Botanic – Just What We Need

Botanic in Opelika is a delightful sanctuary and plant lover’s dream.

How long have you lived in the Auburn-Opelika area?

Have you been here long enough to remember Blooming Colors?

Blooming Colors was a plant nursery situated not too far from Downtown Auburn. A quaint oasis on the corner of South College and Donahue.

Matt and I used to casually stroll around Blooming Colors in the years before we got married and bought our home. My husband has a deep love of all things horticulture and would point out the plants he would get for our yard when we bought a home. Sadly, Blooming Colors (and the accompanying cafe) closed that location a while back.

This week, a new venture from King Braswell, the owner of Blooming Colors, and his wife, Stacy, founder of Chicken Salad Chick, opened in Opelika.

Y’all. Meet Botanic

I don’t even have the words to describe this beautiful space – so I will say it is a lush, delightful, sprawling oasis.

There is The Market, stocked with gifts and curated local goods, as well as freshly harvested produce. Around the corner, you will find The Garden Shoppe, with pottery, tools, and all the things that make a plant lover’s heart go pitter-patter.

Botanic offers several dining options – The Market, The Grille, The Patio Bar (with live entertainment!), and The Garden (coming soon). Matt and I haven’t had a chance to try the dining options yet, but we will certainly be back for our next date night!

The Greenhouse

My favorite part of Botanic is The Greenhouse.

Our family (aka Matt), is always mulling over what updates and improvements he can make to our home’s landscaping. If I didn’t keep a close eye on him, Matt would have our entire yard overflowing with azaleas, hydrangeas, and lush greenery. I’m not mad about it, but…we have to be able to see out the windows haha.

As Matt and I walked through the delightful indoor greenhouse space and outdoor nursery, he had to hold me back from buying every plant I’ve had on my ‘plant-lady wish list’ for the past three years. Seriously though, the nursery at Botanic in Opelika has a beautiful variety of plant options, and a kind, helpful staff ready to share their expertise…or help your kids find the chickens – whatever you need.

Speaking of Chickens

There is a flock of chickens inhabiting the Botanic. I mean, do you really need any other reason to go for a visit? That big guy standing tall with the whitetail has been named “Bucky” by my girls because he says “buck” according to my four and six-year-old girls.

Botanic Opelika Details:

You can visit the Botanic at 1702 Frederick Rd, Opelika, AL 36801.

Read more about Botanic and its current hours on its website.

Love the photos you see here? I have been candidly photographing my girls and creating content for small businesses and children’s brands since 2018. Recently, I’ve started offering family sessions for local clients. I would love to capture meaningful images of your family. Send me a message here, I would love to chat with you about my process!

---

Fall is family photo season – if you haven’t booked your session yet, reach out to your favorite photographer now! My friend Rachel is a Madison Family Photographer and is sharing tips on how to prepare for your family session. She’s got advice on what to wear, selecting a location, and more!