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Garden and Nature Trails
 Courtyard
The Anniston Museum
Courtyard has the lush look of the tropics, reminiscent of a
hot, humid climate near the equator. Palms and bananas -- the
largest public collection in Alabama -- are the heart of this
courtyard garden microcosm. It is accented with spectacular
flowering plants like hibiscus, lantana, oleander, cannas, and
ginger-lilies. The tropical look is one of flamboyant form and
contrast, punctuated with sensational colorful blossoms! At its
hub is a towering abstract sculpture spouting water into a pool
filled with darting koi carp. Come to where the hibiscus
unfolds, palm trees sway, and banana plants grow tall.
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 Tropical
Conservatory
A jungle paradise
continues year-round in our tropical conservatory! It’s a place
where foliage is king and where plants produce more flowers in a
single season than a temperate one does in its entire lifetime.
Moist, warm air is essential to this growing process; you will
immediately sense this humid change. There are plants with huge
shiny leaves, boldly colored foliage, and brilliantly colored
flowers. Visit this exotic indoor garden, where the tropical
flowers and foliage will stimulate your senses.
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Conservatory Photos:
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 Wildlife
Garden
The Wildlife
Garden, designed to attract wild birds and animals, features
native plants of the southeastern United States. It is certified
by the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat
program. Located on the west side of the museum, this garden
includes a stone-lined pond with a waterfall nestled among
beautiful river birches. This habitat hosts many birds, small
mammals and other wildlife. To attract these, the garden
provides food, water, cover and places to raise their young.
This demonstration garden was created to inspire others to
“garden for wildlife” around their homes -- from small city
gardens to large, suburban lots.
Recollection
Garden
 This young garden,
created in 2004, was designed as a place of quiet reflection and
meditation. Selected trees and shrubs are planted in memory of
close friends of Anniston Museum. Traditional roses, peonies,
magnolias, and hydrangeas are highlighted by enchanting but
lesser known species. The site of this garden was once a
neglected area full of unsightly weeds. It is now an
attractive, peaceful place to stroll while remembering the ones
you love.
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Recollection
Garden Photos:
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Get an up-close
look at magnificent winged hunters! This special trail is home
to permanently injured hawks and owls. These birds of prey
cannot be released into the wild because their chance of
survival is poor. They now help people learn about their
important role in nature. Predators, like these raptors, have
always been misunderstood. There was even a time when the
government placed a bounty on them! We know better now, and
realize that they provide a valuable service by consuming many
crop-destroying rodents.
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Prey Trail Photos:
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 Nature
Trail
The Nature Trail,
approximately ¾ of a mile long, was named in honor of Mrs.
Eugenia G. Brannon in 1985. It has two major loops. The top
loop begins on a flat ridge between the “Tree House
amphitheater” and adjacent museum. The trail traverses an
oak-dominated forest with scattered hickories and pines. The
soils are relatively dry and the plants that grow here are
adapted to these conditions. The bottom loop begins at the
Museum Drive crosswalk (where it connects to the upper loop)
halfway up the trail hill toward the museum. Beyond the road
lies a low, moist woods situated on the floodplain of an
intermittent stream (one that frequently dries completely). It
is a lowland forest dominated by tulip-poplar, sweetgum, and red
maple. The plant assemblage is differs greatly from the upland
forest of the ridge. Moisture loving plants such as ferns are
very common.
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 Zoo Garden
The fun Zoo Garden
allows the kid in all of us to monkey around the grounds to find
plants that have animal names: lion’s-ear and tiger lilies and
bear-grass -- oh my! A colorful sign placed by each plant shows
a photo of its namesake. You’ll find a cow-tongue cactus, a
pignut hickory, and even elephant-ears in this garden that ties
flora to fauna. It begs the question: which came first … the
chicken or the eggplant?
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