Huntsville Botanical Garden
September 2020
Join us for the Golden Hour
We are extending our hours on Wednesdays for you to enjoy the Golden Hour, an elevated evening experience at the Garden. Illuminated by the warm glow of the setting sun, the Golden Hour invites guests to unwind and enjoy the Garden’s natural beauty in a new light. From 5 - 8 p.m., we welcome you to explore our 112 acres with food, drinks, and live music, spreading out safely whether you are strolling along our nature trails or lounging in…
Find out more »October 2020
Outstanding Plants for the Home Landscape | Virtual class offered via Zoom Webinar
Calling all gardeners! This dynamic four-week course is for the home gardener who wishes to improve their plant selection skills and learn more about the many different plants suitable for the home landscape. Read more about the instructor, Bryce Lane, below! Each of the four classes will focus on a different group of plants that enhance the home landscape, such as annuals, perennials, and small trees. The discussion will begin with general information about the plant group, including selection criteria, soil…
Find out more »11th Annual Fall Plant Sale
Did you know the fall is the BEST time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials in your garden? The season brings a mix of warm soil and cool air for grass, and the moisture helps trees and shrubs establish their root system. The 11th annual Fall Plant Sale includes a variety of hosta, cacti, herbs, and MORE! We’re excited to share our native trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants with you. This year, we will be holding the Fall Plant Sale…
Find out more »Family Campout in the Garden
New to camping? Don’t feel like traveling far to spend a relaxing evening outdoors? Join us for our Garden campout! We will have boxed dinners from Chick-fil-A, an evening snack to pop over the fires, a story at bedtime, and a chance to experience the Garden on a guided night hike. Bring your own flashlights, tent, sleeping bags, pillows, and lawn chairs, and come enjoy a summer evening outdoors with your family. Click here to read the precautions put into place to protect…
Find out more »Leaftastic Exploration | Fesitfall Break Camp
Campers will learn about the ins and outs of leaves and all they do for plants. We will explore the parts of leaves, leaf chemistry, plant cells, and photosynthesis in this hands-on outdoor experience. Festifall Break Camp is for children ages 6-13 (Grades K-6).Your child can come all week, or you can sign up for individual days. Each day will have its own theme and a new set of activities. Pricing Garden Member: $50/day or $200/weekNon-member: $60/day or $250/week Interested…
Find out more »Fall Gardeners | Festifall Break Camp
Campers will learn what to plant in a fall garden, how to manage pests with natural pest control options, and how to use various methods of propagation. At the end of the day, each camper will go home with their own plant to grow. Festifall Break Camp is for children ages 6-13 (Grades K-6).Your child can come all week, or you can sign up for individual days. Each day will have its own theme and a new set of activities.…
Find out more »Cooking with Plants | Festifall Break Camp
Campers will solve the mystery of fruits versus vegetables, followed by an exploration of the Herb Garden and the many uses for herbs. Each camper will prepare a personal fruit salad and plant some herbs to take home. Festifall Break Camp is for children ages 6-13 (Grades K-6).Your child can come all week, or you can sign up for individual days. Each day will have its own theme and a new set of activities. Pricing Garden Member: $50/day or $200/weekNon-member:…
Find out more »Raptor Show
The Southeastern Raptor Center from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is bringing their popular show back to the Garden during Fall Break. This all-ages program is a great opportunity to experience live raptors up-close while learning about their natural history and vital ecological roles. The shows feature a selection of the Center's raptor ambassadors and may include owls, falcons, hawks, kites, vultures, and eagles. These raptor ambassadors have all been deemed non-releasable and permanently reside at the center. Please…
Find out more »Fungus, Moss, and Lichens | Festifall Break Camp
Campers will discover the difference between vascular plants and fungus. We will dig into their lifecycles and what happens when plants and fungi combine to make lichen. Each camper will make a moss terrarium to take home. Festifall Break Camp is for children ages 6-13 (Grades K-6).Your child can come all week, or you can sign up for individual days. Each day will have its own theme and a new set of activities. Pricing Garden Member: $50/day or $200/weekNon-member: $60/day…
Find out more »Trees | Festifall Break Camp
Campers will explore the world of trees and become tree detectives. We will learn how to identify trees and how to understand their history using various clues. Campers will explore the topic of biodiversity by looking at the habitats that trees provide and how they support ecosystems. Festifall Break Camp is for children ages 6-13 (Grades K-6).Your child can come all week, or you can sign up for individual days. Each day will have its own theme and a new…
Find out more »Leaf Chemistry | Nature Academy
Nature Academy provides hands-on science classes at the Garden to enrich STEM learning for students in grades K-8. Yellow, Orange, Red, and Green? Long, round, spiny, and smooth? Why are leaves all so different? Explore the chemistry of photosynthesis and makeup of plant cells in this journey into leaves. We will learn about what we can see with our eyes every day but also take a journey inside to see what goes on inside a leaf “behind the scenes." Garden Member: $15/personNon-Member: $20/person…
Find out more »Scarecrow Night Hikes
As shadows dance across the Garden, see the Scarecrow Trail come alive! Scarecrow Night Hikes are an opportunity to visit with the scarecrows after sunset and explore the nighttime activities of the Garden. Bring your flashlight and join us on this guided hike to see evening creatures such as bats, owls, frogs…and scarecrows, of course! Each hike includes an outdoor presentation in the Amphitheater and a guided walk through the Garden and the Scarecrow Trail, beginning promptly at the time…
Find out more »Divide and Conquer! Getting the Most Out of the Plants You Have | Virtual Class
Let’s divide and conquer…. PLANTS! Learning what plants you can divide will save you money and allow you to have more of the plants you love. Your instructor, Rebecca Turk, will demonstrate all of the basics to properly and successfully divide bulbs, grasses, perennials, and more. Rebecca will share industry tips and tricks that will aid in gardening success! The class will end with an open Q&A session, allowing plenty of time to discuss how to apply what you’ve learned.…
Find out more »November 2020
Brown, Round, and Underground | Nature Academy
Nature Academy provides hands-on science classes at the Garden to enrich STEM learning for students in grades K-8. Learn about bulbs and how they are prepared for the spring in this hands-on program. Students will get an opportunity to do hands-on work in the garden with our bulbs. Garden Member: $15/personNon-Member: $20/person Registration opens October 1! This class is part of a series! Nature Academy offers three seasons of three classes each. The winter season includes Brown, Round, and Underground, Getting Ready for a…
Find out more »Galaxy of Lights Walking Nights
New this year: Admission to Walking Nights will use timed tickets that must be reserved in advance online. Celebrate the 25-year tradition that is Galaxy of Lights. Explore 2.5 miles of magnificent light displays weaving together holiday themes, classic characters, and scenes from our natural world. Galaxy of Lights’ 25th Anniversary Season will look just a little bit different this year as we commit to our community’s health and safety. But you can expect to be dazzled, just as you always…
Find out more »Galaxy of Lights Dog Walking Nights
Celebrate the 25-year tradition that is Galaxy of Lights. Explore 2.5 miles of magnificent light displays weaving together holiday themes, classic characters, and scenes from our natural world. Galaxy of Lights’ 25th Anniversary Season will look just a little bit different this year as we commit to our community's health and safety. But you can expect to be dazzled, just as you always have. We will once again offer both walk-through and drive-through experiences. Admission to Walking Nights will use…
Find out more »Galaxy of Lights Driving Nights
Celebrate the 25-year tradition that is Galaxy of Lights. Explore 2.5 miles of magnificent light displays weaving together holiday themes, classic characters, and scenes from our natural world. Galaxy of Lights’ 25th Anniversary Season will look just a little bit different this year as we commit to our community's health and safety. But you can expect to be dazzled, just as you always have. We will once again offer both walk-through and drive-through experiences. Admission to Walking Nights will use…
Find out more »December 2020
Getting Ready for a Spring Garden | Nature Academy
Learn what it takes to prepare a space for a healthy spring garden in this virtual session. We will hear facts, tips, and tricks from our Master Gardeners and other horticulture experts on staff at the Garden. We know that December is a busy month for many of you. To make attending Nature Academy easier we are offering a virtual program. This will include a video and an activity that can be done at home, at the Garden, or wherever you…
Find out more »Fresh Wreaths and Garlands: What to grow and how to make them | Virtual Class
‘Tis the season for wreaths and garlands! A fresh evergreen wreath or garland in your home adds the perfect festive touch, and by knowing what to grow in your own home landscape, your decoration will be both festive AND convenient. Your instructor, Rebecca Turk, will cover key trees and shrubs to grow as well as how to make an 18” wreath and a 6-foot table garland using those plants. Want a hands-on experience? Purchase a class registration that includes a kit for…
Find out more »January 2021
Winter Plant Defenses | Nature Academy
Plants, with or without leaves, can become a source of food for animals looking for a meal in the winter months. Just like animals, plants have ways to protect themselves. We will explore how plants keep themselves from becoming a food source and how they withstand the weather during the colder months. Garden Member: $15/personNon-Member: $20/person Registration opens October 1! This class is part of a series! Nature Academy offers three seasons of three classes each. The winter season includes Brown, Round, and…
Find out more »February 2021
Gardening for Birds | Nature Academy
Celebrate National Bird Feeder Month by learning about gardening for birds! We will create a natural bird feeder that you can put out in the garden in addition to planning a garden to attract them. Garden Member: $15/personNon-Member: $20/person Registration opens on January 1! This class is part of a series! Nature Academy offers three seasons of three classes each. The spring season includes Gardening for Birds, Seed Adventures, and Herbs & Cooking. Learn more about Nature Academy and register for a spring…
Find out more »March 2021
Seed Adventures | Nature Academy
Take the journey of a seed as it - drops in the soil, grows, and then flowers. We will study components of healthy soil and the parts of a flower to bring the journey full circle in a hands-on way. Garden Member: $15/personNon-Member: $20/person Registration opens on January 1! This class is part of a series! Nature Academy offers three seasons of three classes each. The spring season includes Gardening for Birds, Seed Adventures, and Herbs & Cooking. Learn more about Nature Academy…
Find out more »April 2021
Herbs and Cooking | Nature Academy
Herbs have many uses in the natural world and our daily lives. Explore the Herb Garden and discover its many functions. We will create infused oils to take home and use in your own cooking! You will need to bring a small glass container (no more than 8oz) to reuse for your oil. Garden Member: $15/personNon-Member: $20/person Registration opens on January 1! This class is part of a series! Nature Academy offers three seasons of three classes each. The spring season includes Gardening…
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