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The Gardens

The Dothan Area Botanical Garden strives to enhance the lives of area citizens and visitors alike by connecting people with plants and increasing awareness of our environment.  The Gardens includes over 15 specialty gardens listed below.  Choose a garden from the menu on the left or scroll down the page to learn more about what makes each garden unique.

Rose  Garden

Michelin Pond

Herb Garden

Heirloom Garden

Demonstration Garden

Butterfly Garden

Azalea Garden

Camellia Garden

Hydrangea Garden

Fern Glade

Shady Garden

Ornamental Shrub
Garden

Cottage Garden

Wedding Garden

Succulent Garden

Daylily Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rose Garden 
                              
The Rose Garden was the first garden established at
 the Gardens in 1997 and now contains approximate-
 ly 400 roses.  The center beds contain modern
 roses, mostly hybrid tea, floribunda, or grandiflora,
 while the outer beds hold antique and climbing
 roses.  The central focal point is Gloria Fischer
 Memorial Fountain dedicated in 2000.  The garden
 peaks in May and, after a brief rest during the heat
 of the summer, bursts forth again in the fall.  This garden is maintained by the Wiregrass Rose Society.
 

Michelin Pond

  A body of water in any garden is always an
  attraction to visitors and the Michelin Pond in the
  Dothan Area Botanical Gardens is no exception. 
  Michael Canaday, local Landscape Architect who
  developed the master plan for the Gardens, was well
  aware of this when he included a pond.  Through a
  generous donation from Michelin Tire Company in
  1999, the pond was built and a memorial fountain to
  Doug  Killingsworth, the DABG's first president,
  was soon added.  Plants of interest along the pond's edge include Pickerel Weed, Vitex
  tree, Weeping Willow and a variety of Cannas and Elephant Ears.
 

Herb Garden

  Designed for close contact, the Herb Garden invites
  you to walk up and touch, smell, see and even
  taste the culinary, aromatic and medicinal herbs that
  fill the raised beds. Sited just to the west of the Rose
  Garden and connected by a paved walk, the Herb
  Garden is meant to be appreciated up close.  The
  Herb Garden at the DABG consists of four raised
  beds each containing herbs loosely grouped into four
  broad categories according to their uses: Medicinal,
 Culinary, Fragrance, or Ornamental.
      

     

 Southern Heirloom Garden

  The Southern Heirloom Garden was established by
  former DABG Board member Nancy Stembridge
  for the preservation of those seeds and plants from
  the past for generations in the future.  Although an
  heirloom garden is not planted to be showy and
  spectacular but a collection of bygone plants that
  have been overlooked or forgotten with the arrival
  of hybridization, it does have seasons of glorious
  color.  Early spring heralds the most intense color with poppies, larkspur, old roses and Confederate Jasmine followed in summer with petunias, zinnias, and Black-eyed Susans among others.  Most of the specimens in this garden were collected throughout the Southeast from family gardens, old homes and roadsides. 
    

Demonstration Garden

The Demonstration Garden is located next to the Wilson Windmill. The vegetable garden is approximately 75 feet by 40 feet with rows and raised beds. Across the trail is  the flower garden which has four raised beds each 32 feet by 4 feet. As the seasons change, so do the vegetables and flowers. Winter vegetables include turnips, collards, cabbage, carrots and broccoli while in the summer you'll find okra, squash, eggplant, corn and tomatoes among many others. The garden includes several varieties of fruit trees (pear, apple, loquat, plum and peach), a 'raisin' tree, muscadine arbors, blueberries and blackberries. The flower beds contain many seasonal and perennial flowers such as Mexican Sunflowers, Joe-Pye Weed, Yarrow, Balsam, Guara, Salvias, Firespike, Poppies, Dutchman Pipe Vines, Porcelain Vines and plumerias (frangipani). This garden is maintained by the Wiregrass Master Gardeners.  The scene is ever-changing and beautiful, providing a new experience for each visit. 

 
 Butterfly Garden       

  The Butterfly Garden is located near the
  Demonstration Gardens.  Plants known to attract
  butterflies such as Butterfly Bush, Coreopsis,
  Hibiscus, Portulaca, and Zinnias can be found here
  as well as host plants for butterfly larva. In addition
  to the plantings, a water feature is available to
  provide water for the butterflies. 
  
      


Azalea Garden 

 

 

 

 


 

Camellia Garden

 

 

 

 


 

Hydrangea Garden 

 

 

 

 


 

Bernice J. Dykes Memorial Cottage Garden 

 The Bernice J. Dykes Memorial Garden is a small,
 informal garden located along the trail between the
 Rose Garden and the Gregory Garden.  It contains
 bulbs, perennials, annuals, flowering vines and herbs
 planted closely and creating a soothing experience.
 The focal points are a Japanese maple, 'Bloodgood',
 and an iron gate supporting a beautiful clematis
 shown in the "photos" section of this website.


Succulent Garden
 

The Succulent Garden is located along the back
  trail directly across from the CenturyTel Koi
  Ponds.  This garden contains hardy cacti, agaves,
  aloes, sedums and other plants that can tolerate arid
  conditions.  In addition a number of tender succu-
  lents are displayed in containers during the warmer
  months.


 

Ornamental Shrub Garden 


Daylily Garden 

 The Daylily Garden features a collection of over 200
 cultivars of daylilies (genus Hemerocallis) in an array
 of colors, sizes and flower forms.  All the varieties
 are identified and the garden continues to evolve as
 newer cultivars are added each year.  The focal
 point of this garden is the Fall Muse and behind her
 is a bench and vine-covered arbor. This garden was
 funded by a generous memorial donation from Dr.
 LaBruce and Suzanne Hanahan and Ann Banks and is maintained by the Wiregrass Daylily Society..                                   

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                                         Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
                                                  5130 Headland Avenue
                                                  Dothan, Alabama 36303
                                                    (334) 793-3224   Email: dabg@dabg.com
                                             http://www.dabg.com

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Page updated Monday, June 15, 2009