Pumpkin & Mum Sale

The 2023 Pumpkin & Mum Sale is underway at Sims Garden! Between now and Halloween, you can find pumpkins of all kinds, mums of many colors, be part of the Scarecrow contest and more! Find all the details HERE.

  • Pumpkin & Mum Sale Details

    Sept. 16 - Oct. 31, 2023


    Monday - Friday

    11am-5pm


    Sat-Sun

    9am-5pm


    Location:

    913 Irving Rd., Homewood, 35209


    *NOTE about location & parking: GPS will take you to 908 Highland Road, Homewood, AL 35209 but the main parking lot is located at 913 Irving Road. On-street parking is available on Highland Road or Irving Road. Other parking options, if you can walk a couple blocks uphill, are the Edgewood Parking Lot and Edgewood Presbryterian Church Parking lot.


    Pre-order mums or pumpkins for pick up or delivery: 

    205-332-0949 

    simsgarden@homewoodal.net


    Welcome to the ONLY Over-the-Mountain Pumpkin Patch!


    Choose from a wide variety of pumpkins and chrysanthemums to decorate your Fall porches this year! We will have teeny tiny pumpkins and gourds, traditional jack-o’-lanterns,  pumpkins, colorful heirloom pumpkins like Cinderella, Fairy Tale, Blue Jarrahdale, Snowballs, Spectres, Warty Goblins and so much more. Pumpkins will range in size from less than a pound to over 50 pounds!


    Chrysanthemums will range in size from 8", two gallon pots, to 9" three gallon pots, to 12" pots in decorative containers and will come in shades of bronze-orange, red-crimson,  yellow, white, pink-purple, bicolor and mixed pots (three colors in one).


    For a really festive, porch-ready option, a limited number of “mumkins” will be offered. Mumkins are 8-9" chrysanthemums in a terracotta pot painted to look like a jack-o-lantern.


    While you shop, there will be photo opps for families and kids, fun Halloweed decorations, a few tricks, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt and a scarecrow trail! 


  • Scarecrow Contest

    It's Scarecrow Competition time! Voting starts as soon as we have at least five scarecrows so get them here as early as you can. Every entry will get a prize on the Sat/Sunday before Halloween!


    To enter the contest email: simsgarden@homewoodal.org



    Scarecrow contest rules:


    1) No store-bought scarecrows, must be homemade! Old Halloween costumes make great outfits.


    2)Scarecrows can be human-like or animal-like.


    3) Must have some support so it can stand or sit on its own when in the garden. Wooden stakes hammered in the ground work too.


    4) Stuff with straw, plastic bags, or anything that can handle a little moisture (not newspaper). We try to provide straw but its very limited this year. Floracraft clean straw can be purchased for $6+tax at Lowe’s.


    5) Keep it tasteful and kid-friendly. Scary scarecrows are fine!


    6) Name your scarecrow (Puns are welcome) and make a tag (or let us know and we will make a tag for you).


    7) Choose a spot near a path in the garden to place your scarecrow.


  • Money raised benefits....

    The money raised will go toward completing landscaping plans (FIND THAT PLAN HERE) for the garden which include stormwater management, handicap accessibility, a new outdoor bathroom, a new greenhouse and historical horticultural restoration. The fundraising goal exceeds $450,000.


More

September 11, 2025
Here you will find all details related to the upcoming 2025-2026 budget.
September 10, 2025
Pickleball courts are officially in the works for Homewood! The City has included funding in the proposed 2025–26 budget to build four new outdoor pickleball courts at the Homewood Athletic Complex , located next to the Mega Field and behind the tennis courts. Plans for the courts were drawn up earlier this summer with input from engineering and electrical design teams. The project includes: Four regulation courts with permanent nets and fencing Court colors featuring a blue playing surface, red “kitchen” zones, and white lines Benches with shade canopies and bleachers for spectators Lighting as an " add-on option" in th e bid package so costs can be managed This project is only included in the proposed budget right now . The full city budget, including these courts, will be voted on at the September 29 City Council meeting . If approved, the City will then open the formal bidding process for construction. Once built, the new courts will expand recreation opportunities at the athletic complex and provide a dedicated space for one of our community's fastest-growing sports. Watch the budget proposal HERE , go to 02:03:10 to find it.
September 9, 2025
Finance - Sept. 8, 2025 Finance Committee previewed a centennial visitor guide logo, awarded Green Springs Phase 2 to Gillespie Construction, targeting an October start, dropped a Southeast Veterinary Partners penalty waiver after payment was made, and opted to mark two Patriot Park car spaces “compact cars only” to improve crosswalk visibility. The committee also renewed a Birmingham Bowl sponsorship, and previewed adding a ThinkGard backup and disaster-recovery contract, around $60,000 annually, to replace the underperforming data backup system currently in place. Agenda: https://bit.ly/46aeQuT
August 27, 2025
Budget Hearing Schedule City Hall, 2nd Floor, South Conference Room
August 26, 2025
Council Meeting August 25, 2025 The council meeting major actions included adopting a $128.5 million budget proposal with funding for a new fire station, fire trucks, stormwater projects, and the Lakeshore/I-65 diverging diamond interchange. Budget hearings will go over this proposal in detail over the next few weeks. Council approving $3 million in incentives for a redesigned Piggly Wiggly expansion, hiring a new audit firm, addressing Edgewood traffic safety, multiple nuisance property hearings, and improvements tied to the Dawson parking deck lease. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3JvRmZE
August 19, 2025
UPDATE: Council approved the $3M incentive plan, August 25  The Finance Committee reviewed a new tax incentive agreement tied to the long-awaited Piggly Wiggly redevelopment. The revised plan calls for rebuilding on the current site, which means the store will temporarily close during construction. The updated design adds more green space, provides a safer route for children using the nearby tunnel to school, improves traffic flow, and resolves earlier concerns about truck deliveries. Parking will also increase compared to today’s layout. Earlier this year, the store’s owners proposed building a brand-new location behind the current store. That plan raised concerns about traffic, loading docks, and pedestrian safety. After months of discussion, the developers scrapped that version and returned with a new design that many now see as a much stronger fit for the community. Because this plan is less expensive and slightly smaller than the original, the incentive request dropped from $3.5 million to $3 million. The committee voted to advance the incentive agreement to the full Council for a public hearing scheduled for August 25. After that, the next step is to go through the development plan process, starting in October, with the Planning Commission.
August 19, 2025
Finance - August 18, 2025 The Finance Committee advanced a $3 million tax incentive agreement for rebuilding Piggly Wiggly on its current site with added green space and safer pedestrian access, sending it to public hearing on August 25. The committee also approved funding and agreements for the Lakeshore/I-65 diverging diamond interchange. Committee reviewed a $127.5 million FY25–26 budget plan with $21 million in capital projects, authorized budget transfers for storm debris cleanup and paving, selected a new audit firm, and carried over a $310,940 business license penalty request. Agenda: https://bit.ly/47BSvbY
August 12, 2025
Council Meeting August 11, 2025 The council approved multiple contracts, leases, and licenses, including a parking deck agreement with Dawson Memorial Baptist, a library renovation design contract, and an ABC license for Seeds Coffee. Several public hearings were set for August 25 for nuisance properties, and a Piggly Wiggly plan, while the rezoning plan for the former police station site was dropped. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3V0BcK0
August 6, 2025
Mayor’s Statement on Jefferson County District Attorney Decision on June 23, 2025, Officer Involved Shooting August 6, 2025 "We have received the results of the District Attorney’s investigations into the shooting of Jabari Peoples. We note that the District Attorney found the “shooting is deemed justified” and that no criminal charges will be filed against the Homewood Police Officer involved in this matter. We can’t imagine the anguish of the Peoples’ family in the aftermath of this tragic event and hope the community will respect the District Attorney’s decision, which he says is based on the facts and the law." Alex Wyatt Mayor of Homewood 
August 5, 2025
What started as an idea to turn Homewood’s long vacant, old police property, into a steakhouse and park, has now been pulled off the table. Developer Mike Mouron, who brought the concept forward, decided to withdraw his plan and financial support after facing public criticism and legal filings. The plan aimed to rezone the property at 1833 29th Avenue South from industrial to commercial, allowing for a restaurant and community green space. Mouron offered to fund the park portion of the property through the sale and personally cover any extra costs. Also targeted in the backlash, the City of Homewood had to respond to a lawsuit and dissolve a temporary restraining order. The City stood by how it handled the process. The judge agreed and ruled in favor of the city, dismissing the case with prejudice and ordering the plaintiff’s (Kevin Misso) bond to be forfeited. Despite the legal victory, after facing ongoing personal attacks, Mouron chose to withdraw his proposal and not pursue the project further. Even though it has now been withdrawn, by law, a public hearing will still be held, as advertised, August 11. The council will then officially close this item. Mayor Wyatt expressed hope that future city leadership will “figure out the best path forward” for a property that continues to sit idle. For more background: Committee Meeting February 17, 2025 From Jailhouse to Steakhouse Legal Filings Mayor Wyatt Announces Withdrawal
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