Press Releases

For questions and/or media requests, please email marketing@hsvbg.org.


Jazzed Up February at Huntsville Botanical Garden pairs symphony of flavors and soulful melodies  
“This is a sophisticated, classy evening and different than anything the Garden has hosted before,” said HBG Director of Marketing Laura McPhail. “The food, wine, and entertainment make this a fun event perfect for sharing with friends or loved ones.” 

Jazzed Up February: An Evening of Tapas and Wine Pairing at Huntsville Botanical Garden comes to Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 6:30 – 10 p.m. This enchanted evening promises culinary delights, magical moments, and the smooth sounds of live jazz.  

Nashville Illusionist Jason Michaels will kick off the evening with mesmerizing close-up magic during cocktail hour. Chuppertime’s Chef Brandon Crosby, star and winner of Food Network’s “Cooks vs. Cons,” brings his culinary expertise to the menu. Local sommelier Kyle Davis will perfectly match the wine pairings with Chef Brandon’s creations. Topping off the evening is the Keith Taylor Trio, with Greg Chambers on saxophone and vocalist Roberta Silva, performing live jazz music. 

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Enjoy Huntsville’s coolest experience—Fire & Ice at Huntsville Botanical Garden!
Start off the year with a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable night at Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) as we throw open the doors and join the elements from 7-11 p.m. on Friday, January 26.

Guests are invited to “chill” with friends while creating warm memories as they explore a winter wonderland of lights and gently falling “snow.” Specialty drinks will be available at the 44” ice luge, sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, or warm up with hot chocolate and other specialty spirited beverages and mocktails. The evening will be topped off by roasting marshmallows over fire pits, a DJ dance party under the stars, and amazing performances by fire dancer Lila Celeste.

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Susan Wagner named 2023 Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award winner
Huntsville Botanical Garden CEO wins top award at Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Small Business Awards

Huntsville Botanical Garden Chief Executive Officer Susan Wagner was honored with the top accolade Thursday night at the 38th Annual Small Business Awards, presented by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. Wagner was recognized for her outstanding vision, guidance and initiative with the prestigious Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden and UAH partner for Shakespeare in the Garden
Huntsville Shakespeare offers fresh takes on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V

Transport to a dreamy English forest or get a ring-side seat for the Battle of Agincourt as Huntsville Botanical Garden and UAH’s Huntsville Shakespeare present Shakespeare in the Garden. All are invited to join the “merry wanderers of the night” on August 11 and 19 for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Those interested in a more serious topic are invited to enjoy Henry V on August 12 and 18. All performances will be held in the amphitheater at Huntsville Botanical Garden.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden receives $2 million donation from Wicks Family Foundation
Former Children’s Garden renamed Wicks Family Garden

On any given day, the sights and sounds of children playing can be heard at Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG). The beloved Children’s Garden area will be renamed the Wicks Family Garden as a result of a $2 million donation from Mike and Christine Wicks on behalf of the Wicks Family Foundation.

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Find self-care solutions at Huntsville Botanical Garden during The Love Hunt 

The Love Hunt, a weeklong scavenger hunt promoting mental health and wellbeing resources in North Alabama starts next week, and Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) is taking part! HBG partnered with The Love Hunt organizers from 57 North Hampton and Little Orange Fish to provide free programs that focus on the benefits of being in nature on mental health. 

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Garden coalition provides professional development program for Alabama STEM educators 
Scholarship for ‘Cultivate’ program offers affordable option for new initiative     

A new professional development opportunity is available for educators across the state who teach STEM as part of their curriculum. Cultivate is a program designed to help K-6 teachers grow their abilities and confidence to teach STEM lessons in the classroom. 

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Celebrate nature’s beauty at butterfly release hosted by Huntsville Botanical Garden

Flutter on over to Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) to celebrate one of nature’s most beautiful creatures. Butterflies return to the Purdy Butterfly House at HBG at the first two butterfly releases of the year on May 13 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden goes “green” in honor of Go Public Gardens Days, May 12-21

Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) announce Go Public Gardens Days, an international celebration of public gardens, May 12–21, 2023.

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Founders’ Day celebrates Huntsville Botanical Garden’s 35th anniversary
April 25, 2023

When 14 community members met in December 1979 to discuss forming a botanical garden in Huntsville, they each made a commitment to “dream no small dream.” Their dream garden became a reality when Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) opened to the public in 1988.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden unveils first Wedding Expo
April 12, 2023

Whether you are starting your wedding planning journey, or you are tying up loose ends before the big day, Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) wants you to say “I do!” to attending the first Wedding Expo hosted at the Garden on Sunday, June 4, from noon-4 p.m. 

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Spring into gardening at Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Spring Plant Sale 
March 28, 2023

Ready…set…spring! into gardening at the Huntsville Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale, April 13-15 and April 20-22, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Don’t miss the most diverse plant sale in North Alabama, featuring a wide variety of botanicals and expert advice! 

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Huntsville Botanical Garden forges partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley
March 23, 2023

Huntsville Botanical Garden to provide plant, and landscape expertise for new Habitat for Humanity homeowners.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden named No. 6 best botanical garden in North America by USA Today 10Best
March 17, 2023

The Huntsville Botanical Garden was named a winner in the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best Botanical Garden today, ranking No. 6 in North America.

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Galaxy of Lights opens today at Huntsville Botanical Garden
November 11, 2022

Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Garden opens today, Nov. 11. Now in its 27th season, the annual holiday light experience will be open until Jan. 1, 2023, with both Walking Nights and Driving Nights.

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Galaxy of Lights returns this holiday season to Huntsville Botanical Garden
October 12, 2022

Galaxy of Lights, an annual holiday light experience at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, will return for its 27th season from Nov. 11, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023. This year, guests will enjoy more Walking Nights, new immersive displays and innovative designs.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden welcomes fall season with “Festifall” activities, events
September 20, 2022

As the first day of fall approaches on Sept. 22, the Huntsville Botanical Garden offers seasonal activities for all ages with “Festifall,” the Garden’s annual celebration of the changing seasons.

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Garden Soirée returns to Huntsville Botanical Garden in support of mission
September 1, 2022

The Huntsville Botanical Garden will host the second annual Garden Soirée presented by PNC on Sept. 13. The event will raise nearly $100,000 to support the mission of the Garden.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden swings into summer with ‘In Full Swing’ exhibit
June 8, 2022

The Huntsville Botanical Garden will open on Friday “In Full Swing,” an exhibit featuring over 40 swings of all shapes and sizes spread throughout the Garden. The exhibit invites guests to slow down and spend time in nature in a fun, playful way.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden named No. 4 best botanical garden in North America by USA Today 10Best
June 3, 2022

The Huntsville Botanical Garden was named a winner in the 2022 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best Botanical Garden today, ranking No. 4 in North America.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden hosts annual Spring Hat Luncheon to benefit Garden mission
May 4, 2022

The Huntsville Botanical Garden will host its eighth annual Spring Hat Luncheon tomorrow, May 5, to benefit the mission of the organization. The last time the event was held was in 2019, due to postponements related to COVID-19.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden opens new features in “Tweetsville” to connect guests to birds
April 28, 2022

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, the Huntsville Botanical Garden opened to the public new features in Tweetsville, an experience in the Children’s Garden centered on birds and their habitats. The first phase of the 18,000-square-foot area opened in March 2021, and the new features constitute the second and final phase of the project.

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Galaxy of Lights opens this week at Huntsville Botanical Garden, nominated for national award
November 9, 2021

Galaxy of Lights, an annual holiday light experience at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, will open on Thursday, Nov. 11, for its 26th season. For the second year in a row, the event has been nominated in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights.

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Galaxy of Lights returns to Huntsville Botanical Garden with traditional favorites, new surprises
October 12, 2021

Galaxy of Lights, an annual holiday light experience at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, will return for its 26th season from Nov. 11, 2021, through Jan. 1, 2022. With both walking and driving experiences, Galaxy has become a regional holiday tradition, and this year will offer a combination of familiar features and new surprises.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden unveils custom lanterns of Alabama native plants at ‘Night Blooms’
September 1, 2021

The Huntsville Botanical Garden has introduced a new feature to its summer event “Night Blooms,” presented by PNC Bank: custom-made lanterns representing native plants of Alabama.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden Opens New Summer Event ‘Night Blooms’ Tomorrow Night
July 20, 2021

The Huntsville Botanical Garden is opening its newest summer event, “Night Blooms,” presented by PNC Bank, on July 21. Featuring thousands of lights and botanical lanterns, the evening event has never before been held at the Garden, and it offers a new and unique experience for guests of all ages.

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New Exhibit ‘Uncaged’ Opens Today at Huntsville Botanical Garden
June 11, 2021

A new exhibit opens today at the Huntsville Botanical Garden called “Uncaged: Birds, Nature, and You.” The all-ages outdoor experience features a collection of seven interactive structures built by local artists and architects, all about birds and the environment.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden to Glow This Summer With New Event ‘Night Blooms’
May 18, 2021

The Huntsville Botanical Garden announced today a new nighttime event coming this summer: Night Blooms, presented by PNC Bank. Taking place at the Garden from July 21, through Sept. 26, 2021, Night Blooms will illuminate the Garden with thousands of lights and botanical lanterns, allowing guests to experience the Garden’s natural surroundings like never before.

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First phase of new Children’s Garden experience to open next week at Huntsville Botanical Garden
February 25, 2021

The first phase of Tweetsville, a new experience centered on birds and their habitats at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, will open to the public next week on Saturday, Mar. 6. Located in the Children’s Garden, Tweetsville will be completed in two phases, with funding for the second phase already underway.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden launches Youth Volunteer Program to provide hands-on experience in ‘green jobs’
February 9, 2021

The Huntsville Botanical Garden announced today the launch of a Youth Volunteer Program that engages teenagers in hands-on work in horticulture, environmental education and plant conservation at the Garden. During the summer of 2021, participants will gain real-world experience under the mentorship of STEM professionals, allowing them to cultivate a personal connection to the environment and explore careers in the green sector.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden unveils plans for new Children’s Garden experience about birds, habitats
December 8, 2020

The Huntsville Botanical Garden unveiled plans today for Tweetsville, a new experience in its Children’s Garden centered on birds and their habitats. The 18,000-square-foot area will be completed in two phases with the first phase scheduled to open in February 2021.

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Galaxy of Lights to open this week at Huntsville Botanical Garden for 25th anniversary season
November 10, 2020

Galaxy of Lights, an annual holiday light experience at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, will open on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, for a milestone 25th anniversary season. Since its debut, Galaxy has become a regional holiday tradition, and this milestone year will be both a tribute to the past and a celebration of new traditions to be made now and in the future.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden offers new flexible STEM education options for grades K-8
September 16, 2020

As parents and caregivers continue to navigate the beginning of a unique school year, the Huntsville Botanical Garden offers flexible education options to supplement, strengthen, and simplify STEM learning for students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the Huntsville area and beyond. Options include Nature Academy, a series of in-person classes; virtual field trips; and the Learning Pod, a rental space for group learning.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden Approved for Arboretum Accreditation
February 26, 2020

Huntsville Botanical Garden has been awarded Level II accreditation by ArbNet and is now recognized in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s tree-focused public gardens. The ArbNet program is sponsored and coordinated by the Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. It is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards, including planning, governance, number of species, staff or volunteer support, education and public programming, and tree science research and conservation.

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Shake off the Winter Doldrums with Beaks & Barks at Huntsville Botanical Garden
January 7, 2020

Beaks & Barks returns this month to Huntsville Botanical Garden. From January 18 through February 29, visitors are welcome to bring their canine companions to the Garden during regular hours to enjoy strolls along our dedicated pet-friendly paths or playtime in the no-leash zone.

For birding enthusiasts, this is an excellent time of year to grab your binoculars and head outdoors. The Garden is considered a birding hotspot by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its Lewis Birding Trail is devoted to conservation, education, and the enjoyment of birdlife.

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Galaxy of Lights Opens Next Week at Huntsville Botanical Garden
November 7, 2019

Next week the Huntsville Botanical Garden will begin welcoming the tens of thousands of visitors who walk and drive through Galaxy of Lights each year. The event is entirely a volunteer-run operation that began in 1996 with 25 light displays and has expanded to almost 200 displays featuring everything from traditional holiday vignettes to dinosaurs, nursery rhyme characters, and, of course, botanical scenes.

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Huntsville Botanical Garden Announces New CEO
September 3, 2019

The board of directors of Huntsville Botanical Garden is pleased to announce that Sue Wagner has been named Chief Executive Officer. Wagner’s selection follows the retirement of Paula Steigerwald who announced her intentions in February after serving as president and CEO for the past 17 years.

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Steigerwald Retirement
March 11, 2019

The Huntsville Botanical Garden Board of Directors has announced
that CEO Paula Steigerwald has announced her retirement effective August 30, 2019. Steigerwald has served as CEO since joining the garden in 2002. During her tenure, the garden has undergone transformation and growth.

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