Huntsville Botanical Garden (@hsvgarden)

Meet our official 2026 #WaterlilyWeighOff26 competitor — and one of Tori’s five "cousins" — Kermit! 🌿🐸   Like Tori, Kermit is a Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid,’ and after months of growing, preparing, measuring (and more than a few pep talks), he was ready to step up to the challenge.   He may not have been the biggest, but he sure put up a fight! 💪 🌿 Leaf diameter: 43 in. (1.09 m) 🏋️ Final weight held: 71 lbs. (32.2 kg)   Kermit definitely made his plant parents and Garden family proud! 💚 Now we wait to see how he stacks up against waterlilies from around the world. 👀   This marks the fourth annual Waterlily Weigh-Off, organized by @Denver Botanic Gardens. Follow @waterlilyweighoff on Instagram to keep up with all the 2026 competitors and see the final results!   And Kermit’s growing season isn’t over yet. We may see how much more he grows this summer and give him another weigh-in just for fun down the road. For now, we’re enjoying the competition and cheering him on! 🌿🏆

We’ve trained. We’ve prepared. We’ve given the pep talks.   Now, there’s nothing left to do but compete. 🫡🌿   The fourth annual #WaterLilyWeighOff26, organized by @Denver Botanic Gardens, brings together water lilies (big and small!) from gardens around the world to answer one very important question: how much weight can they hold?   Last year, our girl Tori took home third place. This year, her cousins have something to prove.   Their measurements: Classified. Their determination: Immeasurable. The pep talks: Frequent.   How much weight do you think this year’s lily pad will hold? Drop your prediction below. 👇   Stay tuned for our official weigh-in on August 18, and be sure to follow @waterlilyweighoff on Instagram to keep tabs on the competition!

Weighing in for the #WaterlilyWeighOff25 🌿💪 Tori, our Victoria 'Longwood Hybrid' Waterlily, made quite the splash, measuring an impressive 58 inches across and holding a little over 176 pounds. Not bad for her first year! 😅 The competition is tough, with gardens and zoos from around the world showcasing their waterlilies as well, and we’re honored to be part of this global showcase of nature’s wonders. There’s nothing quite like standing beside a giant waterlily and realizing just how much strength and beauty nature holds. ✨ For the very first time, we joined @denverbotanic’s global challenge to see how much our waterlily could hold, and what an adventure it was! As first-time participants, we learned so much and are already dreaming of coming back stronger, bigger, and better next year in 2026! 🌸🌎 This is the third-annual event organized by Denver Botanic Gardens. Head to @Denver Botanic Gardens to find the live results linked in their highlights folder! #HSVgarden #NaturallyDelightful

Your Halloween plans just got a little more interesting. 👀   Spellbound is back at the Garden starting October 21, bringing a whole new kind of Halloween night out for adults 21 and up. 🌙✨   When night falls, the Garden awakens. Follow the story of the Phantom, a mysterious presence watching over it all, as you wander through different Realms filled with eerie sights and sounds, unexpected encounters, and a few surprises along the way.   And there's plenty to enjoy beyond the Realms! Catch some live music, cozy up by the firepits with a seasonal cocktail, or wander back through your favorite spots. There's no need to rush through the experience. Stay awhile, soak it all in, and make a whole evening of it.   So if you're looking for a Halloween date night or something fun to do with friends in Huntsville this fall, consider this your sign. 🖤   🎃 Spellbound | October 21–25 & 28–31, beginning at 7 p.m. 🌙 Ages 21+ | Valid ID required for entry 🎟️ Tickets and details at hsvbg.org   This activity is supported by Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Your sign to visit the Damson Aquatic Garden before these beauties say goodbye for the season! 🪷💚   Fall is here, and our spectacular waterlilies are preparing to make their seasonal exit. The Giant Victoria Water Lilies and Prickly Water Lilies (Euryale ferox) will be removed toward the end of October, with the Garden's other water lilies following as the season winds down.   If you've been meaning to see these incredible aquatic plants up close (or want one more visit before they're gone), now's the time!   Don't miss your chance to experience the Damson Aquatic Garden in all its glory before the season changes.   Plan your visit at hsvbg.org 🌿

Remember Kermit? Well, he’s been putting in some work. 💪🪷 When Kermit represented the Garden in the 2026 #WaterlilyWeighOff26, he had only been growing in the Damson Aquatic Garden for about three weeks. At the time, his 43-inch leaf held an impressive 71 pounds. Nine weeks later, with Kermit and his fellow waterlilies thriving, our team had one question: How much could he hold now that he was fully grown? 👀 So, naturally, we put him to the test. This time, Kermit measured 50.5 inches (1.28 m) across and held every weight we had available. Then we added a couple of 10-pound bricks for good measure. Final weight held? 190 pounds (86.18 kg)! That’s 119 pounds more than his official Weigh-Off result, and enough to surpass Tori’s personal best of 176 pounds! Kermit may not have topped this year’s official Waterlily Weigh-Off record (we’re starting to think there’s something in the water over at Bok Tower Gardens 😉), but we couldn’t be prouder of just how much he grew. Not bad for a little friendly competition among cousins. 🐸 And if you want to see Kermit and his fellow giant waterlilies in person, now's the time! They'll be removed from the Damson Aquatic Garden for the season toward the end of October, so come see them while you can. 💚

Tickets are officially on sale for the 31st season of Galaxy of Lights! ✨   For more than three decades, Galaxy of Lights has been where Huntsville comes together to celebrate the holidays, and no two seasons are exactly alike.   Every year, the Huntsville Botanical Garden team imagines, designs, fabricates, programs, installs, and maintains the experience right here at the Garden, bringing something new to discover alongside the traditions guests know and love.   This year is no exception. Discover new displays, reimagined favorites, and two all-new areas: Winter’s Edge and Crystal Glade, featuring more than 200,000 new lights and expanding the Walking Nights experience by approximately a quarter mile.   Whether Galaxy has been part of your holidays for generations or this will be your very first visit, there’s something new to discover this season. Don’t miss your chance to experience a Huntsville tradition where holiday memories are brilliantly made right here at the Garden. ✨   Galaxy of Lights is proudly presented by Damson Service Center, Publix, and COUNTRY Financial.   🎟️ Get your tickets today at hsvbg.org/galaxy

✨ The countdown is on: Galaxy of Lights is just 50 days away!   This beloved Huntsville holiday tradition begins its 31st season November 13 with favorite displays, two new areas, more than 200,000 new lights, reimagined favorites, and even more ways to make memories together.   Stroll beneath the lights, take in the magic from the comfort of your car, bring your pup along for a festive walk, or climb aboard the Evergreen Express. With Walking Nights, Driving Nights, Dog Walking Nights, Sensory Hours, and Galaxy Races, there’s a way for everyone to experience the wonder of Galaxy of Lights.   🎟️ Tickets open one week from today! Mark your calendar for October 1 and get ready to join us where holiday memories are brilliantly made.   Galaxy of Lights is made even brighter by our presenting sponsors: Damson Service Center, Publix, and COUNTRY Financial.

The Damson Aquatic Garden as seen from above. ☀️☁️ Have you seen this lush Garden this summer? Drop your best Damson Aquatic Garden views in the comments. 👇📸

We asked you to help us name our lilies, and you did not disappoint!   Meet this year’s five Victoria “Longwood Hybrid” waterlilies: ✨ Lilibet, a.k.a. "Lily" ✨ Tilly ✨ Artemis ✨ Cecil ✨ Kermit   Thank you to everyone who helped us name these giant beauties. Keep an eye out for them on your next visit! 💚

Remember Tori? 💚 Last year, our giant Victoria waterlily became an internet sensation and even placed 3rd in the Denver Botanic Gardens Waterlily Weigh-Off! Now her cousins have arrived...   This year, we're growing THREE magnificent Victoria waterlilies in the Damson Aquatic Garden, and we need your help naming them! For a minimum $3 donation, you can submit a name while supporting the Garden's Plant Science & Conservation initiatives.   🌿 Make your mark. 🌸 Help name our waterlilies. 💚 Support the Garden.   Who knows? Your name might be the one everyone is cheering for at this year's weigh-off! Submit your entry today: bit.ly/4z86CRU

POV: You've officially outgrown your greenhouse... and training season has begun.   After nearly three months in the greenhouse, our three Giant Victoria Water Lilies (Victoria 'Longwood Hybrid') have officially moved into the Damson Aquatic Garden to begin their journey to the #WaterLilyWeighOff26, organized by @Denver Botanic Gardens.   Moving these giants is no small task. It takes a whole team, a skid steer, and a very careful game of "don't drop the giant lily." 😅 But the move isn't over once they hit the water. These young leaves need time to adjust to the outdoors, so our horticulture team covered them with cloth during their first few days to help them acclimate before soaking up full Alabama sunshine. ☀️   These Amazon natives were grown from seed right here at the Garden using seeds provided by @Longwood Gardens. They may look small today, but before long those little pads could grow large enough to support an incredible amount of weight.   So... will one of this year's lilies grow a heavyweight-worthy leaf and bring home the gold? 👀 You'll have to follow along to find out.

On-site at the Garden with UAH’s “Huntsville Shakes” as they prepare for Shakespeare in the Garden, opening this weekend! Join us opening night with Much Ado About Nothing on Friday, July 24, and The Taming of the Shrew on Saturday, July 25. 🌿🎭   Experience the magic of live theater as these two timeless Shakespeare comedies come to life in the Garden.   🎭 Much Ado About Nothing 📅 July 24, August 1 & 7 • 7:30 p.m.   🎭 The Taming of the Shrew 📅 July 25, July 31 & August 8 • 7:30 p.m.   Shakespeare in the Garden is supported by MTSi and performed by “Huntsville Shakes” thanks to their program sponsors, the Alabama State Council on the Arts and Family Security Credit Union.   🎟️ Purchase your tickets in advance at hsvbg.org/calendar   We'll see you under the stars. ✨

Think you've seen every kind of water lily? Think again. Meet Euryale ferox, the Prickly Water Lily. 💚💜   A close relative of the iconic Giant Victoria Water Lily, this fascinating aquatic plant grows into its smaller, spikier cousin. While Giant Victoria sports spikes beneath its massive leaves and along its petioles, Euryale ferox takes the "prickly" nickname seriously — its leaves (both above and below) and stems are covered in sharp spines that become even more pronounced as the plant grows.   Its vibrant green leaves conceal a stunning deep purple underside, making this plant just as beautiful as it is bold.   We're especially grateful to Ganna Walska Lotusland for sharing these seeds with us, and we're excited to watch them grow.   Keep an eye out for Euryale ferox in the Damson Aquatic Garden between now and the end of July. It won't be long before this prickly beauty makes its debut. 🌿✨

🐝 Something new is buzzing in the Purdy Butterfly House!   Our new observation hive offers a fascinating, up-close look at one of nature's hardest workers. Watch honey bees build comb, care for their colony, and go about the incredible work that helps our gardens bloom.   It's a naturally delightful way to discover the vital role pollinators play in our everyday lives. 🌼   A special thank you to the Madison County Beekeepers Association for their support in bringing this experience to the Garden!   Be sure to stop by and see the hive in action on your next visit. 🐝✨

This is your sign to stop overthinking your Friday evening plans. ☀️   ✔️ Live music ✔️ Sunset strolls ✔️ Drinks in the Garden   All you need to do is grab your favorite people, pack a few picnic essentials, and settle in for a relaxing evening surrounded by nature.   Visit hsvbg.org/calendar for the current musician lineup, plus details on Third Fridays at Golden Hour and limited table reservations.   ✨ Admission during Golden Hour is FREE thanks to support from the City of Huntsville's Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Huntsville Music Office.

Normal walk? Never heard of her. 🌿 One minute you're taking a walk. The next you're stopping for every flower, butterfly, turtle, bird, and suspiciously beautiful sunbeam.   What's your guaranteed "wow" in nature? 💚

Which Tea at the Garden matches your personality? ☕✨   🎤 Taylor Swif-tea • June 14 You know every lyric and probably already have a friendship bracelet picked out. 🌙 Midsummer Night's Tea • July 12 A little whimsical. A little magical. Always chasing enchanted garden moments. 🍑 Peaches & Cream Tea • August 16 Your ideal summer day includes sunshine and sweet treats. 🍂 Harvest Tea • September 27 You wait all year for cozy season and consider fall a personality trait.   Whichever tea you choose, you'll enjoy specialty teas from @Piper & Leaf Tea Co., seasonal bites from Fern & Feast Bistro, and Garden admission included with your ticket.   So...which one are you? 👇 🎟️ hsvbg.org/calendar

The queen may have left the pond, but her legacy is already growing behind the scenes. 👑🌱   Meet the next generation of Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid’ water lilies — grown from seed right here at the Garden and officially in training for the 2026 Waterlily Weigh-Off.   If you followed Tori’s journey last summer, you already know these giants don’t stay tiny for long. After earning third place at the 2025 Waterlily Weigh-Off with a massive holding weight of about 176 pounds (~80 kg), Tori transformed the Damson Aquatic Garden into something truly unforgettable. ✨   Now, the countdown begins.   Stay tuned as we follow these future giants from seed to showstopper. 💚

GOLDEN HOUR IS BACK! ✨🌿 Starting May 1, join us select Fridays (May–September) for an evening glow-up at the Garden. This year, admission is FREE thanks to the Huntsville Music Office and the City of Huntsville Office of Multicultural Affairs. Enjoy live local music artists, golden sunsets, and even more to explore—every third Friday features a local maker market to shop and support! 🎶 Live music 🛍️ Local makers (every third Friday, May-Aug) 🌅 5 PM – close (8pm: May-Aug, 7pm: Sept) Grab your friends and come soak in the golden hour vibes. See you there!

April’s lineup is looking GOOD 🌿🔥   We’re highlighting: 🌸 Encore Azalea (hello, repeat blooms) 🌿 Chinese Fringetree (giant, soft + airy) 💜 Gulf Coast Penstemon (pollinators love this one)   If you had to pick just one… which are you planting? 👇

Looking for a little planting inspiration? 🌿  Take a cue from our staff favorites—just a small preview of what you’ll find at this year’s Spring Plant Sale. It all begins tomorrow with Member Preview Day, your first chance to shop the season’s most sought-after plants. The public sale follows April 10–12, but the early finds won’t last long, so plan ahead and arrive early to secure your top picks!   Members-Only Preview Sale Thursday, April 9 | 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.   Public Sale Friday, April 10 | 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11 | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 12 | 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.   🪴 Have you explored this year’s inventory? Get a head start and browse the current list: hsvbg.org/series/spring-plant-sale   We’ll see you at the Garden!

The Bush Azalea Trail is beginning to glow, and peak bloom is fast approaching. 🌸 With thousands of vibrant blooms just beginning their grand entrance, now is the time to plan your visit and watch the color unfold in real time. Each day brings something fresh and beautifully unexpected — but this moment is fleeting. Be sure to visit in the next couple of weeks to experience it at its most magical.   And if you find yourself inspired, take a piece of the Garden home with you at our Spring Plant Sale. 🌱 This year, we’re featuring 600 azaleas grown right here at the Garden, available while supplies last.   📍 Discover this world of color along the Bush Azalea Trail, Mathews Nature Trail, and surrounding areas 🌿 Join us for the Spring Plant Sale | April 9–12   Find more information and plan your visit at hsvbg.org.

Meet Trillium foetidissimum—a fleeting spring plant with a surprisingly bold strategy.   This trillium is a true spring ephemeral, emerging for just a few short weeks before fading away until next year. Low-growing and understated in form, it relies on something unexpected to stand out — its scent. Also known as “Stinking Trillium,” it emits an odor similar to rotting meat to attract a rather unusual pollinator: flies.   After pollination, its seeds begin a quiet next chapter. Carried away by ants in a process called myrmecochory, they’re dispersed across the forest floor, where they may take root and return in seasons to come.   A brief appearance, a fascinating story, and a reminder that discovery is always waiting — especially if you know where to look. 🌿

Consider this your sign to slow down for a moment. 🌸 Spring is here—and it’s unfolding all around you.   Here at the Garden, our spring favorites are beginning to bloom—daffodils, buttercups, cherry blossoms, and more. Come for a relaxing stroll and reconnect with nature. 🌿

Meet Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Jelena’—a stunning witch hazel hybrid that brings bold color to the quietest time of year. A cross between Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica) and Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis), this earlier-blooming orange cultivar grows 8–12 feet tall with a broad, vase-shaped form. It flowers in late winter—often January through March—when spidery, ribbon-like petals in coppery orange, red, and gold almost glow against bare branches. Lightly fragrant and spicy-citrusy, the blooms even curl during freezes and unfurl again when temperatures warm. After flowering, soft green leaves emerge for spring and summer, followed by brilliant yellow, orange, and red foliage in fall—offering year-round interest.   This plant is a perfect example of how our horticulture team builds beauty into every season.    Find ‘Jelena’ along the Azalea Trail and discover the beauty of winter in bloom. 🌿

Today marks a defining moment for Huntsville Botanical Garden as we officially break ground on the INTUITIVE Plant Science Complex. 🌱 This facility will transform and modernize the Garden’s greenhouse infrastructure, creating expanded capacity for plant science research, conservation of rare and significant plant collections, and immersive educational experiences for learners of all ages. The Complex will strengthen our role as a regional leader in environmental stewardship and hands-on discovery. This milestone is the result of extraordinary community support — including a transformational gift from INTUITIVE. Their investment reflects a shared commitment to innovation, science, and the long-term vitality of our region. We are deeply grateful to our donors, partners, civic leaders, and supporters who helped make this vision a reality. The future of plant science at HBG starts now — and we’re proud to grow it together. 🌿

Spring is coming and we can almost feel it. Can you? 🌸 That warm weather had us thinking it arrived early. And while this little “false spring” has been convincing, we’re here to remind you that in just 28 days, the Garden will begin to bloom in ways that feel like magic. Fresh color. New life. That warm breeze on your morning stroll. Get ready to reconnect, refresh, and rediscover your favorite escape. ✨

If your Valentine was a plant, what would it be? 🌿💘 From rare species to low-maintenance favorites, some of our Plant Science and Conservation friends shared their picks. Our plant Valentine? Every plant we get to enjoy year-round with a Garden Membership. 💚 ✨Use code VAL26 to save $10 through February 15.

Meet Edgeworthia chrysantha. Native to Asia, this plant has adjusted beautifully to our hot, humid summers and cool winters—and it comes with a fascinating past. Commonly known as "paperbush," it was once used to make paper. Its flexible branches can even be tied into a knot without breaking, earning it another name: "love knot." Add in bright yellow winter blooms and a sweet floral scent that can carry on the breeze, and you’ve got a true garden standout for a tropical-inspired home landscape. #NaturallyDelightful #HSVgarden