Azalea Bloom Out: Each spring, guests at Bellingrath Gardens and Home enjoy the blooms of more than 250,000 vibrant azaleas in an explosion of color throughout the 65-acre estate. The annual Azalea Bloom Out goes back to Bellingrath’s earliest beginnings in 1919, when Walter Bellingrath purchased a rustic fishing camp on Fowl River. His wife, Bessie, who loved gardening, wanted to beautify the property and relied on old-growth azaleas as a starting point. Ever since, Bellingrath Gardens has been synonymous with the Gulf Coast’s beautiful azalea season.
Fun fact: Bessie Bellingrath’s gardening skills also provided the spark that led to the creation of Mobile’s famous Azalea Trail in 1929. The Bellingraths’ neighbor across South Ann Street in Mobile, Sam Lackland, often observed the countless cars driving through their property to admire their azaleas each spring. Mr. Lackland was a retired hotel executive, and after a trip to Charleston one spring, he was told that the hotels were all booked because of tourists coming to see the azaleas. He returned to Mobile and approached the City Commission with the idea of establishing an Azalea Trail to attract tourists. With the help of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mobile’s Azalea Trail was presented in the spring of 1929. Today, visitors to Mobile may enjoy the newly reestablished Azalea Trail in Mobile and the Azalea Bloom Out at Bellingrath. The Azalea Watch page is updated daily on our website, bellingrath.org.
Other spring events:
Saturday, March 6: Bellingrath’s Beers & Blooms. This springtime celebration will be an all-day craft beer festival and concert series held on the Great Lawn at the heart of the Gardens. Our guests will hear great music from local bands, and will enjoy the chance to sample a wide variety of craft brews, shop with local vendors at their booths, and feast with a selection of food trucks, all in the beautiful surroundings of the springtime Gardens. Tickets are on sale on bellingrath.org.
Saturday, March 27: Easter Egg Hunt on the Great Lawn: Hop on down to the Gardens and join us for some “eggstra” special Easter fun! On March 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, Bellingrath will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Great Lawn. Thousands of Easter eggs will decorate the luxurious lawn for children to scurry and collect. There will be special hunts for different age groups, as well as prizes, candy and “eggtivities,” which makes this a perfect family outing.
