Qi Gong / Tai Chi at MBG
2023-11-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-11-24 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-11-28 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-12-01 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-12-05 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-12-08 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-12-12 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-12-15 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) and 9 more dates | AL
What: Spring Session IV
When: Tuesday and Friday mornings, 9am-10am
Where: Outdoor sites at Mobile Botanical Gardens
Instructor: Alla Zakharova
Cost: $56 – 8 sessions (students will receive a punch card)
More information and registration
The class setting at the Mobile Botanical Gardens is ideal for Qi Gong and Tai Chi routines, since their slow, gentle motions are patterned after movements found in nature. The selected exercises can and should be practiced independently at home and are suitable for any level of physical fitness. You will be provided with printed materials and online resources to assist you with independent practice and aid your personal growth and development in these disciplines.
About our Instructor: Alla Zakharova is a retired academic with four advanced degrees in education, linguistics, and instructional design who has been practicing Tai Chi for the last twenty years. She studied Tai Chi 24 and 42 open hand forms, fan, sword and cane routines with Louisa Martin and Mart Burrow.

Closed for the Thanksgiving Holidays
2023-11-22 12:00 - 2023-11-24 23:59 | AL
The Gardens will be closed to visits by the public, but MBG members may visit anytime using their access code. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Tales and Trails in the Gardens
2023-11-30 10:30 - 11:30, 2023-12-07 10:30 - 11:30, 2023-12-14 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-01-04 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-01-11 10:30 - 11:30 | AL
A Literacy program of reading books and sharing activities. Designed for preschoolers. Every Thursday morning at 10:30am the group will read a book at various locations in the Gardens. On rainy days the group will meet in the Larkins Classroom. FREE to MBG members, cost of admission for nonmembers, and registration is required. All children must be accompanied by parent or assigned adult guardian.
Registration Form (opens in separate window)
Email Aeriell for more information or call the office at 251.342.0555.

A Holiday Market in the Gardens
2023-12-01 09:00 - 13:00, 2023-12-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Shop the Artful Garden Giftshop for great holiday gifts. On December 1st and 2nd, come to Holiday Market and support our partner non-profit organizations – the Mobile County Master Gardeners, and the Gulf Coast Herb Society!
Pre-Order of MG Holiday Greenery via this link.
MOBILE BOTANICAL GARDENS
New this year – we are having a Gingerbread competition and display! The gingerbread creations will be on display in the Botanical Center throughout the month of December. Learn more about the gingerbread competition.
If you like to buy local products with a tale to tell, then Mobile Botanical Garden’s Holiday Market has some wonderful selections from local and regional artists for you to choose from this year! Melissa Roombos, our Gift Shop manager, has curated a wonderful array of goods ranging from art to jewelry, glass art, garden enhancements, and more. You can also look forward to finding local honey from our beehives, poinsettias, and blooming camellias at Holiday Market.
Proceeds support preserving the 106 acres of the Mobile Botanical Gardens and supporting our educational programming.
MOBILE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS
Offerings from the Mobile County Master Gardeners includes their fresh greenery, trivets, coasters, and more. You can pre-order your greenery or purchase day-of at Holiday Market.
Proceeds from their sales support their educational programs and a scholarship at Auburn University for a local student studying horticulture.
GULF COAST HERB SOCIETY
The Gulf Coast Herb Society makes potpourri and herb ornaments, and they will also be selling an assortment of herb plants presented in baskets or burlap wraps with handles – ready for gift giving!
Proceeds support their educational programming and maintaining the Herb Garden at the Mobile Botanical Gardens.

In Praise of Trees - An “Impressionistic/Expressive” track Art Class
2023-12-08 10:00 - 13:00, 2023-12-15 10:00 - 13:00 | AL
Fridays, beginning October 20th
10am – 1pm
Instructor: Derek Norman
Members $125
Non-members $150 (additional fee collected at first class session)
Register
A 6-week class focusing on drawing and painting the trees of MBG. Intermediate – Advanced students.
Class Dates:
#1 – October 20th
#2 – November 3rd
#3 – November 10th
#4 – November 17th
#5 – December 8th
#6 – December 15th
It is that time of the year when, sadly, trees take an enormous hit from on-coming storms, hurricanes and such that it seems an appropriate time to lavish appreciation for their beauty, their strength and vigor. So this is a class of thanks, appreciation and praise. We will be following the Mobile Botanical Garden’s new “Impressionistic/Expressionistic” track of working in the mediums of oil paint and gouache.

Christmas Holiday Hours
2023-12-22 - 2023-12-26 | AL
The Gardens will be closed to visits by the public from Friday, December 22nd through Tuesday, December 26th. MBG Members may visit anytime using their access code. Have a wonderful Holiday, one and all!

First Friday - Writers In Nature Presentation
2024-01-05 10:30 - 12:00 | AL
What: A presentation of original poems written by WIN students
When: Friday, January 5th, 2024 at 10:30am
Where: The Larkins Classroom
Cost: FREE to MBG Members / regular admission for nonmembers
Sue Brannan Walker, former Alabama Poet Laureate, instructs the Writers In Nature students in classes taught at MBG every week. This presentation will share several of the original works created by students.

“Following in the Footsteps of the Great Women Artists” - Derek Norman
2024-01-12 10:00 - 13:00 | AL
What: A 7-week course instructed by Derek Norman
Where: The Larkins Classroom
When: Fridays, 10am-1pm as follows:
#1 – January 12, 2024
#2 – January 19, 2024
#3 – January 26, 2024
#4 – February 9, 2024
#5 – February 16, 2024
#6 – February 23, 2024
#7 – March 8, 2024
Cost: $125/ Members; $150 Nonmembers
REGISTER
A class that reviews the enormous contribution women artists have made across the centuries to the canon of art history in general and to botanical art in particular. From the Renaissance through the present day, art history is indebted to the talents of women whose names have been lost to history by way of a male narrative that has been somewhat dismissive of their contribution.
We will review and study the work, style and technique of a number of famous women artists. We will celebrate their originality, their spirit and how they advanced the traditions of painting and drawing while others looked the other way.
