Mobile Botanical Garden - (251) 342-0555

I love these Gardens and disagree with the previous reviewers. I wonder if they even left their cars? The Gardens are in my neighborhood so I know they are maintained by a non-profit, not the city. If you are looking for fields of tulips that are yanked up in May, this is not the place for you. It contains more natural gardens, and is still in development, but it's definitely worth a visit. Unlike other attractions, this is still free as it's not yet gated. The rhododendron (azalea) garden is the most comprehensive collection along the Gulf Coast and has with 1,000 plants and century-old iron columns. There's also a fragrance and texture garden, a Japanese maple garden, and many other intimate places to explore. Kids love this place. They are currently installing a very noteworthy camellia garden that is drawing remarkable interest. Again, this is all done by a very small non-profit that is managing to do all of this with donations and grants.

It's more of just a simple park. But I grew up visiting that park with my grandparents, so I have fond memories of it. It's old and in need of upkeep, yes. But the city is working on it I think!

A while back I had the misfortune to visit the Mobile Botanical Gardens. They have an office with some pamplets, a room to rent out for parties, a herb garden in back, and a trail leading to nowhere in particular. As the title suggests, my backyard has more to offer. I understand that they may be underfunded, but even the landscaping leaves something to be desired. If you ever thought of visiting--Don't.