Here at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in Birmingham, Alabama, we’re joining with others across the globe in celebration and appreciation of our planet on Earth Day, April 22, 2026.
Earth Day got its start in 1970; the theme this year is “Our Power, Our Planet.” Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and educational materials, has a great list of children’s books just perfect for the occasion—30+ Books About Nature and the Environment. We laugh out loud with our kids every time we read Frog on a Log? with its funny rhymes and hilarious illustrations.
The Nature Conservancy says Earth Day is the perfect time to slow down, step outside, and reconnect with the natural world, and we agree. * The Idea Specialists™ * we consult with love the group’s free Earth Day for All activity guide. It’s filled with simple, joyful ideas to help us explore nature close to home, from birdwatching and gardening to scavenger hunts and mindful walks.
Earth Day Event At The Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Make plans to head to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Saturday, April 25, for Alabama’s longest-running Earth Day celebration. Newly revamped for 2026, the free 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event will feature live music, children’s story time, and the Kaul Wildflower Garden BioBlitz, a community science initiative to help document the plants, animals, fungi, and insects found within this designated area. Plus, there will be community partner booths to explore!
Beauty & Bounty
Of course we also appreciate the beauty and bounty of glorious flowers and delectable produce. The Idea Specialists are fans of salads year-round, but really start craving them once it’s springtime.
One of their go-tos for recipes is Love and Lemons, created by Jeanine Donofrio, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author and recipe developer. Her list of 51 Best Salad Recipes provides all kinds of inspo, and not just for green salads—there are pasta salads, slaws, and yummy concoctions featuring a variety of beans, grains, and fruits, too. And there’s no shame when it comes to the salad game! If you don’t feel like you have the energy to slice and dice, just grab a bagged salad kit at the grocery store and enjoy it in your chef-inspired Retreat at Mountain Brook kitchen.
And speaking of spring……Southern Living (another fave!) has some great suggestions for low-maintenance plants and flowers for container gardens, which are perfect for the private patios and balconies at The Retreat at Mountain Brook.
Local Goodness
Speaking of good and good-for-you fruits and vegetables, have you eaten at Adam & Eve Café on 20th Street South yet? Talk about some more yumminess! Their vegan pastries range from a peanut butter mousse brownie to an apple caramel cheesecake, complete with a cookies and cream whoopie pie in between! We’ll have ours with a Pistachio Latte, please. Or maybe a strawberry milkshake. With a classic Adam & Eve smoothie (sweet potato, banana, mango, milk) to go.
Don’t Forget To Drink Your Juice!
Drinking fresh juice is an easy way to consume multiple vitamins and minerals. And while stores offer sugar-free options, the one way you’re guaranteed to know what you’re putting in your body is by making your own.
Fortunately, the juicers on the market today do the grinding, squeezing, and pressing of fresh fruits and vegetables for you—and they are a lot easier to clean up than the ones your parents used to have back in the day.
The Idea Specialists turned to CNET (a trusted digital media publication that has provided expert information, reviews, and analysis on consumer technologies for nearly 30 years), to get their recommendation for what to buy. The Hamilton Beach Easy Clean Juicer, which comes with a juice extractor and a cleaning tool, was their pick for “best juicer for beginners.” Easy to set up, a breeze to use, and easy to clean and store. What’s not to love, especially when it’s less than $100?
Magic City Fun!
Don’t forget that you can always check out what’s going on in the Birmingham Metro at In Birmingham. Music, festivals, nightlife, shopping, sports—there’s something for everyone!
* The Idea Specialists™ *
The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the multifamily industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more. They do not receive any sort of product or financial incentives for their recommendations in posts such as these.
