BLAZE Magazine Winter 2013 | Page 28

walk, Mirror Lake, the great lawn, the Asian-American gardens, the butterfly garden, formal garden terraces and more. The Bellingrath Home is also open for tours, and contains its original furnishings and an extensive collection of decorative arts. The 10,500-square-foot home was built in 1935. Cruises along the Fowl River aboard the Southern Belle are also available to guests. Each excursion lasts about 45 minutes and features information about birding habits, ecological systems and Civil War history of the area. In addition to the yearly spectacular display of blooms, the gardens also host a number of special events. Upcoming activities include an Easter Egg Hunt on March 23, Easter Sunrise Service and Easter Breakfast Cruise on March 31, the 20th Annual Camellia Classic Car Show on April 6 and Mother’s Day Garden Concert on May 12. Times and costs for special events vary. Bellingrath Gardens and Home is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $12 per person for the garden tour, $20 for the garden and home tour or $28.50 for the garden, home and cruise package. Admission for children (age 5-12) is $6 for the garden, $12 for home and garden or $18.50 for the garden, home and cruise package. Bellingrath Gardens is located at 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road in Theodore. For more information, call 800-247-8420 or 251-973-2217 or visit www.bellingrath.org. Birmingham Botanical Gardens The 67.5-acre Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama’s largest living museum, featuring more than 12,000 different plants in its collecti ۜˈH