One of Birmingham's most stylish evenings arrives each autumn with Gala in the Gardens, the opening celebration of Antiques at the Gardens, the annual benefit for Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
This year's design sponsor, Gracie, the sixth-generation family-owned maker of hand-painted wallpapers, sets the scene with four extraordinary wallcoverings.
We tasked Gus Mayer with interpreting each wallpaper’s artistry. Sculptural silhouettes echo geometric lattice. Painterly florals recall centuries-old bird-and-flower paintings. Lustrous silks capture the shimmer of silver leaf, while rich jewel tones and botanical embellishments reflect Gracie's modern take on chinoiserie.
Photographed at Zachary J. Westall Studios, located at 212 20th Street North, Birmingham, Alabama, and open by appointment. Westall will be creating the garden entry design and installation for this year’s Antiques at the Gardens.
Antiques at the Gardens will take place October 1 – 4, 2026.
Antiques at the Gardens co-chairs are Marguerite Johnson, Rachael Rummel, Jeremy D. Clark, Stephanie Lynton, and Jennifer Ard. This year’s AATG honorees are Richard Keith Langham, Bart McCorquodale, and Margot Shaw. Gala sponsors are Jones Walker LLP and ServisFirst Bank.