Birmingham Museum Heritage Plant Exchange
The community perennial garden layout at the museum is just in front of the Hill School Bell facing Maple Road
Calling all gardeners! Trade your perennial plants and divisions at the Birmingham Museum’s Heritage Plant Exchange June 4!
The Birmingham Museum has been working toward improving public access to the Allen House grounds in the past year with the goal to reconstruct the character of the Allens’ original gardens from 1926. The spring 2022 phase involves planting the main garden bed with heritage perennial flowers, many of which are still available today and found in local gardens. And, because spring is the time for dividing and thinning perennials, the Museum Board has planned a fun event to invite the public to get in on the perennial garden project--our first ever community Heritage Plant Exchange at the Birmingham Museum at 556 W. Maple Road.
Leave a Plant, Take a Plant
From 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, June 4, the public is invited to bring a healthy plant (or two) to trade with others and/or place in the Allen House perennial garden. There is no charge for the exchange—leave a plant, take a plant. Get something new for your garden, and meet fellow green thumbers! (Museum Board member and master gardener Jay Shell will be on hand to answer gardening questions, and the museum will be open for visitors (regular admission applies) during the event.
All plants must be labeled; blank labels will be available on site (or download a label here)
FAQs
What is a heritage perennial?
It's a plant that has been used in gardens for many years--an older, or 'old fashioned' variety. At the Birmingham Museum, our heritage perennial garden includes plants that were available to Birmingham gardeners in the 1920s, when the Allens built the Allen House. The specific plants and how many are needed are noted in the project description here on Engage Birmingham, and are specified by our historic landscape architect for the garden.
Can I bring any kind of perennial to exchange? Will you have labels available for me?
Yes! You can bring any perennial to exchange--they do not have to be a heritage plant. We will have blank plant labels on hand for you to fill out.
How should I bring my plant and how big should it be?
It should be big enough to be planted in the ground right away, with a decent root system for its new home. Bring it with some of its original soil (kept moist) in anything that will keep it contained and moist--such as a plastic flower pot or even a plastic bag.
How many perennials can I bring to exchange?
As many as you want to! Make sure each is labeled (check out our downloadable plant label).
What if I don't know what my plant is?
Hmmm...you could take a chance and bring it to show it to our master gardener who may know what it is, but we may not be able to identify it and/or accept it.
Will there be a garden expert on hand if I have questions?
Yes! Master gardener Jay Shell from the Museum Board will be on hand throughout the event to give advice and answer questions.
What happens to the plants that no one picks up?
They will be donated to the Birmingham Farms Neighborhood Association to plant in their community garden bed in a traffic island in the subdivision.
Are you going to do a plant exchange next year?
We hope to hold the event every spring!
Where do I park?
You can drop plants off in front of the Allen House but you have to park elsewhere. The easiest place is across Maple at the Chester Street Parking Deck (a credit card is required for entry)--parking is free for the first two hours.
Thank you for your contribution!
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