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As a kid, I was a huge sci-fi fan. (I still am.) My mind would run wild with crazy plot lines and oft-bad special effects from those ‘70s to ‘80s series and movies. One classic show that was notorious for its “not so great” special effects was the long-running British series “Doctor Who.” Amongst other things, the premise is that of a time-traveling adventurer, “The Doctor,” who after a few years “regenerates” into a new form – a clever plot device that allowed for actors to depart and be replaced by new actors over the lifetime of the series.
What might Doctor Who have to do, if anything, with Bellingrath Gardens & Home?! Well, …, it turns out that gardens, too, are good at regenerating, or needing to be regenerated, every now and then. Sometimes, the “actors” (e.g., individual plants) take a bow and are replaced by other, newer actors, even. And so, as does Doctor Who, so too does Bellingrath!
This year, we continue our work on the multi-year azalea rejuvenation program we started in 2021. Since then, we’ve cut back roughly half of the overgrown azaleas throughout the gardens and are continuing to do so after the blooms finish shortly. However, looking back in the history of BGH, it is apparent that the azaleas have been replanted on at least two occasions: the post-Hurricane Frederic years of 1980 and 1981, and the early 2000s when Bill Barrick was the then-new executive director.
Today, we start the next phase of replanting the Bellingrath Gardens azaleas. With the work commenced over the past two years to collect and grow-on over 500 different kinds of evergreen azaleas – everything from heirloom Southern Indica cultivars to the latest and great Encore® azalea releases – we are now ready to begin the process of replanting spaces in the gardens that are in need, just as they were 20 years ago, and 20 years before then, of revitalization! The first replanting project will occur in the coming weeks on a bed dominated by cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) and some sad gardenias – the bed in front of the sidewalk leading up to the Rose Garden Overlook Bridge. We have assembled a list of ten different azaleas in shades of pink to salmon to red that will create a new visual dynamic in this spot that has been sorely lacking for attention for years.
Beyond our azaleas, watch for rejuvenation work throughout the gardens this year. Already, we have made huge progress in the continuing work to remove Carolina cherrylaurel (Prunus caroliniana) and camphor trees (Camphora officinarum), and we have also removed many declining specimens of laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica) and water oak (Quercus nigra) in the gardens. These removals are allowing light to penetrate through out tree canopy so that our camellias and azaleas can flourish. Work in revitalizing the camellia collection has also progressed substantially, through the work of our Horticulture team and volunteers. Planting beds that were revamped in 2024 are now starting to fill in, especially those along the north end of Mirror Lake and along the Fowl River shore by the Home’s riverfront, and we think you’ll enjoy the newfound plant diversity in these areas.
Coming off of one of the best azalea bloom seasons in years, we feel confident that good days remain ahead for Bellingrath Gardens & Home. Come out and join us here, and come visit our little “Charm Spot of the Deep South!”