Wine, Music and a New Art Auction: Magnolia Springs Sets Third Meet ’Em in the Arboretum Fundraiser Oct. 25

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, Ala. — The Magnolia Springs Garden Club is inviting the community to spend a Sunday afternoon among the trees and flower beds at its third annual Meet ’Em in the Arboretum fundraiser, a fall gathering set for 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at The Springs Arboretum & Gardens.

The two-hour event pairs wine and hors d’oeuvres with live music by Garrett Howell, raffled floral arrangements and, for the first time, a silent auction featuring donated work by local artists. Money raised goes toward the upkeep and continued improvement of the arboretum, which the garden club operates as a community project with the Town of Magnolia Springs and local sponsors.

Organizers say the event has found a steady audience in its first two years. “This is our third year, and each year has been highly successful with lots of community support,” said Kathryn McFadden, the garden club’s fundraising chair.

Meet ’Em in the Arboretum Fundraiser at a Glance

For those marking calendars, here are the essentials for the Magnolia Springs Garden Club’s fall event:

• What: Third annual Meet ’Em in the Arboretum Fall Fundraiser
• When: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Where: The Springs Arboretum & Gardens, 14819 Spring St., Magnolia Springs
• Tickets: $50 per person
• Included: Hors d’oeuvres, two drink tickets good for wine or beer, live music and the afternoon’s activities
• Also featured: A silent auction of donated artwork and raffled floral arrangements
• Title sponsor: Baldwin County Sewer Service

The event falls on the last Sunday in October, giving guests a chance to enjoy the gardens in the late-afternoon light during one of the more pleasant stretches of the year on the Gulf Coast.

How to Buy Tickets

Tickets cost $50 each and can be bought in person at two locations: Jesse’s in Magnolia Springs and Page and Palette in Fairhope. They are also available online through the Magnolia Springs Garden Club.

Buyers have two options for receiving their tickets. The club can mail tickets to purchasers, or the tickets can be held at the door on the day of the event.

Each ticket covers food, two beverage tickets for wine or beer, the live music and the rest of the afternoon’s festivities. Silent auction bids and the floral arrangement raffle give guests who want to give a little more additional ways to support the cause.

New This Year: A Silent Auction of Local Art

The silent auction is the newest addition to the fundraiser’s lineup. Local artists have donated pieces for guests to bid on, adding another way for attendees to support the arboretum while taking home something made close to home.

“New this year in addition to live music by Garrett Howell, we are having a silent auction,” McFadden said. “One of our featured art pieces is by a local artist from Foley, Ragan Windsor.”

Art already has a presence at the arboretum. The garden club and its partners have added donated artwork to the grounds in recent years as part of a broader push to make the space more inviting for visitors, so the auction ties in naturally with the arboretum’s growing character as a place for both nature and creativity.

Guests who plan to bid should leave a little time to browse the auction items during the two-hour event. The floral arrangements being raffled offer another chance to go home with a piece of the afternoon.

Supporting The Springs Arboretum & Gardens

The fundraiser exists to keep The Springs Arboretum & Gardens growing. The garden club runs the arboretum as a community project in partnership with the Town of Magnolia Springs and local sponsors, and the money raised each fall helps cover the costs of keeping it healthy and open to the public.

According to the club, proceeds from Meet ’Em in the Arboretum support a long list of needs, including:

• Year-round maintenance of the grounds
• Native trees and shrubs
• Pollinator gardens
• Educational programs
• Website development and event promotion
• Community events
• Future improvements
• Continued free public access

That last item is especially important to organizers. The arboretum is free to visit, and fundraisers like this one help keep it that way for residents and visitors alike.

A Garden That Keeps Growing

Over the past several years, the arboretum has put down deeper roots in the community. The garden club and its partners have expanded native plant and pollinator gardens, improved maintenance and parking, and added donated artwork, all while working to create a welcoming place where people can connect with nature and learn about the local environment.

“We have made tremendous progress in the refurbishment of the arboretum by planting new beds and maintaining existing plantings,” McFadden said.

The club is clear that the work is not finished. Plans for the future include additional lighting, outdoor venues for community use, better parking and new signage. Each of those projects will depend in part on the kind of support the fall fundraiser generates.

Why Native Plants and Pollinator Gardens Matter

The arboretum’s emphasis on native trees, shrubs and pollinator gardens reflects a broader movement among gardeners and conservation groups across the Gulf Coast. Native plants are adapted to local soil, rainfall and heat, which generally means they need less watering and fewer chemical treatments once established than many imported ornamentals.

Pollinator gardens are planted with flowering species that provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. Those insects and birds play a key role in pollinating many plants, including food crops, and planting for them is one of the simplest ways a homeowner can support local wildlife.

For visitors, a public garden built around those principles doubles as an outdoor classroom. Seeing which plants thrive in a south Baldwin County setting can give home gardeners ideas for their own yards, which is part of the educational mission the garden club says the arboretum is meant to serve.

That focus fits the character of Magnolia Springs itself. The town has declared itself a bird sanctuary and has pursued environmental protections for the Magnolia River, including seeking Outstanding Alabama Water status, the state’s highest water-quality designation.

About the Magnolia Springs Garden Club

The Magnolia Springs Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means donations and sponsorships are generally tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The club oversees The Springs Arboretum & Gardens as a community project.

Sponsorships are still available. The club says tax-deductible sponsorships help preserve and enhance the arboretum while supporting its educational programs and its continued growth as a community destination.

Baldwin County Sewer Service is serving as this year’s title sponsor. Businesses or individuals interested in joining as sponsors can reach out to the garden club directly for details.

A Small Town With a Big Love for the Outdoors

Magnolia Springs is one of Baldwin County’s smallest and most distinctive communities. The town sits at the headwaters of the Magnolia River in south Baldwin County and recorded 811 residents in the 2020 census.

Residents voted in May 2006 to incorporate, and the town officially became a municipality on June 29, 2006, the first incorporated town along the Magnolia River. The push for incorporation grew out of residents’ desire to protect the community’s historic character, natural surroundings and riverfront heritage.

The town is perhaps best known for its mail service. Residents along the river receive mail by boat on what has been described as the only year-round river mail route in the United States. Landmarks such as Moore’s Grocery and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In a town that has built its identity around trees, water and a slower pace, a community arboretum is a natural fit, and the fall fundraiser has become one way neighbors gather to keep that green space thriving.

Planning Your Visit

The Springs Arboretum & Gardens is at 14819 Spring St. in Magnolia Springs. A few tips for guests heading to the Oct. 25 event:

• Buy tickets ahead of time at Jesse’s, Page and Palette or online through the garden club, and decide whether you want them mailed or held at the door.
• Wear comfortable shoes suited to walking on garden paths and grass.
• Bring a light layer, since late-October evenings can cool off as the sun goes down.
• Plan a safe ride home if you will be enjoying the wine and beer included with your ticket.
• Leave time to browse the silent auction and raffle items.

For tickets, sponsorship information or other details, contact the Magnolia Springs Garden Club.

With live music, local art and the gardens as a backdrop, the third Meet ’Em in the Arboretum offers a chance to raise a glass and see firsthand how a small-town garden project continues to grow.