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Magic Christmas is almost here, and the Keyhole Garden behind the recently restored Summer House is ready to be transformed into our Winter Wonderland. Thanks to a recent $500,000 pledge from the Hearin-Chandler Foundation, the garden will soon return to its decades-old role as a gateway to the restored Camellia Arboretum. The Camellia Arboretum was built in 1957-1958 as a memorial to Walter D. Bellingrath, who became a Camellia expert in later life and had close relationships with the Camellia breeders who made Mobile a global center for Camellias. Sadly, it has been closed since Hurricane Frederic destroyed it in 1979.
Our 2026 end-of-year appeal focuses on the $90,000 Keyhole Garden Restoration Project. The project will preserve the garden’s original shape while addressing longstanding grading and drainage issues. Local landscape architecture firm WAS Design has a plan to correct those problems while elevating the area’s appearance by adding a bluestone pathway. This path will be lined with the first set of commemorative bricks. These bricks preserve memories in the Gardens and honor or remember loved ones.
We’re excited to announce that, thanks to generous donors, we can offer a 2x match that doubles your gift to restore the Keyhole Garden. Every dollar given, including microdonations at the point of ticket purchase, will be doubled. You can contribute any amount to the project here. The 2x match even extends to the $250 commemorative bricks that will line the path when it is installed this spring. Click on this link for more information or to purchase a brick.
We’re grateful for the strong support that has enabled improvements to the Summer House, Head House, Bayou Boardwalk, River Pavilion, and numerous other projects this past year. Together, we can lead Bellingrath into its second century and ensure the beauty and elegance of the property for generations to come.