Huntsville Botanical Garden

Join us to explore the past, present, and future of our region: the story behind the beautiful and diverse native plants of Alabama. Led by your instructor, Patrick Thompson, this virtual class begins in the past, looking back in time to understand how ancient history contributed to the wide diversity of species we see in our region today. After diving into the past, we will look forward into the future, to new frontiers in plant conservation and new cultivars of…

The Spring Plant Sale is back for 2021! This year, the sale will include two dates for online pre-sales followed by nine dates for in-person sales. This is an exclusive opportunity to peruse the Garden greenhouses and purchase from a unique selection of plants that have been lovingly grown and cared for right here at the Garden. Our staff and volunteers will also be available to share their expertise and help you choose the right plants for your home landscape!…

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has been recognized around the world as a day to celebrate our planet and the role we all play in protecting it. From fresh air and clean water to buzzing bees and blooming flowers, our environment gives us so much every day. Join us in saying “THANK YOU!” to our planet by celebrating Earth Day at the Garden! At our Earth Day Celebration, guests will discover hands-on activities and festivities at stations throughout…

Trees provide structure, interest, and year-round beauty to any landscape. Plus, they can offer shade for your home and help promote a healthy ecosystem in your garden. After learning just a few basic principles, you can select the perfect trees for your landscape with confidence, and enjoy their many benefits every day! In this class, certified arborist Chris Stuhlinger will cover the basics of how to select the right trees for your landscape, including site conditions to consider, tips for…

We’re going exploring! After reading the book Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd, we will embark on a nature scavenger hunt to discover the “wild” that you can find in your own backyard. PRICING MembersChild: $10Adult: Free Non-Members (Includes Garden admission)Child: $20Adult: $14 Interested in becoming a Garden member? Click here! REGISTER Friday, April 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Want to see more classes like this one? Learn more about Seeds to Sprouts here!

The Purdy Butterfly House is a must-see in May through September! Peak Butterfly Season is the best time of year to visit the fluttering butterflies in the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. This immersive habitat is home to over 1,000 brightly-colored native butterflies, as well as turtles, fish, and frogs. Come meet our winged friends while enjoying a stroll among the waterfalls, ponds, streams, and lush vegetation. The Purdy Butterfly House is open during regular Garden hours and is included…

Guests of all ages will enjoy sharing in the magic of safely releasing live butterflies into the Purdy Butterfly House. This program begins with a brief presentation about butterflies and their habitat, followed by taking part in the safe restoration of our indoor butterfly population. Don’t forget your camera – these photo opportunities are not to be missed! Butterfly Releases take place throughout the summer, and each program lasts approximately 30 minutes. Registration is required, and space is limited, so…

Illuminated by the warm glow of the setting sun, the Golden Hour invites you to unwind and enjoy the Garden’s natural beauty in a new light. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., we welcome you to explore our 112 acres with food, drinks, and live music, enjoying an elevated evening experience whether you are strolling along our nature trails or lounging in the grass. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, spread out with friends, and make new memories together. Each week,…

After following the adventure of a seed in Eric Carle’s The Tiny Seed, we will investigate how seeds travel and then plant our own seeds to take home. PRICING MembersChild: $10Adult: Free Non-Members (Includes Garden admission)Child: $20Adult: $14 Interested in becoming a Garden member? Click here! REGISTER Saturday, May 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Friday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Want to see more classes like this one? Learn more about Seeds to Sprouts here!

We are excited to be partnering with Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater to bring you a live, outdoor production of “Tinker Bell!” This family-friendly show takes a fresh look at the story of Peter Pan, and the performance lasts about an hour. Here’s what you need to know: The show is included with regular Garden admission and is free for Garden members! Click here to learn more about becoming a member.No registration is required in advance. Please review our current Visitor…

Let’s go on an adventure! In this camp, campers will embark on outdoor adventures that include experiments, nature walks, scavenger hunts, nature play, and more. Groups will be determined by grade level to allow for age-appropriate hands-on activities. Every week of Outdoor Adventures is different, so campers can join us again and again! PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 May 31 – June 4, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades K-6– Register for Kindergarten– Register for Grades 1-2– Register for Grades 3-4– Register for Grades 5-6 June 21…

Come explore the world of trees in this week of magical discovery! This camp focuses on how trees grow, what they do for the environment, and what they give us every day. Campers will uncover the magic of the forest through experiments, projects, and hands-on discovery. PricingMembers: $175Non-Members: $280 June 7 – 11, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Half-day camp)Grades K-2– Register for Kindergarten– Register for Grades 1-2 2021 Summer Camps Summary Extended Care Extended Care is available in the morning and/or afternoon…

It’s time to put on our detective hats, pull out our magnifying glasses, and solve some of nature’s mysteries! How does dirt become soil? What makes plants green? Why do plants grow roots? The natural world is filled with mysteries to solve. Campers will discover the answers to how nature works through STEM activities such as experiments, outdoor exploration, and self-discovery in the Garden. PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June 7 – 11, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 1-2– Register for Grades 1-2…

Organisms in nature are amazing engineers! In this STEM camp, campers will discover the engineering marvels of spider webs, plant structures, bird nests, and more. They will even get the chance to recreate these natural structures to see if they can do as well as plants and animals! PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June 7 – 11, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 3-4– Register for Grades 3-4 July 19 – 23, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 3-4– Register for Grades 3-4 2021 Summer Camps…

The world is filled with mysteries to solve, and the most fascinating mysteries of all come from nature. Campers will discover the inner workings of the natural world by solving the mystery of how things work. Through experiments and hands-on STEM activities, they will explore patterns in nature, the parts of plants, how plants grow, and more. PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June 7 – 11, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 5-6– Register for Grades 5-6 July 19 – 23, 9:00 a.m. to…

In this interactive camp, campers will explore the ins and outs of gardening. Hands-on experiments with soil, plants, and water will reveal how plants grow and how we as gardeners can help them grow even better! Campers will get their hands dirty working with Garden staff, and by the end of the week, they will know all of the basics they need to start a garden of their own at home. Half-Day PricingMembers: $175Non-Members: $280 Full-Day PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June…

Campers will discover the wild world of plants in this weeklong Garden expedition. They will learn about how plants grow, how they can change, and where they come from. Each day, we will explore unique plants out in the Garden, including species that campers can grow in their own backyards.  PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June 14 – 18, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades K-2– Register for Kindergarten– Register for Grades 1-2 July 12 – 16, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 1-2– Register for Grades…

Let’s dive into STEM to become plant scientists! In this camp, we will examine the tiniest details of plants using microscopes and learn what makes them so incredible and essential to our world. Through various experiments and hands-on activities, campers will become true plant scientists in no time. PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June 14 – 18, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 3-4– Register for Grades 3-4 July 12 – 16, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 3-4– Register for Grades 3-4 2021 Summer Camps…

Who doesn’t love a challenge? This camp is all about STEM as campers complete a variety of garden-based engineering challenges. Inspired by the natural world around them, they will design, test, and improve engineering creations that mimic the functions found in nature. PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 June 14 – 18, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 5-6                      – Register for Grades 5-6 July 12 – 16, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades 5-6                      – Register for Grades 5-6 2021 Summer Camps Summary Extended Care Extended Care is…

We will look at what is inside a flower with the book What’s Inside a Flower? by Rachel Ignotofsky. Then we will hunt for flowers in the Garden and create a simple flower model to take home. PRICING MembersChild: $10Adult: Free Non-Members (Includes Garden admission)Child: $20Adult: $14 Interested in becoming a Garden member? Click here! REGISTER Saturday, June 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Friday, June 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Want to see more classes like this one?…

Magic and wonder awaits campers as we journey into the forest! Imaginations will run wild as campers build fairy houses, discover amazing plants, and learn about other mystical creatures that call the forest their home. At the end of the week, all campers will even have the chance to dress up like forest fairies themselves! PricingMembers: $175Non-Members: $280 June 21 – 25, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Half-day camp)Grades K-2– Register for Kindergarten– Register for Grades 1-2 2021 Summer Camps Summary Extended Care…

Let’s dive into the world of pollinators and see how they answer the call of the flowers! We will read the book Flowers are Calling by Rita Gray and then learn how pollination works by observing the pollinators that call the Garden home. PRICING MembersChild: $10Adult: Free Non-Members (Includes Garden admission)Child: $20Adult: $14 Interested in becoming a Garden member? Click here! REGISTER Friday, July 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Saturday, July 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Friday, July 30,…

Did you know that plants and animals have their own superpowers?! In this half-day camp, campers will discover the secret identities of some of the coolest superheroes in nature. Through exploration and experimentation, campers will learn the secrets of plant and animal adaptations, how habitats define an organism’s super abilities, and more. We will even try to recreate some of these superpowers ourselves! PricingMembers: $175Non-Members: $280 July 12 – 16, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Half-day camp)Grades K-2– Register for Kindergarten– Register for…

We all know the story of hero versus villain. But did you know there’s a battle every day between bugs and plants, too? Campers will learn which ones are the heroes and which are the villains through hands-on exploration and discovery. They will even learn how we can help defeat the bug villains and join the hero force. PricingMembers: $250Non-Members: $400 July 19 – 23, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Grades K-2– Register for Kindergarten– Register for Grades 1-2 2021 Summer Camps Summary…

We will learn the lifecycle of a tree by reading the book Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer, followed by an exciting discovery process to explore how trees grow and why they are so important. PRICING MembersChild: $10Adult: Free Non-Members (Includes Garden admission)Child: $20Adult: $14 Interested in becoming a Garden member? Click here! REGISTER Friday, August 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Saturday, August 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Friday, August 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.…

Dig down into the ground for this exploration of the soil beneath our feet! We will read the book Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner and get our hands dirty as we learn what lives in the soil and what makes it is so great for plants. PRICING MembersChild: $10Adult: Free Non-Members (Includes Garden admission)Child: $20Adult: $14 Interested in becoming a Garden member? Click here! REGISTER Saturday, September 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Friday,…