Birmingham Botanical Gardens

This is a must see when visiting Birmingham--after visiting the civil rights sights, to take in a bit of peacefulness as an annecdote to all the racial hatred that is embedded in the city's past. In 1961, after years of trying and failing to make his dream a reality, Birmingham Mayor James W. Morgan finally came to an agreement with the Park and Recreation Board establishing the Botanical Gardens. The city constructed the gardens on 69 acres of Lane Park, just east of the Birmingham City Zoo, on the south side of Red Mountain. The mayor wanted Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens to be the largest of its kind in the Southeast.

The gardens are open year round and they are free of charge. There is a beautiful conservatory that is adjacent to the rose garden--the roses are aromatic, and one of the volunteers noted that while roses are being wiped out by pests across the southeast, they are remarkably healthy here. There are numerous paths, and lots of benches and gazebos to sit and take in the beautiful surroundings. Highly recommended.