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.

To follow along, check out our Azalea Alert page that will be updated weekly throughout the season.