Birmingham Botanical Gardens Blazes with Color
Blooms, Blossoms Abound in Colors of the Rainbow in English City
May 18, 2009
Birmingham Botanical Gardens may be located in a quiet residential neighborhood just off Edgbastion Street, but it screams beauty and serenity. The garden is 15 acres but seems so much bigger because there’s so much to see.
Tropical House is First Stop
The first stop at Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the tropical house which greets visitors with a blast of hot, humid atmosphere. Eye glasses quickly steam up, with the garden providing a hot-air dryer to take care of the problem. This section is a tropical rainforest which contains plants one would not expect to find growing naturally in an English city. Along with lush green plants and trees found in equatorial zones, the tropical house also has a selection of food plants: such as bananas, sugar cane and cocoa. Rice is grown in one of the ponds.
Next is the subtropical house, which is not as hot and humid, and thus more comfortable to linger in. It’s the largest of the glasshouses, and is about 25 feet high to accommodate large trees, the museum’s website notes. The gardens specialize in ferns, cycads, carnivorous plants and orchids.
Mediterranean House Offers Beautiful Blooms
There are two more greenhouses located to the right of the subtropical house: the Mediterranean and art houses. The Mediterranean House is a veritable smorgasbord of blossoms in the spectrum of the rainbow: tulips, fuchsias, coleus and azaleas come is many different varieties and colors. There are even small citrus trees. The museum says this section most represents what a wealthy 19th century Victorian would have had at his home.
The art house is filled with cactus and succulents, all of which thrive in dry climates. The museum notes this site is allowed to follow outdoor temperatures except in freezing temperatures when low-level heating is used. Some watering is done in the hot months, but none between October and March.
Outside Tour Includes A Garden for Everyone's Taste
Once the greenhouses have been visited, it’s time to enjoy the view from the terrace, which overlooks a large grassy field. Follow the paths to the right to see the herb garden, the historic gardens (Roman, Tudor and Medieval), the cottage garden and various other gardens, including rock, bonsai and fern. Birmingham Botanical Gardens has something for everyone’s botanical interests. There’s even a garden area for children with playground equipment and learning activities. At the far end of the lawn is an aviary. Birds here include roosters which can be heard crowing throughout the gardens.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens is more than just a garden. It’s a cultural center, hosting music and theatrical events, in addition to various flower shows and demonstrations. There’s a small art gallery in the terrace building, and whimsical statues abound throughout the site. The museum’s website lists a calendar of events.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Open Daily
The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. (10 a.m. on Sunday) until dusk or 7 p.m., whichever is earlier. The site includes a restaurant and gift shop. Admission fees in 2009 are £7.50 (US$11.50) for adults and £4.75 (US$7.30) for children and senior citizens. The garden is handicapped-accessible, and free wheelchairs and electric scooters are available with advance reservations.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens is located on Westbourne Road, two blocks off Edgbastion Road in Birmingham.
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