If you are in Birmingham, a great place to visit is the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This is a beautiful 67.5 acre botanical garden with lots to offer. The area is separated into over 20 different garden areas. There are so many things to do here. It is great for all ages!
Birmingham Botanical Gardens is free admission, and it is open 365 days a year.
Things To Do At The Botanical Gardens
1. Walk The Garden
I know this seems obvious, but it cannot be understated. The Garden is separated out into different areas, and each one is unique to look at. Make sure to take a look at the map on premises or you can download the Botanical Gardens map here.
The overwhelming majority of your walk through the gardens will be outside, but there are a couple of indoor areas like the Conservatory that you can walk through as well.
There are fountains, water features, concrete paths, trails and many different types of gardens to walk through. The grounds are very peaceful and quiet. It is a nice place to enjoy time with a loved one, with kids, or just by yourself.
The Japanese Garden is a must see. It is on the far left of the map.
2. Photography
Whether you are into taking pictures with an iPhone or a DSLR, there is so much to take pictures of here. You can take pictures of beautiful flowers, waters features, trees, insects or bushes. There is also a lot of open areas with incredible backgrounds for Professional photography. Almost every time that I go, someone is getting wedding pictures made.
Here are a couple pictures that I have taken at the Gardens:
There are so many opportunities to take photos here. You don’t need a fancy camera, you can use your cell phone to take some incredible pics here.
If you are a Professional photographer, or if you just have a lot of nice equipment, there are some rules you have to follow.
- You cannot make reservations for Portrait or Wedding Photography
- You cannot bring props in for pictures (no chairs, benches, backgrounds, etc.)
- Camera only- No tripods, flashes, strobes, reflectors, etc.
- No wardrobe changes allowed on property including parking lot
3. Enjoy A Picnic
The Gardens are peaceful and quiet. You can enjoy a nice lunch here on one of the many picnic tables throughout the Gardens. You can bring your own lunch, or you can grab something at The Gardens Cafe. Take the food from the cafe to one of the picnic tables and enjoy! If you want a nice sit down lunch inside, then stay at the cafe.
4. Explore Wildlife
While you will not get to see animals like you would at the Birmingham Zoo, which is right next to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, there is still some nice wildlife to view here. You can see Koi and turtles at the Japanese Garden. Butterflies are everywhere
5. Visit The Art Gallery And Library
The Library at the Botanical Gardens has over 14,000 items. This includes a Seed Exchange, books, dvds, etc. You can find practically anything related to gardening here. There is also free Wi-Fi and free internet access in case you need to connect while at the Garden.
The Library is open 9am-4pm., Mon.-Fri.
6. Relax
It is so easy to relax and kick back while at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The area is so peaceful and quiet. You can easily find a park bench or large rock to sit on. Just sit back and enjoy nature! It is also a great place to read a book in the quiet.
Points of Interest
There are so many different areas to visit here. But, if you are limited on time, here are some of my favorite areas at The Botanical Gardens. The Japanese Garden is my favorite!
- Japanese Garden
- Hess Camellia Gardens
- Conservatory
- Southern Living Garden
- Hill Garden
Japanese Garden: You have to enter the garden through a beautiful red Torii. After that you can see the Yoshino Cherry Trees, an authentic karesansui (dry garden), and of course, the amazing looking Seven Virtues Waterfall at the Stream Garden.
Hess Camellia Gardens: If you are visiting Alabama, you should stop by this garden to view the Camellia, which is the state flower of Alabama.
Conservatory: This interior area is definitely a cool place to go see. It has a tropical area with beautiful green Palms and powderpuff trees. It also has a Desert House area which features species from the Sonoran Desert and South Africa.
Southern Living Garden: This was created by Southern Living Magazine. It has flowers you would expect to see in the South like Azaleas, daffodils, and crape myrtles. It has also water features. This is a great spot to visit, and I almost always stop by here on my visits.
Hours And Admission
Admission to the Botanical Gardens is free.
Garden hours (fall/winter: November 5, 2023–March 10, 2024)
7 a.m.–5 p.m., Mon–Sun
Garden hours (spring/summer: March 10, 2024–November 3, 2024)
7 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon–Sun
Parking: Parking is free and there is a large lot with plenty of spaces.
How To Get There
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is located at:
2612 Park Lane, Birmingham, AL 35223
This is in Mountain Brook, AL right next to English Village.
For more information, you can visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens site.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, pets are not allowed on the property. Certified service animals are allowed
Some areas of the park are not barrier-free and assistance will be required. Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first come first serve basis.
Yes, you can get food at the Gardens Cafe by Kathy G. It is open from 11pm to 2pm Tues.-Fri.