  Though each season envelops the world in its own peculiar beauty and charm, not the wildest dreams of the most fervid and keen imagination can conjure the beauty of Bellingrath Gardens when Azaleas are blooming. Thousands of them line the many rambling walks that wind over this marvelous estate. Around the lily-bordered lake—Mirror Lake—you go enthralled by the gigantic Azaleas that scatter their trillion petals from the million flowers that cover a single bush. Mobile’s own romantic history is closely interwoven with this gorgeous flower, and dates as far back as the founding of the city in 1711. From carefully authenticated sources it was learned that a young Frenchman living in Mobile visited France to see his grandparents. So impressed was he by the dazzling Azaleas that on his return to Mobile he brought back three varieties; the pink, the purplish red, the white. And today in Bellingrath Gardens you find some of the oldest and largest Azalea bushes in America, specimen plants that have been collected at great expense from old gardens all over the South, and transplanted here in a perfect setting. The plaque shown above was placed in Bellingrath Gardens by the citizens of Mobile as a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Bellingrath and in appreciation of their civic work and the development of lovely Bellingrath Gardens. Looking down the pathway of the rustic bridge across Mirror Lake in Bellingrath Gardens is a patriarch of the Azalea family. It is an early pink, blooming generally around the middle of February. When in full bloomage, the gorgeous mass of flowers completely hides the green foliage of this rare bush, which is more than 26 feet in diameter, 14 feet high and 80 feet in circumference. Involuntary exclamations of delight as the visitor reaches this spot is an invariable tribute to the overwhelming beauty of this giant Azalea. Numerous Giant Azalea Bushes Greet the Visitor to Bellingrath Gardens When you visit Bellingrath Gardens in the spring, there are other outstanding attractions of the Southland you’ll want to see. One of these is Mobile’s Azalea Trail in the late winter and early spring, a glamorous 17-mile tour of flower-lined streets. Another interesting event, usually in March, is the New Orleans Spring Fiesta, featuring Ante-Bellum Homes, Gardens, French Quarter Tours, and other attractions. You’ll enjoy a visit, too, at this season to Natchez during Pilgrimage Time. |
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