Mobile Botanical Gardens Looking To Fully Bloom

Executive Director Cindy Klemmer discusses challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth of the Gardens.

by Michelle Matthews 

Some of Cindy Klemmer’s fondest childhood memories involve exploring the piney woods of east Texas with her sisters and playing in pastures with her cousins. While her family lived in suburban Mesquite, on the outskirts of Dallas, both sets of grandparents lived in the country and had large gardens — and it was there that her love of nature was nurtured. “When I was a kid, gardening and nature were an incredibly important part of my life,” she said.

Those early days of nature play outside, outdoor exploration through Girl Scouts and family camping vacations would lead to a long career in public horticulture. Now, as the executive director of Mobile Botanical Gardens — a job she landed in February 2024 — she hopes to bring the same childhood joy and sense of wonder to everyone who visits. She calls it “the magic of plants,” adding:

“We eat plants; we wear them; we breathe air because of them; we build houses with them. If you think about it, we wouldn’t survive without them. I love horticulture because it’s both an art and a science.”

After earning a master’s degree in public horticulture, she worked as a children’s education coordinator at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, where she became known as the “plantmobile lady.” She wrote her own curriculum for outreach programs and got to watch kids “come alive” by watching worms wriggle in a compost bin and dissecting flowers.

Intrigued by the learning she saw, she decided to pursue a Ph.D. Her doctoral program compared the science achievement gains of elementary students in schools with and without school gardens. It was no surprise to her that active, hands-on gardening helped kids score higher.

She went on to work at several notable public gardens around the country. “I felt like this was my purpose and calling: providing meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire connections to plants and nature.”

That’s one of the most important aspects of her current position at Mobile Botanical Gardens. She and her husband, Mike, had returned to Texas, where she had been manager of the Zilker Botanical Garden, the historic Mayfield Cottage and the city community gardens program for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, and he was manager of grounds and landscape for the University of Texas campus. “We were seeking a new challenge, and I was interested in returning to the nonprofit sector,” she said.

She was initially drawn to the Mobile Botanical Gardens position when she noticed that Bill Barrick, the former executive director of Bellingrath Gardens and Home, was the head of the search committee. He had served on the advisory board of the graduate program she attended at Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia. “He is a renowned leader in the field of public horticulture,” she said. “I thought, if he’s associated with this garden, it’s worth looking into.”

Gateway to Nature

When she visited, she found the Gardens to be “one of the best-kept secrets in town.” It might even be too much of a secret. Shortly after her arrival, with support from the board, she opened the gate — literally. It was previously kept closed, and visitors were “buzzed in.” “It was a seismic shift,” she said — one that symbolized the more inclusive atmosphere the Gardens strives to create.

Started by plant and gardening enthusiasts on city land in 1974, the Gardens is “in a transitional phase,” she said. “It’s a watershed moment.” One goal is “to draw a wider audience by offering more diverse programming and by enhancing and expanding the collections and gardens.”

Klemmer sees many positives already in place at the Gardens: a “wonderful, supportive” Board of Directors; a small but dedicated team of staff; a passionate group of volunteers who hold plant sales, take care of the greenhouses and perform tasks like weekly weeding; the support of the city of Mobile and Mobile County; and “a lot of genuine love and affection” from the community.

There are certainly challenges. Like many nonprofits, the Gardens is understaffed. In a “museum” where the collections can perish if not watered, staffing is especially critical, and the Gardens boasts some spectacular ones. The significant collections of camellias, azaleas and Japanese maples represent the great history and culture of plant breeding and nursery production that are a horticultural legacy of the area.

To address infrastructure needs for gardens, facilities and program expansion, “It’s crucial to grow and diversify revenue sources for stronger financial stability,” she said, adding:

“One possibility is to grow connections to local businesses and industries who have an interest in partnering to serve the community in which their employees and their families live and work. It’s a win-win when we create effective partnerships that support increased nature-based connections in the Gardens and in our community.”

Klemmer sees nature-based programming as a natural, mission-appropriate way to draw new audiences to visit. “Events planned throughout the year will entice newcomers to the Gardens and encourage them to return again and again,” she said. “Growing and expanding our audience is good ‘business,’ but also serves our mission to inspire passion for plants,” she said. But it’s also critical to ensure that the plant collections and garden displays provide a high-level horticulture experience for all visitors.

Upcoming Programs

In addition to the well-established and highly anticipated plant sales, the Gardens is working strategically to bring in new audiences. Last year’s Festive Nights holiday light display is set to become a new tradition in Mobile.

Another new program, the seasonal exhibit Cabins & Cottages, offers fun and whimsical playhouse displays to encourage nature play. Anticipated as a repeat event, the exhibit offers opportunities for designers, builders and sponsors to showcase their talents and support for the environment while gaining exposure and increasing awareness of their businesses. Robert Dueitt Construction built two of the cottages, with one to become a permanent nature space on display at the Gardens.

And in January 2027, Mobile Botanical Gardens, which boasts one of only seven camellia collections in the United States to receive the International Camellia Society’s Gardens of Excellence designation, will host a portion of the society’s pre-conference tours. “We are honored to serve as a host,” Klemmer said.

She is especially fond of the Tales and Trails parent-child program for toddlers. It takes place every Thursday from September through May and includes a story, an activity and outdoor exploration. “By the end of the school year, those kids own the garden,” she said. “They know where the koi food is. They love this place. It’s one of the best things I’ve seen here.”

Klemmer sees continued growth in programming as a natural progression for Mobile Botanical Gardens, along with continued growth in plant collections and garden displays saying:

“Plants are the basis and the foundation of the Gardens. They create an authentic experience for all types of visits, from large gatherings to small, contemplative strolls.”

Working alongside the education coordinator and board members, the Gardens will expand plant-based experiences for school programs and summer camps, which Klemmer believes is essential for kids. “Children need nature,” she said. “All kinds of things kick into gear when you’re out in nature, like critical and creative thinking.”

She bemoans that fact that “we have a new generation of young adults who are disconnected from nature.” Reconnecting children and families with nature is at the heart of the Gardens’ mission. And she wants to introduce as many people as possible to the natural beauty that surrounds them through the “wonderful gateway to nature” that is Mobile Botanical Gardens.

“We’re working to raise awareness of the Gardens itself as we serve our mission to raise awareness and passion for plants, gardening and the natural environment in the Mobile community – one nature connection at a time,” she said.