How have I waited this many years before visiting this beautiful gem in the middle of a big city?  We went this weekend and they were having a huge plant sale!  The whole place was super crowded, but after circling the lot twice, we lucked up in a parking spot.  Parking is free and entry is free!  What a gift to the people of Birmingham and its visitors!  

Though there appeared to be a ton of folks here, we never felt crowded.  The park is so spread out with something to see in every single corner.  We loved the conservatory with its water feature and tropical plants, the beautiful fountains, the winding paths to get to each area and the thoughtfully placed swings and benches along the way to rest your tootsies.  Far and away my favorite garden was the Japanese Garden.  

The Japanese Garden has a Tori Gate at the entrance to welcome you and it sets the tone perfectly for the wonders you are about to see.  Beautiful photo ops await with the koi pond, the meandering bridge, the turtles sunning themselves on the rocks and the tea garden.  Do not miss this.

We didn’t see everything we wanted, so I know I’ll be back when I’m in town again.  So peaceful and lovely.