Our Native Plant Sale is now ONLINE!

How are you doing?

We hope this message finds you healthy and safe. To help you find some calm among the chaos, we've decided to try something.

Are you familiar with the Native Plant Sale we have with Turkey Creek every April? Well, it's still gonna happen this year!

Just a bit differently. 

Starting today through May 1st, you can shop for native plants online HERE and choose from pick-up or delivery options. 

Please allow 5-10 business days for your order to be filled. You will be contacted with a specific day and time for delivery or pickup. Please note that plant quantities are limited as Ruffner Members were given the opportunity to shop first.

Keep in mind that this is brand new for us and we hope you will be patient as we work hard to fulfill your orders while keeping everyone safe.

Disclaimer: To ensure the safety of our staff and customers, we are following the shelter-in-place recommendations in accordance with the City of Birmingham's ordinance issued on March 25, 2020. To keep it even more real: The online plant sale is subject to change in accordance with any updates to the City of Birmingham shelter-in-place ordinance and/or state of Alabama recommendations regarding COVID-19.

You may be wondering, what's so great about native plants and why should I care?

Allow us to bust out some knowledge: Native plants promote biodiversity. This means the more native plants you have in an area, the more likely you are to have more species of insects, birds, and other wildlife. Our insects and birds native to Alabama rely on native plants for food, or a nectar source, as well as habitat. Native plants help with other ecosystem services such as filtering pollutants and preventing erosion. They also make a beautiful addition to any landscape.

Not sure where to start? 
Check out our "Habitat to Go" boxes!

Looking for the perfect variety of plants curated for your yard?

Our "Habitat to Go" boxes have been selected for your backyard's specific needs. As you are shopping for plants, please consider the amount of sun and shade exposure the area receives, the soil type, maintenance upkeep, and the pollinators and wildlife you want to attract to your yard. These boxes are offered at a special discounted price, compared to purchasing the plants individually. Some boxes even include native plant species that are not offered for individual sale!

We have the following selections up for grabs:

• Birds, Butterflies, and Bees

• Pathways and Sedges

• Rain Garden

• Shady Woodland

• Wildflowers

After purchasing your "Habitat to Go" box, you can enter into our contest to win your pick of Ruffner Mountain swag. Highlighted below is our "Birds, Butterflies, and Bees Box.”

Happy Planting!

If you enjoy our annual Native Plant Sale and you’d like to support Ruffner Mountain’s mission to advance the understanding of ecology in a rapidly changing world, please consider making a donation or becoming a member.

COVID-19 Update: Hours and Access

We hope everyone is staying healthy and safe during this difficult time.

While we support exercise and getting out in the fresh air, we are asking visitors to think before they put themselves, our staff, others, and first responders at risk. 

Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition, Inc. is an environmental education and conservation-focused nonprofit— at this time, our on-site staff is limited to the essential duties of caring for our Animal Ambassadors and Plant Nursery. We, too, must follow the shelter-in-place and social distancing recommendations, but with many people off work and out of school, there's been heightened demand on Ruffner Mountain, increasing burden and risk on limited staff and others. Therefore, in accordance with ORDINANCE NO. 20-48 approved on March 25, 2020, by the Birmingham City Council and recommended by the Mayor of Birmingham and Chief Health Officer of Jefferson County, we are making the following changes, effective immediately:

1. All Public, School and Group Programs have been canceled.

2. Pavilion, Picnic Area, Restrooms, and Nature Center are closed.

3. In an effort to reduce overcrowding of trails and parking areas:

   • Limited hours of Trail and Parking access - 8:00am - 6:00pm, Tuesday through Sunday. 

   • Access to Trails is permitted for the following: Residents of the City of Birmingham, Members, and Employees of a Business Member 

Furthermore, we require that all visitors adhere to the following rules:   

• Once the parking lot is full, the preserve is closed for additional visitors. 

• Do not park on 81st Street or in a non-designated parking spot. 

• No group congregations. 

• No organized group activities. 

• Social distancing is required at all times.

• Packout all trash and follow Leave No Trace Principles.

• If you have an emergency, call 911.

If these changes and guidelines are not followed, we will be forced to close the parking lots— trails will only be open to those within walking distance of Ruffner Mountain.

We want to safeguard the health of everyone in our community— visitors, neighbors, members, donors, staff, and beyond—as much as we can. Right now, that means social distancing, staying at home, and getting outdoors and exploring close to home.

 Stay tuned as we will be updating our website with educational resources that you can use in your own backyard!

~ From all of us at Ruffner Mountain, stay safe and take care of each other.

COVID-19 Update - Ensuring a Safe Environment

For over 40 years, Ruffner Mountain has endeavored to be a good steward to the environment and a good neighbor to our community.  As a scrappy grassroots organization, we also understand that small changes can make big impacts. 

With this in mind, we have made the difficult decision to close the Nature Center until Tuesday, April 7th, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. All public and school programs will be cancelled during this time. All future programming decisions will be made on a week to week basis. Please continue to check the website for updates. 

For now, our trails and the pavilion restrooms will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Staffing will be limited and may not be available to ask for directions or to assist in an emergency. If you have an emergency, please call 911. To report an issue, you may email us at info@ruffnermountain.org

We ask that you are mindful of your impact on the trails, parking lot, and public areas at Ruffner Mountain - remember to follow social distancing recommendations and visit the preserve in small numbers. Ruffner Mountain is a sanctuary for not just people, but for wildlife and future generations; therefore, once all parking spaces are full, please do not attempt to enter the Nature Preserve.

We depend on your membership and support to protect this place and for it to remain accessible to everyone. We ask all those visiting the preserve, that can afford it, to please become a member online. 

 Thank you for your patience and understanding during this period of uncertainty.

Please stay safe and take care of each other. 

Know Your Native Grasses & Sedges!

These Native Grasses and Sedges will be available for purchase at our Native Plant Sale in partnership with Turkey Creek on April 3rd - April 5th.

Blame it on the Rain

Anyone else feeling a bit waterlogged out there? It is no surprise that rain totals (so far) this year are higher than average and with such heavy rain fall comes the increased risk of toppling trees.

If you've hiked to Quarry trial via the Nature Center trail head recently, you've likely seen the massive fallen White oak and Loblolly pine that were taken down after so much rain. Thanks to our Conservation Director, Jamie Nobles, for single-handedly clearing the trees that were obscuring the trail. Thank goodness he took that chainsaw handling course, yes?

Interesting tidbit from a recent article posted by ACES: "In extreme weather events, when the soil is completely saturated and the wind is blowing, the movement of the tree causes the wet soil to take on a gravy-like consistency. Once this begins to happen, the tree’s roots are no longer held by the soil, but are rather slipping and sliding through it. At this point, if the wind is strong enough, the whole tree might topple."

Next time you hike by this now stump, count the rings to see how old this white oak was before it toppled!

Save the Date!

Position Available: Programs Coordinator

Interested in working at Ruffner Mountain? Love working with kids and animals and conservation and education and data entry and community groups and being organized and working with a cool group of like-minded individuals while advancing the understanding of ecology in a rapidly changing world? Great! Apply here. Deadline to apply is Friday, January 31st.

For questions about the job posting, or issues applying, please email chivon@ruffnermountain.org