BOTANICAL WEEKLY NEWS

03 Apr 2018 Staff jrw

Home n Garden

BBG

Pre-Shop Spring Plant Sale April 4 with our first 2018 Lunch & Learn

Bring your lunch to The Gardens on Wednesday, April 4 from 11:30-12:30 p.m. and get a preview of what our plant groups will have to offer at this year's Spring Plant Sale. You'll get an inside scoop on what to add to your shopping list, and you may even be able to make an early purchase! This Lunch & Learn event is completely FREE and no registration is required.

Spring Plant Sale returns to Brookwood Village April 13-15, with the Preview Party and Members-Only Sale kicking things off on the evening of April 12. Don't miss the biggest plant sale fundraiser of the year! Proceeds from Spring Plant Sale hosted by Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens benefit educational programming at The Gardens, including Discovery Field Trips, our conservation programs and Plant Adventures.

Thomas Rainer brings 'Planting in a Post Wild World' to the Garden Center tonight!

In partnership with Birmingham Audubon, the Alabama Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Mountain Brook Board of Landscape Design and Friends of Jemison Park, Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens welcomes author and landscape architect Thomas Rainer to share his talk, 'Planting in a Post Wild World,' tonight. A reception will be held at 5 p.m., while the lecture begins at 5:30 p.m.

This event is free, and no registration is required. Copies of Rainer's book will be available for purchase at Leaf & Petal at The Gardens, and Rainer will be available for signing.

Bamboo Grove closed until May

In order to preserve our bamboo, the Bamboo Grove beyond the Bamboo Boardwalk will close temporarily to allow shoots to emerge and gain strength. Bamboo only shoots once a year and any shoots that are damaged will not regrow. This will obviously cause a decline in the Bamboo Grove over time. The closure will only last about a month and a half, with reopening dependent on the growth of the shoots. The Boardwalk is still open and visitors are asked to enjoy the Bamboo Grove from there. Thanks for your cooperation in maintaining The Gardens!

UPCOMING ADULT

& FAMILY CLASSES

Mickey Lollar leads 'African Gardens: The Cradle of Life' talk on Saturday

The Dutch East India Company settled at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa in 1652. One of the first institutions established was a garden to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to visiting ships. Very quickly however, ornamental plants were added by visitors, and thus began a network of conservation and contribution. Family Focus: Begonia, Gentian, Pinks, and Daisy.

Mickey Lollar presents 'African Gardens: The Cradle of Life' on Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m. It's just $12 for Members and $15 for Non-Members. Join us!

Discover 'Spring Flowering Native Plants' with John Manion on April 7

One of the most exciting events in the southeast each year is the flowering of our numerous native wildflowers, many of which are ephemeral and go dormant in summer. The Kaul Wildlower Garden is home to hundreds of trilliums, bluebells, rue anemones and numerous other species. Our class will begin in the classroom, where we will discuss the characteristics that make some of these plants so distinctive. Ample time will be spent touring The Gardens to experience the beauty of these plants. As with all Certificate in Native Plant Studies sessions, this elective can be taken in order to accrue hours toward completion of the program or with no further commitment.

It takes place from 1-5 p.m. Join us!

THE LIBRARY

Seed Exchange at The Library at The Gardens

The Library at The Gardens has a Seed Exchange! We took our old card catalog and filled it with open pollinated vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seeds.

The Seed Exchange is a free program that was set up to encourage and educate the public on the benefits and importance of seed saving and how important it is to our natural biodiversity. Through the time-honored tradition of seed saving we celebrate biodiversity, nurture locally adapted plant varieties and foster community resilience, self-reliance and a culture of sharing.

If you are unable to save your own seed, please consider donating a packet or two of fresh, commercially grown, open-pollinated (non-hybrid, non-GMO) seed to keep our library stocked. Returned seed will allow us to keep the library well stocked.

If you already have seed you would like to share with us, we will gladly accept any open pollinated seed (No GMO or hybrid seed, please).

This week's seed of the week is lime basil!

If you have additional questions please email Director of Library Services Hope Long at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer at The Gardens

Interested in volunteering at The Gardens? We have ways that you can pitch in indoors and out!

We're looking for Spring Plant Sale volunteers and we also have regular weekend library positions open. Come pitch in!

To sign up to volunteer, follow the link:

bbgardens.volunteerhub.com

Have questions? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Alice Moore at 205.414.3962 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. more information.

VOLUNTEER