Mobile Botanical Gardens

Botanical Art: A Drawing Class for Beginners Only
2025-04-18 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-25 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-02 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-09 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-16 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-23 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Mobile Botanical Gardens’ Larkins Classroom, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL, 36608, United States
BOTANICAL ART: A DRAWING CLASS FOR BEGINNERS ONLY
Fridays from 10 AM – 1 PM

April 18th
April 25th
May 2nd
May 9th
May 16th
May 23rd

Instructor: Derek Norman
Members $125 / Not-Yet-Members $150
(Discover the benefits of membership and Join Now)!

Register and Pay Here!

Sketch Club in the Gardens
2025-04-18 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-25 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-02 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-09 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-16 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-23 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-30 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-06 14:00 - 16:00 and 9 more dates | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
What: A casual sketch club experience with oversight from Derek Norman, botanical arts instructor
When: Friday afternoons, 2-4pm*
Where: The Larkins Classroom OR at Magnolia Hill Studio
Cost: FREE for MBG Members, regular admission for nonmembers. (Benefits of membership) (Join Now!)
*The sketch club generally meets on Friday afternoons, subject to availability of space. Contact the office at 251.342.0555 to verify hours of activity on specific dates.

-=-The drawings and paintings shown here are by recent members of the Gardens Sketch Club and botanical art students of the MBG. They serve as examples of what can be achieved by those with none or very little previous experience drawing and painting.
We invite you to visit the Garden’s Sketch Club and to enjoy the therapeutic rewards of learning to draw and drawing to learn! Learn how art can transform and enrich your life plus enhance your physical and mental well-being.
We meet each Friday afternoon in an open studio where we usually work, study, draw and paint. We exchange information relevant to the business of botanical art, art in general and to the consideration of individual botanical art concerns.
Join the MBG Sketch Club. – a whole new world of infinite possibilities! -=-
-Derek Norman, Educator, Designer, Artist, Author, Curator & sometime Writer. 5th October 2024
Join Derek and several of his Botanical Arts students for an enjoyable afternoon of sketching the collections of MBG.

Spring Break Camp: Art in Bloom Nature and Art
2025-04-21 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-22 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-23 09:00 - 16:00 | AL
“Art takes Nature as its model.” -Aristotle
Are you looking for a unique and engaging way to keep your child entertained and educated during Spring Break? Look no further! Our new Spring Break Camp, Art in Bloom, is an exciting creative collaboration with the Mobile Museum of Art that will inspire your child’s artistic side while exploring the wonders of nature!
When: Monday, April 21st through Wednesday, April 23rd, 9am – 4pm. (Mornings at Mobile Botanical Gardens, afternoons at Mobile Museum of Art).
3rd, 4th and 5th graders are invited to explore the intersection of Nature and Art together. Students will enjoy hands-on Science activities focused on plant life-cycles and pollinators in the mornings here at MBG with Education Director and certified teacher, Sara Habel. Together with Mrs. Habel, students will enjoy lunch (bring your own) and a walk to MOMA in the afternoons to enjoy Art activities and discussions about drawing inspiration from the natural environment.
It’s sure to be a Spring Break Camp that students remember fondly forever. Spaces are limited- don’t miss out on your child’s chance to join in on this fun and educational opportunity!
MBG Members receive a $50 discount and many more benefits, too; join MBG now if you haven’t already!
Art in Bloom: more info and registration link here.

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.”
