In 1963, not long after the official opening of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a new feature was added: A working clock made of flowers. It was modeled on a clock in Canada and was the first of its kind in the U.S., according to a 1963 article by The Birmingham News.

The 26-by-36-foot clock was donated by local philanthropist Catherine Hammond and installed in front of the BBG’s conservatory. Construction on the conservatory began in September 1961 and opened to visitors in December 1962, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

See photos in the gallery at the top of this story.

When the clock out front was completed, it quickly became a popular attraction.

In October of 1963, Birmingham News columnist Walling Keith wrote that it was “worth a visit to the Botanical Gardens just to see the clock itself.”

A June 1963 article in the Birmingham News quoted former Birmingham Mayor Jimmy Morgan as saying the clock cost $15,000 to build and install. It had underground clockworks in a small cement building.

In his book “See Alabama First: The Story of Alabama Tourism,” author Tim Hollis says the clock’s face was comprised of 5,000 flowers with a 12-foot-long minute hand. The floral arrangements were changed out seasonally.

“The floral clock remained the emblem of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens until 1995 when it was removed because of its deteriorating interior works,” Hollis said.

Fairhope floral clock

These days locals and visitors can still see a floral clock in Alabama. In 2013, the City of Fairhope built a 30-foot floral clock, according to an AL.com article.

The clock was installed on the northwest-facing slope at the intersection of North Section Street and Alabama Highway 104 to welcome visitors to Fairhope. The costs will be shared by the city and the Eastern Shore Art Association’s Committee on Public Art.

The Committee on Public Art paid $17,000 for the design, the clock mechanism and hands. The city was responsible for the start-up costs, as well as annual upkeep, which is about $13,000.