W2477QPchrist
The grounds are gorgeous!! It's free to public. Open on sundays. Lots of trails with shade. A plant store if you want to pick something up. A huge property including a conservatory with a variety of worldly plants. Took our 8 year old and she loved it. The zoo is across the street so you can make a day of it. Have fun.
Y4453LXsharonc
It was raining but that did not stop us.The Botanical Gardens are FREE, what a great way to take a walk with a friend or lover and enjoy the calm and quiet amongst a beautiful setting. One of my favorite places is the Japanese gardens. A great setting for pictures. We will be returning when things are in bloom and we can capture some wonderful spring pictures.Don't miss the gift shop. Some wonderful surprises in there too.
939rogerw
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous setting. It is filled with mature trees that are beautiful to see from bottom to top. There are various plants that float in small ponds and picturesque above groundwatering areas. Specific shrubs are abundant and everything is wellmarked. The gift shop is filled with educational books and knowledgeable persons working there. No question went unanswered.There was a definite presence of a security officer on a golf cart onhis constant surveillance of all the gardens area. There are many areas of swings, paths, resting spots throughout. Although the gardens arehugh, it is well worth the visit.Southern Living magazine recognized the gardens with exemplary efforts. Go visit and see for yourself.
gabrielm214
A really pleasant and quiet experience. I went on for some quiet time and for some meditation space and it worked out perfectly.
228kathyr
If you visit Birmingham you must visit the Gardens. Totally free. Open every day. Recently renovated Conservatory is open and warm on a cold day. Inside the garden center is a wonderful library that specializes in everything botanical. Actually I live nearby and visit frequently.
91ws
This is a must stop, especially in the spring! Make sure to check out the Japanese garden...beautiful!
melaniem258
The gardens are spectacular and I is so very peaceful. Do not miss feeding the catfish in the covered shelters. It offers a pavilion, nice restrooms and wedding area.
SouthernTravel
If you enjoy botanical gardens; you'll love the Birmingham gardens. One of the most beautiful gardens we have visited. The Japanese Garden beats the one in San Francisco .. The rose garden; so many outdoor rooms and themes. Great garden shop also! A pure pleasure Thank you Birmingham !!!!
TravisW838
So beautiful and we'll kept. We couldn't come close to seeing it all in one trip. Regularly see weddings there. It's just such a calm and peaceful area. One of the real gems of Birmingham.
iagomega
Even in the fall when only a handful of flowers are still in bloom, this place is gorgeous and peaceful. And it's always free! So that's a plus.Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, the gardens are spread out and has many of areas to check out. If you want to only stroll through a small area you can as well. Most paths are paved, there are a few dirt and gravel paths as well. The areas are all marked out according to types of flowers, so you can walk through your favorites. A few areas, like the Lily's are built into the hillside and have stairs so you can get up close and personal. The roses are spread out and have so many different options! And up front there's a few sculptures and a little lillypad area. I'm not sure if it was fall or if they normally don't have them, but I couldn't find a little area with handheld maps. They had a large map when you walk in and that was helpful. Most paths are on a loop system so it's hard to get too lost, and it also makes it easy to hit everything if you'd like without too much overlap. The parking lot was pretty full, but we didn't run into too many people while out walking. There's a greenhouse off to one side that has dessert fawna in it and is 2 rooms big. In the main building are restrooms, a ballroom, and a sprawling gift shop. The shop is reasonably priced and has things from plants, seeds, to toys, books, and jewelry. It's a great little stop that you can spend less than an hour or you can spend 4! It's all up to you!
canadianquebecer
Went to the garden in what would obviously be the off season but we happened to pass by and decided to stop. The gardens are quite nice, serene to visit. We could only imagine going during blooming season!We were vey surprised to find out that both admission and parking were free.We would highly recommend lunch at the café on-site. The food was fresh, tasty, nice ambiance (upscale-ish café) yet the cost was very reasonable.
Stoppandthink
I love the Birmingham Botanical Gardens! Peaceful, trendy, relaxing and enchanting. From the Rose Garden to the koi pond is a gorgeous walk during all seasons, however during fall it is heavenly with the colorful tress and their leaves falling and gliding in the breeze. It doesn't seem real. They have benches along the paths under trees so that you can relax and take in the beauty. My grand daughters enjoyed a wooden bench swing under a large tree. I enjoy seeing all the Japanese Maple trees. An over all great place to relax or get in a nice walk.
RandiFayeC
A nice sized botanical gardens with lovely walking paths and gardens. October is not the ideal time of year for gardens but there was plenty to see. The rose garden was beautiful as was the Southern Living garden area.The gift shop was particularly wonderful - extensive and unique selection of plants and home & garden accessories.We also enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the cafe - all in all a nice visit, and no fees (please make a donation if you can to keep this property going)
Neuroquest
This garden has existed for about 60 years and is of reasonable size. It is located across from the Birmingham zoo in a quiet area. Admission is always free, and the staff were all pleasant to talk with and were very helpful. The garden is beginning to fade by mid-September in anticipation of winter, and only a few roses are still in bloom. The paths are well-maintained and there is a lot of shade provided by the towering trees. My only criticism is that most plants appear to be unlabelled, and many of the label signs have long-ago lost whatever label had been mounted there. This garden needs more volunteers, which I would gladly become if I didn't live 1500 miles away. There is a bookstore, meeting rooms and a small eatery on site, with outdoor tables to read or relax in the shade. A very nice place, worthy of a visit.
onemissannie
My husband and I loved the huge variety of roses on display in the Rose Garden earlier in the summer! The Rose Garden had so many varieties to look at, (all were identified as you would expect) but there is so much more to see at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. Wander, browse and enjoy!