Birmingham Botanical Gardens | |
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Location | 2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, Alabama 35223 |
Coordinates | 33°29′30″N 86°46′28″W / 33.4917°N 86.7745°WCoordinates: 33°29′30″N 86°46′28″W / 33.4917°N 86.7745°W |
Area | 67.5 acres (27.3 ha) |
Created | 1963 |
Operated by | City of Birmingham/ Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens |
Visitors | 350,000+ |
Open | Dawn to dusk |
Status | Open all year |
Website | www |
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is 67.5 acres (27.3 ha) of botanical gardens located adjacent to Lane Park at the southern foot of Red Mountain in Birmingham, Alabama. The gardens are home to over 12,000 different types of plants, 25 unique gardens, more than 30 works of original outdoor sculpture, and several miles of walking paths. With more than 350,000 annual visitors, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens qualify as one of Alabama's top free-admittance tourist attractions.
The gardens include a garden center that has a library, auditorium, Linn-Henley Lecture Hall, Blount Education Center, Gerlach Plant Information Center, Alabama Cooperative Extension System office, Arrington Children’s Plant Adventure Zone, and a restaurant.
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens began as an idea prior to 1960. The Birmingham mayor of that time, James W. Morgan, led an effort to establish the gardens on a 69-acre (28 ha) portion of unused city property east of the Birmingham Zoo on the side of Red Mountain. The garden officially opened in 1963. The Birmingham Botanical Society, now known as the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, was established in 1964 with a mission of helping the city to support and improve the garden.