He eventually commissioned Dr. Henry E.Teuscher, a distinguished curator from Montreal’s Botanical Gardens, to draft a master plan. That organization, later renamed the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 2003, continues to play a critical role in fundraising and preservation. Birmingham Botanical Gardens also offers knowledge, housed in the largest public horticulture library in the entire United States. Birmingham Botanical Gardens understands this completely, running a rich calendar of educational programs, seasonal events, and community activities throughout the year. School groups from across Alabama take part in free Discovery Field Trips organized by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, with hands-on learning experiences aligned to state educational standards.