Story & Photos By Nick Thomas
Initially created as the Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden Society by a group of local volunteers, the society lobbied the Huntsville City Council in 1980 and was granted 35 acres of land to establish what today has become the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
“The garden has grown since then to 118 acres,” says Laura McPhail, director of communications and guest experience for the public garden that’s open year-round in the heart of Huntsville on Bob Wallace Avenue. With over two miles of nature trails and walking paths connecting beautifully themed gardens, woodlands, meadows and water features, the gardens are an oasis in a thriving Alabama metropolis regardless of the season.
“One of the best things about being located in the South is that we can have flowering plants 365 days out of the year with additions like camellias, paper bush, and winter jasmine,” McPhail says. “When designing garden spaces, we always try to choose a plant palette that will provide four seasons of interest whether with flowers, fall color, or winter interest.”
Annual flowering plants are replaced each year, with some overwintered in a greenhouse to grow larger and create a greater visual impact in the following season’s landscape. Perennials are usually rejuvenated every 3-5 years, which may involve lifting and dividing plants, adding soil amendment, or choosing a better performing variety, McPhail says. “There are so many types and new cultivars (varieties selected for specific characteristics) coming out every year that you wouldn’t want to keep using the same plants.”…