New features unveiled for Huntsville Botanical Garden’s “Tweetsville” Phase 2

The Huntsville Botanical Garden Thursday opened to the public new features in Tweetsville, an experience in the Children’s Garden centered on birds and their habitats. The first phase of the 18,000-square-foot area opened in March 2021, and the new features constitute the second and final phase of the project.

Although Tweetsville is located in the Children’s Garden, the experience can be enjoyed by guests of all ages — and in fact, adults are more than welcome to enjoy the experience. Keep reading to find out more!

Tiny homes, giant bird’s nest among new features

Tweetsville has already generated a buzz, so to speak, but the new additions to the attraction should pique the interest of birders of any age.

The new features in Tweetsville include an oversized bird nest and three tiny homes that demonstrate how guests can create their own bird-friendly backyard at home, and also present opportunities for expanded program offerings such as field trips, classes, youth camps and special events. 

Here are a few quick facts about the new additions to Tweetsville:

• The oversized bird nest in Tweetsville serves as a place for imaginative play as well as a gathering place for educational programs. Measuring 25 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall, the nest was created by Billy Ray Sims, a professional basket maker based in Maine, and Justin Roberts, a willow sculpture artist based in Kentucky.
• Tweetsville’s three tiny homes represent three different settings where guests may live: an urban home, a suburban home and a rural home. By demonstrating how to create a bird-friendly environment in these different settings, guests can leave the Garden with actionable ideas that will make a difference in their own backyard.
• To complement the interactive features, the plants in Tweetsville have been specially chosen to create an ecosystem of native species that will provide a healthy habitat for local and migrating birds. These plants not only provide food sources and shelter for birds, but they also support the native biodiversity of the region and demonstrate to guests how native habitat preservation can be incorporated into a functional and aesthetically pleasing landscape.

A place to learn and discover

Sue Wagner, chief executive officer of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, perfectly described Tweetsville as “an example of how the Garden helps guests connect to nature in new and surprising ways.”

She added, “Birds, plants and people all need each other, and what we want to do in Tweetsville is explore that interconnectivity. We want guests to walk away with a better understanding of the role they play in their environment.”

The objective, no matter how you may describe Tweetsville, is for children and adults alike to learn more and gain a greater appreciation of birds and their habitat.

“Tweetsville is designed to inspire curiosity and encourage learning through play, no matter how old you are. Through guided learning and free play, children and their caregivers can learn and discover together.”

Rebecca Turk, director of learning and public engagement, Huntsville Botanical Garden

Tweetsville is located in the Children’s Garden at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, and the experience is included with regular Garden admission. For more information, visit hsvbg.org/tweetsville.

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