Women of the West to take center stage at Southern Tales

For a short while, a room at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens will be transformed into the wild, golden American West of the 1800s this month.

For the 2016 installment of Southern Tales, storyteller Dolores Hydock will tell stories of the women of the American West, transporting guests to the world of pioneers and homesteaders.

Hydock has been doing storytelling for adults for many years, and BBG Library Director Hope Long said she and Hydock work together each year to find a story that will work best for the event.

“It’s always a really good time,” Long said.

In the past, the stories have been holiday themed, but Long said for the last few years they have been trying out different ideas.

“Starch in their Petticoats” will be Nov. 6 at 2 p.m in the Linn Henley Lecture Hall, off the BBG’s main lobby.

Period musician Bobby Horton will add to Hydock’s performance with an array of songs harkening back to the 1800s. Horton and Hydock regularly collaborate to bring storytelling and music to audiences, and Long said the shows are often interactive for guests.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to bbggardens.org/southern-tales.php.