Seven Ways for Kids to Explore the Gardens

It takes many hands to keep the Gardens thriving, and many playful feet to bring them to life. Here, children get space to imagine, discover, and follow their curiosity — all within the beauty of Mobile Botanical Gardens.

Digital illustration of a white and red koi fish swimming in a circular blue pond accompanied by floating lily pads. The scene conveys a serene, peaceful, and minimalist aesthetic.

1. Count the Koi

Look on both sides of the bridge in the Founders Fragrance and Texture Garden. How many are there? Ask in the Gift Shop for a small portion of fish food to give them!

Digital illustration of an adult and child walking along a winding path in a stylized forest. The image has a calm, gentle nature-loving mood.

2. Take a Hike!

From wooded pathways in the Shropshire Trail and Longleaf Pine forest to the more accessible Millie McConnell Rhododendron Garden and Kosaku Sawada WinterGarden, enjoy a variety of habitats and plants. Look for clues to animal life. Pick up a scavenger hunt or pollinator search sheet in the Gift Shop to guide your observations. Don’t forget the lengthier Piff Memorial Solar Walk, and use QR codes to learn more about the wider universe in which we live.

Flat vector illustration of a stylized chicken sitting on an egg nestled in a simple nest. The design uses a minimalist, warm-toned aesthetic.

3. Visit the Chickens

New chickens at Magnolia Hill! Check out the different types, and visit often to watch them grow up. Who is your favorite? Observe newly lain eggs and brooding mommas in the nest boxes at each end.

Graphic illustration of a square maze. The design features bold dark green lines on a soft beige background, conveying a sense of structure and challenge.

4. Navigate the Tea Maze

Great fun for all ages but especially younger children. Can you find the exit door to get out? This isn’t just any maze — it’s planted with something pretty special. These are actual tea camellias as used to make the tea we drink!

Digital illustration of a wooden picnic table with food, set between several stylized trees. The aesthetic is clean, minimalist, and peaceful.

5. Have a picnic

Saturday morning breakfast or a lunch time respite? Bring your picnic! Picnic tables are located beside the koi pond and in the Longleaf Forest near Nita’s Marketplace. Spread out on the lawn or enjoy seating on the Larkins Center deck. Great sunny settings for cooler weather include the Dodd Quarry or the conversation circle in the Rhododendron Garden.

Minimalist digital illustration of a figure performing Tai Chi movements. The simple green line art is surrounded by soft blue swirls representing energy or flow, conveying a sense of peace and balance.

6. Share the Experience

Take a class, participate in a workshop or attend a family fun day. There's something for everyone, including Tales and Trails book readings, Qi Dong and Tai Chi lessons, bee keeping workshops, mushroom explorations, and art classes. Sign up to receive the weekly Mobile Botanical Gardens newsletter to keep up with what’s going on and how to register.

Digital illustration of a square herb garden bed divided into a 3x3 grid of various potted plants. The style is clean, minimalist, and orderly.

7. Engage Your Senses

Explore and observe the different smells and leaf textures in the Sybil Burnett Herb Garden. What foods can they relate to the smell from running their fingers across the rosemary bush? Why does Lamb’s Ear have fuzzy leaves? Have you ever tried to eat fuzzy leaves? Eww!