Aldridge Botanical Gardens, the former estate of Eddie and Kay Aldridge, is a beautiful 30-acre woodland garden showcasing hydrangeas and native plants.  Enjoy a half-mile walk around the six-acre lake, have a picnic or attend the many events hosted throughout the year, including plants sales, art show, seminars and Arts Alfresco concerts.  Aldridge Botanical Gardens is located on the corner of Lorna Road and Rocky Ridge Ranch Road in Hoover.

History:

Eddie Aldridge caught his first glimpse of the Coxe Family Estate in 1966 when he was hired to plant three magnolias on the property nestled near the corner of Lorna Road and Rocky Ridge Ranch Road.  Eddie and his father, both noted horticulturalists, knew beauty when they saw it.  Both were nurserymen and had been given the opportunity to work in a profession that developed their appreciation of nature and the beauty of the environment.  In fact, both agreed that this unique piece of property, which was located in the heart of Hoover, would be a perfect place for a botanical garden.
The Acquisition
Eleven years passed, and the Coxe Family made the decision to sell the estate.  Upon hearing that news, Eddie wasted no time in making an offer on the property that he and his father had long admired.  In 1977, Eddie purchased the estate, and with that step began the first of many toward developing the property as a public garden.

The Vision
Commercial and residential development in Hoover was growing at a rapid pace.  The City of Hoover, which had been experiencing exponential growth, was now recognized as the sixth largest city in Alabama and one of the fastest growing in the South.  By 1994, Eddie knew the timing for development was right and began exploring options for transforming the property into a public garden.  In collaboration with the City of Hoover and the City Council, the land was formally dedicated as a public garden and a resolution was passed to ensure the property would remain so in perpetuity.  A Master Plan was commissioned and approved in 1997, twenty years after Eddie had acquired the property.  Aldridge Botanical Gardens opened its gates to the public in 2002.