Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama’s largest living museum with more than 12,000 different plants in its living collections. The Gardens’ 67.5 acres contains 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths.
The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea house. Education programs run year round and over 10,000 school children enjoy free science-curriculum based field trips annually.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the most visited free attraction in Alabama, is open daily, offering free admission to more than 350,000 yearly visitors.
Cub Scout Hiking
If you are looking for a good in-town hiking option, then consider the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. If you download the Treasure Map, you will find a pretty good hike that you can do in under an hour and see a good bit of the Gardens and the highlights of their living collection.
You can also download this Two-Mile Trail Map that will give you a longer hike through the gardens.
Eagle Projects
There are Eagle project opportunities at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information or Ellen Hardy, Education Program Coordinator.
Girl Scouts
There is a program at the BBG for Girl Scouts and you can read more at https://bbgardens.org/girl-scout-program.php
I was looking for a good option to fulfill my Bear Den’s Fur, Feathers, and Ferns belt loop and the BBG turned out to be exactly what I needed. If fulfills the hike 1 mile (requirement 1) and visit a nature center (requirement 2). Best of all it’s just a few miles from our chartered organization and we can visit one evening before time changes.
If you haven’t been to the BBG, I highly recommend it. It’s a lot bigger than you probably remember, and it has some outstanding gardens throughout the property.