Mobile Botanical Gardens

Onions and a Japanese Knot Bag in 3 Sessions
2025-02-08 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-15 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Onions? Japanese Knot Bag? What? This class is designed as an introduction to natural dying and surface decoration. Artisan and educator extraordinaire, Jan Johnson, will lead students in creating a unique and usable piece of art in the form of a handy bag! Class will take place over 3 Saturday sessions: February 1st, February 8th and February 15th, 2025, at 10:00 am.
REGISTER AND PAY HERE
*Class is $25 for MBG Members and $35 for not-yet members.
Session 1, February 1, 2025: Using a dye vat of those crunchy onion skins, we will dye reclaimed bed sheets golden brown.
Session 2, February 8, 2025: Students will cut the pattern for a Japanese Knot Bag. Using fabric paint and an onion as a stamp, we will create surface decoration.
Session 3, February 15, 2025: The knot bag will already be partially assembled and students will clip the sewn seams, sew the bag and lining together, learn to turn the bag, pin and baste the handles. Jan will then sew the handles to complete the project.
*Final session may run longer and will include snacks as there will be some waiting as the bags are sewn.
Students will receive a handout that will guide them in onion skin dyeing at home. Suggested books will be included, a copy of the pattern, link to You tube video showing assembly.

MBG Docent Training Class
2025-02-11 08:30 - 12:00, 2025-02-18 08:30 - 12:00, 2025-02-25 08:30 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Join us for the 2025 MBG Docent Training Class!
GET INVOLVED! KNOW YOUR GARDENS!
Have you ever thought you would like to spend more time at your Mobile Botanical Gardens; to know more about the collections and special, unique garden ‘rooms’? Do you get a kick out of seeing the excitement of a child exploring the wonders of nature; learning to grow their own food? Do you enjoy interacting with really interested and curious adults and young people. Are you a retired teacher and miss teaching? Are you more of an organizer or a ‘techy’? Please consider becoming an Education Docent at the Botanical Gardens. Training classes for new docents begin in February.
NEW MBG Docent TRAINING AND ORIENTATION
2025
February 4, 11, 18 & 25; 8:30-12:00am
Classes and activities will take place at the Mobile Botanical Gardens, in the Larkins Classroom, at Magnolia Hill outdoor classroom and throughout the Gardens. Participants are expected to attend all sessions. A training manual and reference handouts will be provided. Participants will become familiar with the various garden collections, the facilities and regular program offerings through guided walks and activities.
Follow-up opportunities will include observing field trips and assisting with activities led by experienced docents. Participation in these opportunities is encouraged for experience and is voluntary on an ’as available’ basis.
CONTACT: Sara Habel shabel@mbgardens.org
Sample Volunteer Opportunities
Tales and Trails – Children’s literacy and garden activity program
Veggie Kids – Saturday morning kids gardening series (fall and spring series)
Family Fun Days – periodic Saturday activity programs for family groups
Plant Sales – Spring and Fall; prepare and post educational signage. Assist customers if comfortable.
NatureBLAST! – week long summer program for students rising third grade through fifth.
Field Trips (all ages) – Lead or assist with guided nature walks or garden related activities.
First Fridays and other Guest Seminars and Workshops – assist speaker and staff with setup and cleanup and to welcome and guide guests.
Cataloging and strengthening the gardening reference and lending libraries at MBG.
Learning to research and prepare public interpretive plant information signs for the grounds and plant sales.
Assisting to map and compile GPS referenced database of MBG plant collections.

USA Biology Lecture Series: "All That Slithers and Crawls"
2025-02-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
“All that Slithers and Crawls: Disease and Venom Biology in Reptiles and Arachnids”
WHEN: Tuesday, February 25th @ 6 PM
WHERE: Botanical Center (Gift Shop Building)
Many animals, such as Gopher Tortoises, snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions, are often misunderstood or even feared, yet they play crucial roles in their ecosystems and offer valuable insights into biology. From disease dynamics to venom evolution, these creatures help scientists uncover fundamental principles of ecology and evolution. My students and I have explored these ideas through our work on disease ecology in Gopher Tortoises, including research at the Mobile Botanical Gardens, as well as studies on how venomous species contribute to our understanding of biological processes. By studying these often-overlooked animals, we gain a deeper appreciation for their ecological importance and help shift public perception, fostering respect and recognition for their role in the natural world. – Dr. Jason Strickland

USA Biology Lecture – FREE to Attend!
Please register your seat by sending an email to shabel@mbgardens.org

Natural Beekeeping: Principles and Practices
2025-03-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Natural Beekeeping Principles and Practices for the Backyard Apiary

Register here
The technological advances of the Industrial Revolution have brought beekeeping science into the future. There are all sorts of devices, methods and treatments that, while seemingly beneficial to the commercial side of the trade, can often leave the hobby apiarist wishing for a simpler and more natural experience for themselves and their bees. Many of the current standard beekeeping practices conflict with the bees’ natural rhythms and inclinations in order to forcibly support the production of more and more honey, but at what cost? The bees have managed themselves quite well out in the wild for the past 150 million years or so, finely tuned evolutionary beings that they are, what could we possibly do to top that?
Don’t get it twisted though; natural beekeeping is NOT negligent beekeeping! You can’t just put bees in a box and expect everything to work perfectly every time. By placing the bees into the box you’ve turned them into livestock and as a responsible shepherd you still must observe and serve your flock. But you don’t have to stack boxes to the sky or pour pesticides into the hives to do it, you just have to learn the bees and support their nature.
Topics Covered:
This class will uncover the vast differences in industrial and hobby beekeeping and show how the standards for one don’t really apply to the other, and how they may actually disadvantage the bees. We will discuss the whys and hows of honeybee behaviors, what the bees want, and how to use their natural tendencies to support their health and production. Other topics covered to include apiary site selection and set up for healthy and productive colonies, hiving options, sourcing livestock, inspecting your bees and record keeping, supporting rather than preventing swarming, natural disease and pest management, expanding your apiary organically, and how we learn from our failures.
Weather permitting, we will be viewing live bees during this 2+ hour course.
If you’re an aspiring, new or even seasoned beekeeper who’d like to learn about the more natural, low impact and regenerative side of beekeeping and how to apply it to your own beekeeping journey, then this is the class for you.
Presented by Mobile Botanical Garden’s beekeeper, Veronica Culberson, and her entomologist professor father, Dr. Don Culberson. Veronica and Don have been keeping bees without the use of chemical additives and unnatural feedings for 10+ years. What started as an experiment in backyard gardening has developed into a love affair with pollinators and community outreach. As their knowledge and their apiaries have grown and flourished through the seasons, so has the desire to educate.
$20 plus admission. Register here.

1st Friday Presentation: First Peek at Spring Plant Sale!
2025-03-07 10:00 - 23:30 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Want to know What Will Be at the Spring Plant Sale?
Plan to attend our First Friday presentation by the Plant Sale Team to get first hand knowledge of what they have found for the sale! There will be a few door prizes, too!
WHAT: 1st Peek at the 2025 Spring Plant Sale
WHEN: Friday, March 7th at 10:00 AM
WHERE: At Nita’s Market Place
There is no cost but please rsvp so we may plan accordingly – Email Sara to RSVP

Azalea City Bonsai Show
2025-04-30 09:00 - 2025-05-03 17:00 | AL
Experience the ancient practice of capturing nature in a miniature setting.
Visit the Mobile Botanical Gardens April 29 – May 3rd to see an incredible display of one of a kind bonsai!Tickets to the Azalea City Bonsai Show & Gardens are regular admission tickets (Adults – $10, Youth (Ages 5-17) – $6, Children (4 and under) – FREE, Military/Student/Senior(Ages 65+) – $8
Tickets can be purchased in our giftshop or online at: https://mbgrebloomshop.com/products/schedule-a-visit-admission
Open: 9 AM – 5 PM

Family Fun Day at MBG!
2025-05-10 10:00 - 13:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Join us on may 10th for family fun day!
Saturday, may 10
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
HALF Priced admission!
$5 adults, $3 children (ages 5 – 17), children 4 & under FREE
Families are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn!

Herb Education Day with the GCHS
2025-05-17 10:00 - 13:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Come enjoy the Sybil Burnett Herb Garden and celebrate the beauty and utility of herbs through two seminars presented by herbal expert Debbie Boutelier*.
First 50 Attendees Receive FREE Admission!
Later attendees will be charged a reduced admission rate of $5 per person
Please RSVP by emailing Sara here

9:00 a.m.

Welcome! Sign in and enjoy Herb Cookies and Coffee as you stroll the Herb Garden and chat with fellow herb enthusiasts.

10:00 a.m.

Herb Seminars begin, with Debbie Boutelier*
Growing and Using Popular Herbs
Break
Culinary Delights with Herbs

Debbie Boutelier, a resident of Autauga County, Alabama, has been growing and studying herbal plants and their uses for many years. She teaches workshops on numerous aspects of herbs, including organic herb gardening, the culinary uses of herbs, and other historical and practical uses in daily life. Debbie has pursued her interests in gardening and herbs on both a national and local level. Nationally, Debbie is a past President of the Herb Society of America (“HSA”), and is presently chair of HSA’s Green Bridges Program, a project to encourage gardeners nationwide to plant locally native herb plants in order to facilitate healthy ecosystems for pollinators and the plants they depend on. In Alabama, Debbie worked as an Autauga County Extension Agent for eight years, and is a certified Advanced Alabama Master Gardener. She has recently been elected for a two-year term as President of the Alabama Master Gardeners Association.

1st Friday Presentation:"The Secrets of Organic Farming: The Legacy of Dr. Nettles Farm"
2025-08-01 10:00 - 23:30 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
WHAT: First Friday Presentation by Dr. Dana Nettles
WHEN: Friday, August 1st @ 10:00 AM
WHERE: Larkin’s Classroom

Join us for an inspiring presentation by Dr. Dana Nettles on the principles and secrets of sustainable, organic farming, with a focus on how traditional knowledge, natural methods, and scientific insight can work together to promote both physical and mental health, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. Discover how natural agricultural practices, rooted in generations of experience, offers a path to healing, education and environmental harmony.
There is no cost to attend the presentation but please RSVP by emailing Aeriell here.
Meet Dr. Dana Nettles
“Dr. Dana Nettles, PharmD is a licensed pharmacist who graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Biology, then continued her studies at Samford University’s Mcwhorter College of Pharmacy earning a Doctorate of Pharmacy with a minor in herbal medicine. She has been practicing pharmacy for over 30 years, and has a passion for holistic medicine, organic teas and herbal products, veggies, and fruit. Dr. Nettles is a yoga, spinning and zumba instructor and an avid runner. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority which is an organization of college educated women that are dedicated to public service. She is a health care professional with a dedicated history of service before self, working to create a world without disease.
Dana is a lifelong farmer that uses nature as a model to produce nutrient dense medicinal herbs, vegetables and fruit.Her farm is USDA certified Organic. Her and her family own a 3 acre farm in Mobile, Alabama and a commercial hoop house. They grow and sell family curated medicinal teas at local produce markets,Virginia’s Health Food store, on Amazon, Ebay, Etsyand at farmers markets. They also educated the youth at elementary schools about permaculture farming and sustainability for a health food system. Dr. Nettles has started a community garden for senior citizens along with her Master Gardener class. She has won community service awards from Alabama A&M small farms. Dr Nettles Farms is a member of Black Farmers Index and on the board of Women Who Look Ahead Mentoring and has spoken on Capitol Hill every year for the organic trade association to ensure our food supply is kept healthy and to keep our Farm Bill for our country. Health and wellness is our business.”

1st Friday Presentation: Fall Plant Sale
2025-10-03 10:00 - 23:30 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
WHAT: First Friday Presentation – Fall Plant Sale!
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 3rd @ 10 AM
WHERE: Nita’s Market Place at MBG
Join us for an exciting talk about the upcoming fall plant sale and fall planting!
Be the first to preview some of the plants available at the sale, get expert advice on plant selections for your yard, what to plant and when to plant, and any other questions you may have!
There is no cost to attend the presentation but please RSVP by emailing Jessica here.

1st Saturday for Families
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
First Saturday for Families • October 4, 10am-12pm
Introducing a new monthly event for families! On the first Saturday of every month, bring the whole family to the Gardens for fun activities from 10am-12pm. In October there will be a LEGO building station in the gift shop and a scavenger hunt to take with you while you wander through the Gardens. Representatives from the USA Biology Department will be offering guided nature walks using to iNaturalist to identify plants and animals.
Free with general admission and for members.

Fall Fling!
2025-10-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
WHAT: Fall Fling
WHEN: Saturday, October 18th, 10 am – 1 pm
Join us for our fall open house! Enjoy hands-on activities, yard games and browse the newest seasonal art in our gift shop. Fall snacks will be available for purchase. The Environmental Studies Center will be presenting nocturnal animals at 11:00.
Free with general admission and for members.

Annual Membership Meeting
2025-10-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Email Jessica to RSVP Here

Macrame with Deidre Sanders
2025-11-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Macrame Plant Hanger WorkShop
Saturday, November 1
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
$40 for Not-Yet Members
$35 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
Join Deirdre Sanders of Small Craft Studio for a fun and creative Macrame Plant Hanger Workshop! Learn the art of knotting as Deirdre guides you step by step through making your own macrame plant hanger. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refresh your skills, you’ll find this hands-on workshop to be a relaxed, inspiring environment. All materials are provided, and you’ll leave with a finished piece ready for your beautiful hanging plants.
Please note: Pots are not included.
Register Here
Meet Your Instructor:

Deirdre Sanders is an artist living in Mobile, AL. Originally from New York, Deirdre lived in Baltimore and Marietta, Ohio, before moving to the Gulf Coast. An educator for many years, Deirdre left academia in the early 2010s to pursue her interest in sewing and art. In addition to making custom clothing for clients in the Mobile area, Deirdre offers workshops in sewing, art, and polymer clay through her business, Small Craft Studio.
Website: www.smallcraft.studio
Facebook: Small Craft Studio
Instagram: smallcraft.studio

1st Saturday for Families
2025-11-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
First Saturday for Families • November 1, 10am-12pm
Bring the whole family to the Gardens from 10am-12pm. There will be a LEGO building station in the gift shop, a nature-based fall craft and a new scavenger hunt to take with you while you wander through the Gardens.
Free with general admission and for members.

1st Friday Presentation: "The Secret (and Essential) Lives of Moths"
2025-11-07 10:00 - 23:30 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
WHAT: First Friday Presentation – The Secret (and Essential) lives of Moths
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 7th @ 10 AM
WHERE: Larkins Classroom
In this talk, artist Rachel Wright will discuss the magnificent moth and how it has gotten all the bad publicity. Join us to discover how moths are an essential part of the ecosystem, hear fascinating stories about moths and their biology, and see some downright beautiful moths.
There is no cost to attend the presentation but please RSVP by emailing Jessica here.

Precious Metal Clay Jewelry Design Class
2025-11-08 09:00 - 14:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Introduction to Precious Metal Clay Fine Silver Jewelry Design
Saturday, November 8
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
$295 for Not-Yet Members
$285 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
Class is limited to 6 students so be sure to sign up today!
This 5-hour class will introduce you to the interesting life of design through the application of fine silver metal clay.
In this class you will briefly learn the history of PMC, and the unique characteristics of the process and materials that make it both challenging and rewarding. We will sculpt, sand and dry the fine silver pieces to prepare for firing. During this class, you will be able to design at least one pendant and one or two pair of earrings. The price of the class includes all materials including the fine silver clay, the consumables needed to design the pieces, the firing and tumbling of your work.
The instructor, Kathryn Whetstone, is a Level 3 Certified PMC Instructor who was trained under well-known jeweler and PMC designer, Teva Chaffin of Nashville, Tn. Kathryn began her training at William Holland School of Lapidiary Arts in Georgia in 2006 and then continued studying under Teva in Nashville for at least 5 more years.. Kathryn has taught metal clay classes in the Auburn-Opelika area for the last 10 years and has studied more recently under the tutelage of Laurie LaMarca, a celebrated Metal Clay artist from Louisiana.
Please Note: Students are responsible for bringing their own lunch and snacks.
Register Here

Candle Making Class
2025-11-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Candle Making Class
Taught by Seanna Mongon – Humble Hope Candle Co.
Saturday, November 8th , 4 – 6 PM
$50 for Not-Yet Members
$45 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
Register Here
Bring a friend and come and create your own glowing masterpiece!
Join us for a hands-on, sensory candle making experience! You will craft your own signature candle using a coconut wax blend and customizing the fragrance with premium fragrance oils. Embellish your candle with creative touches like shimmering mica powder, dried herbs and flowers and handmade wax embellishments.
After creating and naming your one-of-a-kind candle you will have a chance to submit your signature name to Seanna. Each season she chooses a custom scent and name from the submissions to include in the Humble Hope candle line!
What is included:

learn the basics of candle making
how to safely melt, scent and pour your candle
phthalate, sulfate and prop 65 safe premium fragrances
create and decorate with mica powder and wax melt embellishments (flowers, shapes, textures)
a personalized candle to take home

A portion of class fees go to support Love All Food Pantry in Mobile, AL.
About Your Instructor
Seanna Mongan is the founder and visionary behind Humble Hope Candle Co. and Humble Hope Cozy Cottage, located at Central Midtown at 1260 Dauphin St. With a deep-rooted passion for community and justice, Seanna was inspired to create a space where creativity and compassion could work hand in hand. Drawing on years of community outreach and her belief in second chances, she launched the Cottage to highlight local artisans, support sustainable practices, and create job opportunities for those in need.
Her mission is simple but powerful: build bridges through small acts of hope. Whether through a candle, a conversation, or a connection, Seanna’s heart for others is the soul of the Cottage — and the reason it feels like a hug the moment you walk in.
Register Here

Fall Floral Class with Susan from LUSH Florist
2025-11-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Fall Bouquet Class
Saturday, November 22
10:00 AM – 12:00PM
$85 for Not-Yet Members
$80 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
Come join the fun and let the experts from LUSH teach you the basics of floral arranging! This is an informal floral design class where you will learn some simple design concepts and create a bouquet of your own. You will leave with a beautiful fall-inspired arrangement perfect for your Thanksgiving tablescapes! All supplies are included.
Register here.

Gardening Basics Part 1: Preparing Garden Soil
2026-01-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Gardening Basics: Preparing Garden Soil
Saturday, January 24
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Register Here
Learn how to start a bountiful garden from the soil up! Master Gardener Pat Hall will teach you all about choosing the best site for your vegetable garden, testing and preparing your soil for planting and how to create a raised bed garden.
Early registration is requested. Drop-in registration on the day of the class will be offered if spots are still available.
$7 for members (difference refunded after purchase)
$10 for not-yet-members
The Mobile County Master Gardeners generously donate their time and teaching expertise. All registration fees go directly to MBG to support the work of caring for our plant collections
Register Here

How to Make Elderberry Syrup Workshop
2026-02-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Elderberry Syrup Workshop
Saturday, February 7th
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Instructor: Veronica Culberson, Honey of the Hill
Register Here!
$35 for Not-Yet Members
$30 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
After selling out the first time, we are offering a second class! Start the new year off right with a post-holiday immune boost! Join us for a lesson on everything elderberry!
Elderberry syrup is a popular and long-trusted herbal wellness remedy and illness preventative. Well known for its abundance of vitamins and antioxidants, people have historically used elderberry combined with other natural immune supporting herbs and fruits to fight off seasonal illnesses like the flu and colds.
In this class we will learn all about elderberry syrup, from the source to the solution. Learn to identify elderberry plants in the wild, how to nurture them in your own yard, safe and sustainable harvesting, various preparations, storage and uses. Everyone will take home a pint of completed traditional elderberry syrup and a small potted elderberry plant to add to their landscape.
Register Here!

Gardening Basics Part 2: Growing Vegetables in the Coastal South
2026-02-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Gardening Basics: Growing Vegetables in the Coastal South
Saturday, February 21
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Register Here
Learn how to grow vegetables suited to our unique climate! In this class Master Gardener Barbara Boone will teach on growing vegetables in the South, companion planting and knowing what to plant in what season.
Early registration is requested. Drop-in registration on the day of the class will be offered if spots are still available.
$7 for members (difference refunded after purchase)
$10 for not-yet-members
The Mobile County Master Gardeners generously donate their time and teaching expertise. All registration fees go directly to MBG to support the work of caring for our plant collections.
Register Here

Natural Beekeeping: Principals & Practices for the Backyard Apiary
2026-02-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Natural Beekeeping: Principles and Practices for the Backyard Apiary
Saturday, February 28 | 1:00-4:00
Instructors:
Veronica Culberson, Honey of the Hill
Dr. Don Culberson, Entomologist Professor
Register Here
$45 for Not-Yet Members
$40 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
The technological advances of the Industrial Revolution have brought beekeeping science into the future. There are all sorts of devices, methods and treatments that, while seemingly beneficial to the commercial side of the trade, can often leave the hobby apiarist wishing for a simpler and more natural experience for themselves and their bees. Many of the current standard beekeeping practices conflict with the bees’ natural rhythms and inclinations in order to forcibly support the production of more and more honey, but at what cost? The bees have managed themselves quite well out in the wild for the past 150 million years or so, finely tuned evolutionary beings that they are, what could we possibly do to top that?
This class will uncover the vast differences in industrial and hobby beekeeping and show how the standards for one don’t really apply to the other, and how they may actually disadvantage the bees. We will discuss the whys and hows of honeybee behaviors, what the bees want, and how to use their natural tendencies to support their health and production. Other topics covered include apiary site selection and setup for healthy and productive colonies, hiving options, sourcing livestock, inspecting your bees and record keeping, supporting rather than preventing swarming, natural disease and pest management, expanding your apiary organically, and how we learn from our failures.
Weather permitting, we will be viewing live bees during this 2+ hour course.
This is not a beekeeping 101 class but if you’re an aspiring, new or even seasoned beekeeper who’d like to learn about the more natural, low impact and regenerative side of beekeeping and how to apply it to your own beekeeping journey, then this is the class for you.
Register Here

About the Instructor:
Presented by Mobile Botanical Garden’s beekeeper, Veronica Culberson, and her entomologist professor father, Dr. Don Culberson. Veronica and Don have been keeping bees without the use of chemical additives and unnatural feedings for 10+ years. What started as an experiment in backyard gardening has developed into a love affair with pollinators and community outreach. As their knowledge and their apiaries have grown and flourished through the seasons, so has the desire to educate.

Garden Photography Workshop
2026-03-21 11:00 - 14:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Garden Photography Workshop
Saturday, March 21 | 11 AM – 2 PM
Instructor: Photographer & MBG Member, Julie Andel
Register Here!
$80 for Not-Yet Members
$75 for Members (difference refunded after purchase)
Join experienced photographer Julie Andel for a hands-on garden photography workshop. The workshop will include an hour of classroom instruction and two hours of hands-on training in and around the Garden.
Classroom instruction will cover basic camera settings, utilizing camera focus modes, and creative compositional techniques for subjects within gardens. The garden walk will reinforce the topics covered in the lecture and students will get real-time practice with techniques such as exposure settings, focusing, and creative compositions. Students of all ages and levels of experience are welcome to participate.
The only requirement for this class is a digital camera. It can be a simple point and shoot camera or a DSLR camera, as long as it’s digital. Students are asked to bring the camera manual if available.
Register Here!
