Open year round, the Gardens are a great place to visit to enjoy nature and observe the seasonal colors as different plants bloom during their season. Take an early morning walk. Invite friends to join you for a picnic at the pavilion. Bring your kids to enjoy the Children’s garden. On a cold windy day, enjoy the warmth and beauty in the Coleman Tropical House.
Wings of Wonder
Wings of Wonder, a seasonal butterfly house, is an 1800 sq ft screened structure containing approximately 500 native butterflies. It is open from April through October of each year. We welcome school tours and small groups and even offer a Butterfly Birthday Package! Join us and step into wonder today.
Coleman Tropical House
Rain or shine, sun or snow the Coleman Tropical House is always a fun time. It hosts a variety of tropical plants that thrive in the humid environment. Step into the rainforest and visit the blooms year round. Our Orchid collection boasts dozens of unique specimens and the ferns are to die for. You never know what’s growing but you know it will be worth the visit.
Padlocks of Love
Throughout the ages, lovers have looked for ways to prove to the world that their love is the real thing. For the past couple of decades, unknown to most Americans, “Padlocks of Love” have been placed on gates, fences and bridges, to symbolize eternal love. Couples engrave or print their initials on the locks and then throw away the key to “lock their love” forever.
The origin of the tradition seems to trace back to China, where several “locks of love” can be found alongside the Great Wall. Love lock displays have sprung up in France, Germany, Guam, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia, and Spain. As far as we know, only a few such sites appear to be located in the United States.
DABG now has our very own “Lock Gate” – located inside the Gardens, right next to the Gazebo… You’re invited to bring a padlock to place on the Gate – to acknowledge your eternal love for your spouse, family member, favorite pet, significant other, or good friend. This ancient and growing custom will symbolically lock your love ”forever”!
The lock gate is open anytime during our normal business hours… so feel free to bring as many locks as you’d like. Make sure each lock has your initials printed or engraved on it. It’s a true one-of-a-kind gift idea for someone special – anytime of year. No charge… just fun – and free! And don’t forget to bring your camera!
Camellia Show & Sale
If you love Camellia’s make sure to mark your calendar for January when the Southeast Alabama Camellia Society holds it’s annual Camellia Show and Sale. Approximately 1500 blooms are submitted to compete for the approximately 20 different cash awards in 20 different classes.
We hosted a Camellia tea tasting as well as guest speakers to learn about the history of Camellias. Tours of the DABG Camellia Garden are led by the DABG staff. The show and sale were open to the public and sanctioned by the American Camellia Society.
Backyard Bird Count
In cooperation with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens hosts a guided bird walk in February as part of the annual global “Great Backyard Bird Count” (GBBC). Participants will count and tally all the birds seen during the walk and the Gardens will report the figures to the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Now in its 28th year, the Great Backyard Bird Count is a popular “citizen science” project and helps researchers learn more about how bird populations are doing and how to protect them and the environment we share.
Last year, citizens from 210 different countries reported results to event organizers. A whopping 642,000 participants reported seeing 7,920 different species of birds, an estimated 3/4ths of the world’s known species.
Egg Quest
Egg Quest, a public art project hosted by the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, returns to the 46-acre facility beginning in mid March. This event combines the artistic skills of area students and local artists with the beauty of the gardens and will continue through Easter Sunday.
Begun in 2018, Egg Quest involves the display of approximately two dozen 4-ft wooden eggs that have been creatively painted. The colorful eggs are scattered throughout the garden for visitors to see and enjoy.
A children’s map/questionnaire will encourage children to answer questions about certain eggs. A completed questionnaire, including your vote for your favorite egg, makes a child eligible to win a large Easter basket in a drawing on the Sunday before Easter. Participants usually include local area schools, civic groups, and local artists.
Plant Sale
Every spring Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, in cooperation with the Wiregrass Master Gardeners, hosts a joint plant sale.
DABG plants will feature native Azaleas as well as many native plants that are wildlife/pollinator friendly. These plants can be purchased online by DABG members before the sale and in person once the sale begins.
The Wiregrass Master Gardeners will offer a wide variety of bedding plants, house plants, fruits and vegetables, trees & shrubs and other plants for in-person shopping exclusively at the plant sale.
Go Public Gardens Day
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens (DABG) celebrates “GO PUBLIC GARDENS” Day in May. Public Gardens Association, the “GO PUBLIC GARDENS” campaign was formerly known as “National Public Gardens Week”. All over the U.S., public gardens will encourage the general public to visit, explore, learn, support, and volunteer at public gardens.
The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens participates with a one-day event on a Saturday in May. Visitors to the Gardens will enjoy FREE ADMISSION along with the opportunity to visit with and learn from a variety of gardening experts throughout the garden grounds. Expected to be on hand will be members of the Wiregrass Master Gardeners Association, Wiregrass Rose Society, Wiregrass Daylily Society, as well as staff from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System along with DABG staff and volunteers.
Scarecrows in the Garden
“Scarecrows in the Gardens” first begun in 2004 and now returns daily for the entire month of October. This event is open to families, business, schools, businesses, and civic and non-profit organizations. Get your gang together and see what kind of creative entry you can come up with. One Sunday afternoon in October is designated as Open House for everyone to vote for their favorite ‘crow. Pictured above is the 2021 People’s Choice Winner “Chinese New Year” by Houston Academy 7th and 8th Art for the theme “Every Day’s a Holiday”.
A different theme is selected each year. Cash prizes are given to the top 5 overall winners and to the best school entry. This can be a great family activity or an excellent team-building project for your work group or organization. Several scarecrow-building workshops are conducted in late summer.
We hope to see everyone at the Gardens in October to check out the ‘crows!
Golfin’ for the Gardens
The Ralph Smith Memorial Golf Tournament is held in October as a fund raiser for the Gardens in memory of the late Ralph Smith who was an early supporter of the Gardens. The DABG administrative building is named in honor of Ralph and his wife Carolyn.
The 4 man scramble is held at the beautiful Highland Oaks golf course which is a member of the world renowned Robert Trent Jones golf trail.
Your golfing group can register online if you like. This great day of golf includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch, awards, door prizes, one year’s membership to the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, and a great goody bag. In addition there are prizes in various events including: putting challenge, longest drive, closest to the Pin, Chip ‘N Challenge, and Hole in One prizes.
Various sponsorships are available. Join us for a great day on the links!
Tree Giveaway & Tree ID Walk
Over 500 trees and shrubs will be given away here at the Gardens, thanks to the Alabama Urban Forestry Association in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. After several speeches and a tree dedication the tree giveaway begins.
The trees and shrubs are given out on a first come, first served basis and the varieties change depending on the year. Varieties we have had in the past include the Bald Cypress, Bur Oak, River Birch, Nyssa ogeechee (Ogeechee tupelo) and Longleaf Pine. The shrubs have included Beautyberry, Button bush, Wax Myrtle, Piedmont Azalea, and Red Buckeye.
Following the giveaway we have an hour long Tree ID walk lead by one of our Alabama Urban Forestry members. It’s a fun and informative walk that showcases trees here in the gardens that you may find in the local area.
Gardens Aglow
Begun in 2013, Gardens Aglow is a walking tour to see the DABG lit up for the holiday season! Gardens Aglow is open on Friday and Saturday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas. New features are added every year. Treat yourself and your Holiday guests to this special event.
This family oriented affair will feature Christmas lights, holiday blow-ups, and animated displays. The always-popular Christmas surprises hidden in the trees along the route are a hi-light for the children. Visitors are encouraged to bring their flashlights to help find these hidden objects.
The trail is paved asphalt and strollers, pulled wagons, and wheelchairs are welcome but bicycles, skateboards and roller skates are not permitted. Dogs are allowed each night as long as they are on a leash and people-friendly.
Entry tickets must be purchased in advance for a designated date and 30-minute entry period. Tickets may be purchased online at dabg.com or at the DABG office.