How a 20-foot troll, funky little trees + over 30,000 azaleas help make life better in Huntsville + beyond

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Huntsville Botanical Garden colleagues Katrina Mitchell and Rebecca Turk examine blooms of pitcher plants in a garden bed. — Katrina Mitchell and Rebecca Turk examine pitcher plants at Huntsville Botanical Garden. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)(Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Beauty is far more than mulch deep at Huntsville Botanical Garden.

That’s apparent within seconds of talking to HBG colleagues Katrina Mitchell and Rebecca Turk. While they acknowledge they work at the loveliest place in town, this duo exudes passion for their work and why it matters far beyond the garden gates to impact all of us here and beyond.

Within minutes, they’ll also have you on board with their mission, helping them spread the message like beneficial pollinators.

Read on to hear more from Mitchell and Turk about their work toward the garden’s mission, plus what’s new, what’s next and how to go.

Conservation + more cool things

Huntsville Botanical Garden Conservation Horticulturist Katrina Mitchell works in an outdoor native plant nursery. — Katrina Mitchell checks in on plants in Huntsville Botanical Garden’s native plant nursery. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Delighting in, researching and preserving what’s unique to our region and state are all a big part of Mitchell’s work as the garden’s conservation horticulturist, a role she has loved the past two years.

She exudes enthusiasm and wonder when talking about all she does there, which includes:

Tending and expanding the garden’s native plant nursery
Collecting and preserving seeds from plants throughout the garden
Showing special things to guests, like where tiny tree frogs sometimes hide in bug-eating pitcher plants
Working on plant and conservation research projects with higher education institutions, research facilities and other botanical gardens and arboreta across the country and world

Her descriptions are vivid, detailed and approachably educational. Take the Alabama sandstone oak, for example.

“Oh, man, it is just the coolest, weirdest oak tree you’ll ever see and you’ve probably never heard of …They have the oak tree leaves, they have the acorns, but everything else about it is so different. It doesn’t grow tall [but is] very small and gnarly. It’s a funky little tree!”
_{Katrina Mitchell, HBG Conservation Horticulturist}

As far as we know, this critically endangered tree only grows in sandstone glades in a handful of central Alabama counties. It’s just one of many plants that Mitchell helps protect, research and better understand within the greater ecosystem.

Saving plants + sharing knowledge

Huntsville Botanical Garden colleagues Katrina Mitchell and Rebecca Turk laugh as they talk and walk through a sculptural installation in an outdoor garden sculpture. — Katrina Mitchell and Rebecca Turk talk about upcoming educational programs at Huntsville Botanical Garden. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Mitchell’s career trailhead can be traced to falling in love with biology in high school, then earning undergraduate and master’s degrees in it.

“I just fell in love with learning about life and all the different ways life lives, all the different forms it takes and what it does. And that love turned into a desire to get into conservation, to protect all the different amazing forms of life that are on this world.”
_{Katrina Mitchell, HBG Conservation Horticulturist}

After working as an adjunct professor, she took a role at a plant nursery, where she found more fulfillment in connecting with customers of all walks of life, sharing her love for conservation to help them further develop gardening skills and create sustainable landscapes around their homes.

When a conservation role opened at HBG, it felt like a perfect fit, so she moved from Tennessee to bring her expertise to the garden and its mission to serve the Huntsville community.

Connecting people + plants

Huntsville Botanical Garden Vice President of Learning and Public Engagement Rebecca Turk wears a bold blue dress against a backdrop of green as she through a native plant nursery amid trees. — Rebecca Turk gazes across rows of azaleas in Huntsville Botanical Garden’s native plant nursery. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Rebecca Turk, the garden’s vice president of learning and public engagement, works toward the same mission of connecting people and plants, focusing more on strategically developing the garden’s exhibits, educational programming and volunteer opportunities.

She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in horticulture, has worked in the industry for 16 years and at the garden for five. Turk and Mitchell collaborate often with their entire team to ensure the programming is smart, creative and approachable for all residents.

Youth education focuses on teaching kids responsible stewardship early in life. Adult classes focus more on gardening and landscaping tips and techniques. No matter the age, advocacy for native plants, conservation and sustainability weave through almost everything.

“Our conservation efforts really focus on protecting our plant diversity, promoting our sustainable practices and encouraging ecological stewardship. Our staff works diligently to protect Alabama’s rich plant biodiversity, and we also educate the community that everyone has a role in that. It’s all of our responsibility to protect what makes North Alabama so unique.”
_{Rebecca Turk, HBG Vice President of Learning and Community Engagement}

See + sign up for upcoming programs at HBG.

Beauty, breakthroughs + trolls

A large troll sculpture crafted from natural and recycled materials created by artist Thomas Dambo of Denmark. — Rocks, vines and flowers line the intriguing path that beckons curious guests to explore the new Mother Earth Troll Garden at Huntsville Botanical Garden. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

When sharing about the breakthroughs people make in beginner gardening classes, Turk lights up. Another recent joy has been hearing the thrill and gleeful chatter of kids discovering the 10 bronze seed sculptures tucked throughout the new Mother Earth Troll Garden.

(If you’re a fully grown “kid,” Mama Zelda welcomes you, too.)

Turk was the project manager for this new installation, which opened on April 1. It was the first completed under the garden’s new master plan, which emphasizes long-term, sustainable exhibits over temporary ones. There are more exciting developments to come along those lines, she says.

“I think what I really love is that we are never done. We always believe we can do more, have greater impact and do more as an organization to serve our community.”
_{Rebecca Turk, HBG Vice President of Learning and Community Engagement}

On the horizon: While we can’t give away too much just yet, this year’s 30th anniversary of Galaxy of Lights has some truly special things in store starting as early as fall. Give HBG a follow on Facebook for its latest announcements.

How to visit + get involved @ Huntsville Botanical Garden

Huntsville Botanical Garden Plant Nursery Gardener Revyn Bates holds up a plant as she works in an outdoor native plant nursery. — Huntsville Botanical Garden Plant Nursery Gardener Revyn Bates tends to plants on a sunny spring afternoon. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Now you know more about the mission, the passionate people, and, yes, the giant troll (you really must see it!), make plans to visit the garden, make discoveries and connect in ways that resonate with you.

Where: 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
When: Monday-Wednesday, 9AM-6PM | Thursday-Saturday, 9AM-8PM | Sunday, 11AM-6PM
How Much: Admission for non-members ranges from $13-$20.
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🤩 Pro Tip: Once you’ve been, trust us—you’ll want to go back often. In that case, consider a membership to Huntsville Botanical Garden, which pays for itself in about three visits + supports the mission!

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