit as
This site serves to inform and inspire home gardeners to take a more active role in their personal health and that of the world around them.
—Brooke McMinn
welcoming to newcomers who want to learn and gain hands-on experience while giving back. When asked why she chooses to volunteer her time with Harvest for the Hungry, Barbara Kimbrel says, “Win-win resonates with me. My health is improved with exercise and vitamin D from the sun. Socially, I am happy to be with others outside in fresh air. Psychologically, watching the work from my hands mature and knowing the harvested food will benefit those who are hungry is uplifting to my spirit.”
Volunteer Dahlia McKinney says she is “not only helping in the efforts against hunger in my own community; but also cultivating lifelong friendships with my fellow volunteers. This has become my happy place. Aside from that, I learned a lot of practical tips that I use in my own garden, including pruning tomatoes; how to prevent weeds just by using newspapers; amending soil; and how to control pests organically. Until I have learned every lesson I need, I will just keep on coming.”
When we talk about sustainability, be it of gardens, communities, or economies, resilience
is key—the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. When the global pandemic first arrived in Alabama, Birmingham Botanical Gardens was closed for three months and at a crucial time for planting summer crops in the Bruno Vegetable Garden. For much of that, staff numbers were reduced and volunteers were not allowed on-site. During that time we were fortunate to have Friends staff, including our Rotary Club of Shades Valley intern and other interns, who were passionate about fulfilling our commitment to the Harvest for the Hungry program and who stepped in to prepare beds, plant summer crops, water, and weed (and weed some more). We were also honored to be awarded additional, immediate support from the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program. This program was designed in partnership by the American Public Gardens Association and the United States Botanic Garden to prevent shortfalls, promote resilience, and grow capacity for established urban agriculture programs across our public gardens community. The Friends was among 28 public gardens awarded
these funds for use during COVID-19.
The Bruno Vegetable Garden is also home to a new educational initiative made possible by the Annie Lee Buce Matthews Fund for Sustainable Gardening. This generous gift will allow us to use this space to demonstrate both traditional methods and innovative technologies that address the fact that humans are now using natural resources more quickly than nature can replenish them. From broad approaches such as integrative pest management practices used to solve plant health problems while minimizing risks to people and ecosystems, to specific irrigation techniques, cover crops, and companion planting, this site will serve to inform and inspire home gardeners to take a more active role in their personal health and that of the world around them.
This area of the Gardens plays a key role in our awardwinning Discovery Field Trip programs too. Students grades K-8 connect with nature by exploring curriculum-based topics such as the nitrogen cycle, the global food web, and plant-animal relationships. A Native American bed offers a native land recognition that this garden was once territory of the Mvskoke (Muscogee/Creek) and Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) nations and displays common crops and agricultural practices of those tribes. And on the hillside above, the Carver Garden provides students the opportunity to learn about the work of Dr. George Washington Carver and his unique contributions to agricultural science in
IN JANUARY 2019, I received a call from Krislyn Allison, operations coordinator for The Exchange Club CAP Center of Birmingham, to inquire about programs we have available for families. The center, which seeks to strengthen families and break the cycle of child abuse and neglect by providing education and support to parents and children, was looking for new ways to connect its clients to the wonders of nature and outdoor activity. Our team jumped at the chance, and I offered to conduct an outreach program based on our Garden Gates Discovery Field Trip and our Garden Explorations summer program designed to highlight the science of plants and our dependence on them.
Early one Saturday morning two months later, I arrived at The Exchange Club headquarters, located in a charming, repurposed, two-story home about five minutes from the Gardens in Birmingham’s Southside, with our University of Montevallo Environmental Studies program intern, Isabella Berryhill, and plants, soil, and pots to lead families through a propagation lesson. A handful of families attended with children under the age of 4. The adults, including our CAP Center partners, were even more excited than the kids to get their hands dirty! We reviewed the basics
and provided resources for their plant and gardening questions.
From this effort, new partnerships have grown. I quickly connected Krislyn with our Education Program Coordinator, Ellen Hardy, for on-site self-guided programming, as well as our partners at Villager Yoga and the Education Department at The Birmingham Zoo. Krislyn also arranged for CAP families to attend our 2019 Earth Day event in April. Families met up with Exchange Club staff on the day of the event to sign in, receive their sack lunch, and enjoy Earth Day at the Gardens.
The outreach partnership has continued into 2020. In June, we held a virtual garden craft workshop. CAP families created wooden utensil scarecrows for their quarantine gardens, Cheerio bird feeders, and a “dump” paint planter activity that let the kids get a little dirty. I prepackaged the crafts into individual gallon-size storage bags for each family. It was fun to see the parents help their kids. The kids got creative with their wooden utensil scarecrows, and parents were excited to know the materials provided were inexpensive and activities could easily be re-created all summer.
The partnership with The Exchange Club has been extremely rewarding and has given us the opportunity to connect with a new community that may not have known about all that we have to offer. We look forward to continuing this partnership with future programming and projects.
—Dawn Coleman Lee
Birmingham Botanical Gardens is one of 28 public gardens nationwide to receive funding from the U.S. Botanic Garden and American Public Gardens Association in June to help sustain urban agriculture and community food growing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is part of the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program, which aims to promote resilience, grow capacity, prevent shortfalls, and gather best practices from established programs across the U.S. public gardens community.
Through the Gardens’ Harvest for the Hungry initiative, Friends volunteers harvest more than 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables from the Bruno Vegetable Garden each year to share with Birmingham-area residents in need. “We are grateful to the U.S. Botanic Garden and American Public Gardens Association for awarding us this funding at a time when many families are struggling,” says Friends Executive Director Tom Underwood. “These funds will allow us to continue to grow and distribute vegetables to people in our community who otherwise have limited to no access to fresh produce. It will also help us continue our efforts to promote wellness and nutrition by educating the public about growing and consuming fruits and vegetables.”
In addition to providing immediate support, the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program will provide insight into successful approaches and future opportunities for public gardens to improve food access and advance food and agriculture education in urban communities, particularly during times of crisis.
By assisting other community groups with their efforts to educate and inspire, we compound our work exponentially.
—Brooke McMinn
Alabama during the early 20th century.
Of course, we also recognize that as much as we wish they could, not everyone can come to us. That’s where community outreach is essential. By assisting other community groups with their efforts to educate and inspire, we compound our work exponentially. We work with the groups like the Kingston Coalition on their Kingston Teaching Farm and Community Garden and with the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Center’s Positive Parenting Group. When the Exchange Club shifted to virtual programming in the face of COVID-19 health and safety concerns, our Education Activities Specialist, Dawn Coleman Lee, was right there alongside them with her outreach activity kits for participating families to follow along and learn, remotely. In Kingston, however, there was a garden to grow that wouldn’t wait for the pandemic to pass.
When the Friends first began working with the Kingston Coalition back in 2016, there wasn’t much more to work with than a field of closely mowed weeds on an empty lot. But local architect Richard “Dick” Pigford saw more. He saw community and he saw connections. Mr. Pigford worked with other initial Coalition stakeholders like UAB’s Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center’s (MHRC) Community Engagement Program Director Tiffany Osborne and recruited new members like local author, historian, and avid gardener Cathy Adams, both of whom also serve on the Friends’ Board of Directors. He shared with them a vision of a community connected to the land and to each other through the land. They shared that vision with others, and the Kingston Coalition blossomed and bloomed just as first the Kingston Community Garden, then the Kingston Teaching Farm, did.
That is why, following Mr. Pigford’s passing last year, the remaining members were steadfast in their determination to see the coalition succeed and dedicated the new Kingston Teaching Farm, located on the property of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District’s Morton Simpson Community Center, to him in the summer
of 2019. Cathy Adams says, “He left us a legacy. He loved this community.” Tiffany Osborne shares that the Coalition is finding creative ways to engage the community in the initiative. “It’s a labor of love, but a labor nonetheless,” she says. Her hope is to see the community take ownership of not only the community gardens but also the teaching farm, using it for classes where students will come to “work their own bed from start to finish; learn about diseases, weeding, harvesting correctly; and then ultimately learn what to do with those vegetables once you harvest them.”
This summer, Friends staff worked with Kingston Coalition member Milton King, founder and head mentor of D2B Birmingham, an organization focused on mentoring young men from Birmingham and the surrounding areas with the mission “to present quality teachings on life and precepts of living a successful life while striving to achieve all positive goals in hopes to achieve strong character, awareness, and hope while appealing unto the mindset of the 21st century young man.” Some of Mr. King’s mentees were among the first to plant the Teaching Farm. They helped water during the heat of the season and to harvest produce. Most importantly, as Cathy Adams says, “they’re enthusiastic, they want to learn, and it’s a good, quality experience for everybody.” Of Milton King himself, Tiffany Osborne says he has “an amazing passion and commitment to the Kingston community. He’s from Kingston, and he wants so much to see that community grow and prosper … . When he learned that we were working to engage community residents, he and his organization kicked into full gear and said, ‘We’ll help out.’ He wants to see Kingston residents learn and grow.” That’s a goal everyone involved with the Kingston Coalition shares. And it’s a goal the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens shares for all of Birmingham. Whether our community members come to us or we go to our community members, our aim is the same: serve the Gardens, serve the community, serve our visitors, and inspire a passion for plants, gardens, and the environment.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MeKhi Franks and Jordan Brown, student participants in the D2B (Determined 2 Be) Mentor and Leadership Program, learn gardening skills as they help care for raised beds at the Kingston Teaching Farm. D2B mentees Ra’shaan Sullivan and MeKhi Franks lay newspapers and insert a wire frame in a raised bed with Friends Board Member Tiffany Osborne, who serves as Community Engagement Program Director with the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center, and Katie Stahlhut, 2020 Rotary Club of Shades Valley Intern with the Friends. Ra’shaan Sullivan learns the art of deadheading spent blooms. Jordan Brown gives plants a drink of water on a hot summer day.
HAVE YOU EVER WALKED THROUGH the Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose Garden (IOFRG) and wondered why there are so many perennials and shrubs planted in a rose garden? I know this was my second thought when I was introduced to this space almost four years ago. My first thought? This is a gorgeous garden!
Designed by landscape architect Robert Kirk and dedicated in 1988 in memory of Mrs. Annette Bickford Ireland, the IOFRG is what we call a “Garden of Collections,” blending heritage roses hybridized prior to 1867 with perennials and shrubs added for year-round color. Heritage roses have not been heavily hybridized and therefore tend to be very fragrant with a color palette ranging from shades of white and pink to maroon but tend to have only one season of bloom. This is where the perennials and shrubs come in: They extend the color interest throughout the year.
When approached, Vince Champion, the City of Birmingham gardener responsible for the maintenance and plant selections for this garden, is happy to point out some of his favorites. These include ‘Mrs. Dudley Cross’ rose, a beautiful repeat bloomer; ‘Miracle’ cyclamen, offering a soft sweet winter fragrance; ‘Pageant
Resplendent in every season, the Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose Garden shines following installation of a new drainage system and turf By JANE UNDERWOOD
Mix’ primula, a prolific bloomer from October to December; and ‘Frostproof’ gardenia with large, 2- to 3-inch fragrant white flowers. As you stroll along the turf-lined beds, see if you can pick out these favorites.
A popular location for photos, the IOFRG
sees quite a bit of not only foot and stroller traffic but also vehicular traffic from staff doing maintenance. Over time this volume of traffic takes its toll, causing compaction of the soil, ruts and depressions that tend to hold water after irrigation or rain, as well as tired-looking turf. Earlier this year, it was ready for a renovation.
With the closing of the Gardens in March due to COVID-19, the Friends seized the opportunity to renovate the turf and hired a landscape contractor to carry out the work. The existing turf was removed, new engineered soil (consisting of specific ratios of sand, silt, clay, and organic amendments) was brought in to fill voids and help with the grade, and additional drainage pipe and catch basins were installed to help move the surface water into the nearby storm drain. Meyer zoysia turf served as the icing on the cake in this beautiful garden space. The work was completed in record time during the Gardens’ closure. The contractor was able to leave equipment out and could work steadily without interruption or impacting our visitors.
The next time you are at the Gardens, be sure to visit the Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose Garden and stop and smell the roses, the perennials, and the shrubs.
‘VARIEGATA DI BOLOGNA’ ROSE
A standout heirloom Bourbon rose, this old-fashioned variety has an intoxicating scent to match its bold peppermint stripes.
‘BECKY’ SHASTA DAISIES
Nothing is more classic in a garden than a daisy. From summer into fall, ‘Becky’ shasta daisies will give you continual white blooms on long stems that are perfect to dance through your garden beds or to cut and bring inside.
‘BENGAL TIGER’ CANNA
Add tropical flair to your garden with the ‘Bengal Tiger’ canna, which gives you a brilliant pop of color through both its vivid orange flowers and its lime green-striped leaves.
YELLOW BAPTISIA
Baptisias are the heralds of spring, coming in an array of colors, from blue to yellow and white, with a lovely silvery foliage.
SPANISH LAVENDER (Lavandula stoechas)
This lavender is a great choice for the warmer temperatures of the South. It boasts of deep purple blooms contrasted against its silver foliage that you might smell before you see.
By DREW RICKEL
AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS, we are constantly surrounded by the memories and influence of Dr. James L. Newsome. Along the walls outside the auditorium we are fortunate to have gorgeous orchid prints from a celebrated Victorianera work, Frederick Sander’s Reichenbachia: Orchids Illustrated & Described; the prints were a gift from Jim’s estate. In the Library at the Gardens, we have several rare reference books that he donated to our collection.
Throughout his life, Jim would show up at the Gardens to talk about or judge orchids with the Alabama Orchid Society or to surround himself with plants, the likes of which fueled his lifelong love of gardening, sparked initially by his grandmother, who raised and crossbred camellia plants. Since his passing in July 2018, his legacy endures through the knowledge he shared and the passion he inspired in all those who had the privilege of spending time with him.
Though an accomplished medical pathologist, Jim insisted on not being referred to as “Dr.” or “M.D.” when we referenced him in print. A truly gracious and giving person, he was a supporter of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Camp Smile-A-Mile, two organizations that benefited from his humble kindness and commitment to spreading the things that brought him joy. Jim’s dedication to our mission led him to make a planned gift to the Friends, and soon, his legacy will include helping make possible much-needed improvements in the Gardens’ greenhouses and updates to the Gardens’ website.
Jim had a great interest in all types of plants, but in particular, it was orchids that drew his attention. Despite living with multiple sclerosis, Jim didn’t miss the Alabama Orchid Society Show and Sale at the Gardens, would regularly attend judging at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Mid-America Orchid Congress conferences; and this was in addition to tending to a greenhouse with a collection of around 1,000 Cattleya orchids. He was an exemplary human being who showed that in spite of facing health challenges people can make meaningful contributions to the world around them.
If you too would like to leave a legacy at the Gardens, ensuring that this botanical treasure will remain a place of beauty and source of inspiration, please join the Perennial Legacy Giving Circle, a group of dedicated people who plant the seeds for future generations by including the Friends in their estate planning. For more information, please contact Director of Development Penney Hartline at 205.414.3950, ext. 103.
We are grateful for the many ways that you show your support of the Friends throughout the year! Your annual membership, contributions, and volunteer service are critical to our success. As a friend of the Gardens, you join with others who treasure both the natural world and the Gardens’ important role in our community. Thank you for helping us keep Birmingham Botanical Gardens special for everyone to enjoy!
—Penney Hartline, Director of Development
April–July 2020
Betty Baker
Miss Jennifer E. Baker
Mother of the Year, Chris Boles
Kathryn Jones & Casey Ruiz
Holly Carlisle
The Little Garden Club
COVID-19 First Responders & Essential Workers
The Herb Society of Alabama Wildflowers Garden Club
Patricia B. Driscoll
The Little Garden Club
Birthday of Ronald E. Epstein
Gayle Leitman
Martha B. Eskew
Anonymous
John Floyd
Paula & Mike Rushing
Bog Garden Volunteers & Supporters
Dr. & Mrs. Larry G. Stephens
Molly Hendry
The Little Garden Club
Katie King Kreuser
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas King
John Manion
Dr. Steven Hodges &
Ms. Janice H. Williams
Robbin C. McInturff
Michael L. McInturff
Kathy D. Park
Jim Park
Mike Rushing
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Arndt
Neely & Carol Craig
Mr. & Mrs. R. Bruce Donnellan
Hunters Hill Garden Club
Mr. Charles Mayer
Ms. Mary N. Moore
Louise R. Slingluff
Laura & Keith Covington
John Smith T
Ellen & Hobart McWhorter
Dorothy J. Tayloe
Ingram & Associates
Tom & Jane Underwood
Mr. & Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto
Tom Underwood
Wildflowers Garden Club
Louise A. Wrinkle
Mr. Hugh Smith
MEMORIALS
April–July 2020
Ruby S. & John P. Ansley
Mr. Claude C. White & Ms. Sallie S. Aman
Barbara Moss Brannum
Ms. Suzanne A. Hovater
Clarence Arlton Brooks II
Sandra & Jerry Parker
Mary Edna Harris Bushnell
Dorothy Ireland Fletcher
Ms. Jessie Y. Jemison
Homer Eugene Croasmun, Jr.
Theresa Croasmun
L. Aubrey Drewry
Elizabeth Drewry
Christine Ellicott
Joan E. Crooks
Robert L. Eskew, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Eskew
Anonymous
Charles A. Fell, Jr. & Allison Porter Fell
Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Simpson
Mildred Kay Flowers
Mr. & Mrs. James Delk
Dorothy Ann Smith Flynt
Dr. Shannon Flynt & Mr. Sean Flynt
J. Marshall Garrett
Mr. & Mrs. Blair Cox
Ann Harvey
Mrs. Juanita J. Collinsworth
Mr. & Mrs. Blair Cox
Ms. Rita T. Foust
Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Hall
Hill & Dale Garden Club
Mrs. Bonnie O’Bannon
Paula & Mike Rushing
Tom & Jane Underwood
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Waudby
Michael E. “Mac” Haworth, Jr.
Hill & Dale Garden Club
Sarah Ruth Bradford Horn
Mr. & Mrs. Russ Broussard
Mr. & Mrs. Erick Cooper
Mr. T. Scott Gloor
Lucy & William McCown
Mr. & Mrs. John Nevins
Edith Frances Hubler
Dr. & Mrs. Michael L. McInturff
Marie Jeff
Mr. & Mrs. Blair Cox
Murray Berry Johnston
Mary & Jamie French
Mr. & Mrs. Murray W. Smith
Helen Lawlor
Ms. Frances H. Lawlor
Margot Kessler Marx
Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Anthony
Mr. & Mrs. Randy Averett
Mr. & Mrs. Frank M. Bainbridge, Jr.
Susanna Person Barton
Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Beavers, Jr.
Jane & Joe Bluestein
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Brinkley
Mr. Christopher Brooks & Mrs. Clarence Brooks
Camille Butrus
Mr. James D. Sokol & Ms. Lydia C. Cheney
Mr. & Mrs. Reaves Monroe Crabtree
Paula & Francis Crockard
Mrs. Abby Dunne
David, Jan, John & Paul Ehrhardt
Ellen & Ben Erdreich
Mr. Jeremy C. Erdreich & Mr. Larry Slater
Dr. Judith K. Favor
Dr. & Mrs. Philip Fischer
Shaun & Hayes Flynn
FoodBar & Ms. Heather Creel
Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Frei
Mary & Jamie French
Ellen & Houston Gillespy
Gerry & Jim Gillespy
Jane Fidler Goetz
Dr. Morton Goldfarb
Susan & Wyatt Haskell
Mary Katherine Fleitas Hoffman
Mr. & Mrs. Dick Jones
Ms. Holly Jones
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Knight, Jr.
Mr. Othni Lathram
Ms. Becky Leibensperger
Shelley & Frank Lindstrom
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Malec
Catherine King Matthews
June & Joe Mays
Alicia Weeks McGivaren,
Alicia Lee Anderson, Anna Westhoff & Emily Ferrell
Betty & John McMahon
Ann Dial McMillan & George McMillan
Juli Newsom Means
Mr. Chris A. Miller
Greer Patricia Haggerty Olenick
Mrs. Anne Oliver
Jean Bliss Olson
Ashley Fulmer Pace
Merritt Pizitz, Paget Pizitz & Dee Jordan
Porter, White & Company
Carol P. Poynor
Susan & Dowd Ritter
Alice & Bob Schleusner
Mr. & Mrs. J. Trent Scofield
Jane Selfe
Christina Emig Sherrod
Jim Simon
Ms. Carole Simpson
Stewart & Catherine Smith, Win & Anne Holman
Mrs. Peter G. Smith
Mr. Arnold L. Steiner
Ms. Alison Steiner
Rose Steiner
Francesca Stratton
Mr. & Mrs. James F. Sulzby III
Dr. & Mrs. Roger C. Suttle, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Trimmier
Mr. & Mrs. Goodloe H. White
Mr. & Mrs. H. Penny
Whiteside
Jim Williams & your friends at Oakworth Capital Bank
Janet & Bob Windsor, Catherine & Wilbur
Matthews
Mrs. Suzanne H. Woodall
Mr. & Mrs. William G. Yates III
Anonymous
Katherine Anna McInturff
Dr. & Mrs. Michael L. McInturff
Roger Dale Meadows, Sr.
Mr & Mrs. Fred W. Murray, Jr.
Dr. Simon Mirelman
Dr. H. Peter & Susie Jander
Barbara Schroeder Oliver
Hill & Dale Garden Club
Gregory Wade Olvey
Ms. Phyllis S. Johnston
William Gordon
Perkinson, Jr.
Sandra & Jerry Parker
Austin Martin Price
Mr. & Mrs. James M. Price
Edith Tynes Quarles
Mr. & Mrs. Bayard Tynes
Oliver Gordon Robinson, Jr.
Mary & Jamie French
Iris Elaen Russell
Mr. & Mrs. Michael G. Martin
Gwendolyn Walker Savage
Mr. & Mrs. Fred W. Murray, Jr.
Arthur Page Sloss, Jr.
Ms. Leigh Sloss-Corra
Virginia B. Spencer
Charles M. Love
Julia Barron Arbuthonot
Strickland
Mr. & Mrs. David Allen
Mr. & Mrs. David Conkle
Mr. & Mrs. James S. Hanson
Robert A. Walton
The Herb Society of Alabama
Robert J. Wendorf
Mr. H. Neal Moore, Jr.
Barbara Brown Wood
Hill & Dale Garden Club
LIBRARY DONORS
April–July 2020
Dr. William E. Barrick
Sarah Culver
Forest Park Garden Club
Mike Rushing
LIBRARY
MEMORIALS
April–July 2020
Dorothy Body
Mary Foy
Ann Harvey
Elizabeth Drewry
Virginia McLean
Murray B. Johnston
Dr. Edward H. Laughlin
Kathryn B. Llardin
Jane N. McFadden
Roger D. Meadows
Josephine S. Pankey
Wilmer S. Poyner III
William S. ‘Brother’ Prichard, Jr.
Edith T. Quarles
Oak Street Garden Shop
Employees
Ivy Vickery Wittichen
Billy Angell
LIBRARY HONORARIUMS
April–July 2020
Sallie Lee
Desiree Bates
William Carter
Helen Drake
Annette Drummonds
Synithia Flowers
Bridgett Harris
Nkenge Hyter
Lisa Jones
Cynthia Whitaker
PERENNIAL LEGACY GIVING CIRCLE
As of July 2020
Recognizing those who have made or pledged a planned gift
Mr.* & Mrs. Edgar G. Aldridge
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Balliet
Ms. Camille A. Becker
Mrs. Lucille S. Beeson*
Peggy Bonfield & Orrin Ford*
Ida C. & D. Joseph Burns*
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur I. Chenoweth*
Mary Carolyn Gibbs
Cleveland
Suzanne G. Clisby
Mrs. Martha Stone Cobb
Daniel*
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Dr. L. Aubrey* & Elizabeth Drewry
The Dunn-French Family
Dr. John D. Elmore*
Martha B. & Robert L.* Eskew
Mrs. Trudy Evans
Mr. & Mrs. Wally Evans
Mrs. Claire H. Fairley*
Bernadine Rushing Faulkner
Mr. F. Lewter Ferrell, Jr.*
Dr.* & Mrs. Charles P. Grant
Patti Hammond
Jody & Don Hamre*
Penney & Roger Hartline
Mr. R.R. Herbst*
Mrs. Jimmie Hess*
Mr. J. Ernest Hill & Mrs. Ora Lee Hill*
Mrs. Jane Hinds
Fay B. Ireland*
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*
Linda & Douglas McCullough
Margaret H. McGowan*
Mrs. Mary Jean Morawetz
Mr. Philip Morris*
Thelma Vaughan Mueller*
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
Sandra S. Simpson
Mr. & Mrs. William M. Spencer III*
Frederick R. Spicer, Jr.
Mr. Douglas Arant Stockham
Janet & Jarry Taylor
Dr. Wendell H. Taylor, Sr. *
Mrs. Barbara D. Thorne *
Dr. & Mrs.* Jack W. Trigg, Jr.
Mrs. Carolyn D. Tynes *
Mrs. Ann H. “Nancy” Warren*
Karen & Dan Weinrib
Mrs. Robert Wells
Anonymous (2)
*Deceased
You can help us perpetuate the wonders of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and all that it means to our community and region by including the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens in your planned giving. Gifts to the Friends, a vibrant organization with strong roots in the community, ensure that this botanical treasure will remain a place of beauty and source of inspiration for all who visit for generations to come. Every gift makes an impact. Please consider designating the Friends as a beneficiary of your estate through your will, charitable trust, or retirement beneficiary designation. We are grateful to those who have made this special commitment. Please join them in supporting and protecting this beloved community resource. Call Director of Development Penney Hartline at 205.414.3950, ext. 103, to learn more.
Visit bbgardens.org/classes to explore the latest offerings and to reserve your spot. Join us as well for socially distanced, outdoor yoga. Yoga classes are currently limited to eight registrants; for the health and safety of all participants, we ask that you bring your own mat and props and pay in advance online at bbgardens.org/classes.
Preregistration is required.
VIRTUAL PAINT
A virtual fundraiser for Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosted by Yaymaker
Instructor: Eugenia Miller
Thursday, September 24 | 6 p.m.
Hosted via Zoom
Cost: $30 per person
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE PLANT CONSERVATION
A virtual Native Plant Studies class
Instructor: Bob Boyd, Ph.D., Professor, Auburn University
Saturdays, October 10 and 17
12:30–4:30 p.m.
Friends: $80 | Non-Members: $100
NATURE IN POETRY
A virtual offering
Instructor: Camille Dungey, Poet and Author
Saturday, November 7 | 3–5 p.m.
Hosted via Zoom
Cost: Free
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF NATIVE PLANTS
A virtual Native Plant Studies class
Instructor: John Manion, Kaul Wildflower Garden Curator
Monday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 10 | 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Hosted via Zoom
Friends: $60 | Non-Members: $75
FALL PLANT SALE
Member Priority Shopping
Friday, September 11 | 4–5:30p.m.
Public Sale
Saturday, September 12 | 8 a.m.–noon
Stop by our Membership table for your annual Member Plant Gift—a camellia— while supplies last! Sponsored by our friends at Leaf & Petal.
YOGA AT THE GARDENS
Preregistration is required.
VINYASA YOGA
Wednesdays, September 2–
November 25 (except November 11)
8:30 a.m.
Friends: $8 | Non-Members: $10
MORNING ASHTANGA YOGA
Mondays, September 14–November 30 (except September 28)
8:30 a.m.
Friends: $8 | Non-Members: $10
FAMILY YOGA IN THE GARDENS (for ages 4+)
Saturdays, September 26, October 10
9 a.m.
Formal Garden
Child + Adult: $15 | Additional Family Member: $5
Library at the Gardens’ Collection Enhanced Through
Thanks to a generous gift from Bill Barrick, the recently retired Executive Director of Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Mobile, and his wife, Jessica, the Library at the Gardens now features a distinctive array of works sure to delight area gardeners and book lovers alike.
Packed in more than 20 bulb crates, the gift comprises 423 books from the Barricks’ private collection and includes more than a few standout finds, such as a copy of Texas Wildflowers signed by Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady of the United States, and two horticultural encyclopedias penned by acclaimed botanist L.H. Bailey.
Filled with volumes on gardening, horticulture, botany, and more, the collection’s contents will be particularly meaningful to Birmingham-based plant lovers given the Barricks’ history with gardens of the Southeast. Prior to becoming Executive Director of Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Mobile in 1999, Bill served for more than 20 years as Executive Vice President and Director of Gardens at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
WREATH MAKING WITH HOLLY CARLISLE
A Virtual Demonstration Exclusively for Our Members
Wednesday, December 2 | 6–7 p.m.
Discover how easy and fun it is to make your own wreath for any season by joining Birmingham-based floral designer and artist Holly Carlisle for this fun virtual demonstration! Starting with an inexpensive grapevine wreath, you’ll learn how to incorporate foraged greenery and natural materials from around your yard for a wreath that enhances your decor. This special offering will include a virtual Q&A with Holly from her studio, ROSEGOLDEN (rosegolden.com; Instagram @hollymcarlisle). We encourage you to watch the demonstration, ask questions, then gather what you need (and rewatch the demo if you’d like) to create your special wreath. Exclusively for Members of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Friends: $25 (includes demonstration + 10-inch grapevine wreath) bbgardens.org/wreathmaking
The gift reflects the Barricks’ deep appreciation for Southern gardening, says Library Director Hope Long, who spent more than a week with Library Assistant and Archivist Jason Kirby reviewing the collection and determining which books to incorporate into the Library’s shelves and which to house in the Archives and Rare Book Room.
“When contemplating retirement, one of my biggest concerns was what to do with my library,” says Bill. “I wanted this collection of books to go to an organization that would use them. I contacted John Floyd to see if the Gardens might have an interest in my books and was thrilled when he called me back with a positive response. In many ways this gift is a tribute to John for his commitment to Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Southern horticulture.”
“We are honored that the Barricks have entrusted us with safeguarding their special collection,” says Tom Underwood, Executive Director of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. “They have inspired a passion for gardens and gardening across the region for more than four decades and will continue to do so through this thoughtful gift.” —Jamie Haas
FALL
Sunday, October 4 I Birmingham Botanical Gardens
A private sunset supper in the Gardens in appreciation of our individual and corporate sponsors
PRESENTED BY
Each year, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosts special events to showcase the incredible beauty of this beloved community treasure and to raise much-needed funds enabling us to fulfill our mission: to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of the Gardens. This year, we are delighted to introduce a new, outdoor picnic supper in the Dunn Formal Rose Garden and Hill Garden. Led by former Board Chair Beverley Hoyt and her dedicated volunteer committee, Birmingham Blooms will honor Friends Director Emeritus and former Southern Living Editor in Chief Dr. John A. Floyd, Jr., a longtime volunteer and supporter of the Gardens. We would like to thank presenting sponsor IBERIABANK and lead corporate sponsors Red Diamond, Inc., and Alabama Power Company, Inc., for their generous support.
Also featuring special guests: designers James Farmer and Mark D. Sikes, who will sign copies of their latest books hosted by Red Diamond, Inc.
James Farmer | Arriving Home
Mark D. Sikes | More Beautiful
For more information and sponsorship levels, call 205.414.3950 or visit bbgardens.org/blooms. Please join us. We thank you for giving back to the Gardens.
bbgardens.org/blooms
2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, Alabama 35223
205.414.3950 bbgardens.org The Garden Dirt is printed using vegetable-based inks. Please recycle.
