Bellingrath Gardens

The Bellingrath Gardens and Home is located on the Fowl River in Theodore, a small city outside of Mobile.

Walter was encouraged by his doctor to buy a rundown fishing camp as a diversion from the hard work and worrying that he was doing at his Coca-Cola plant. Sugar shortages had put his Coca-Cola franchise in jeopardy because he couldn't get product to his customers. He bought the property in 1917. Walter liked to fish, so hopefully a little time on the water soothed his nerves.

On a 1927 garden tour Bessie met architect and garden designer George B. Rogers. She liked his ideas, so she hired him to help her with her gardens. Rogers worked with the Bellingraths for the next 20 years until his death in 1945.

Bessie made frequent trips throughout the south in search of camellia and azalea varieties to add to her collection. In 1932, when she thought the gardens were good enough for show, she opened them to the public.

Located on the garden property is the Bellingrath home, built in 1935. The home was constructed with hand-made brick from the Mobile birthplace of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont. The ironwork was salvaged from the Southern Hotel of Mobile, built in 1837. The home, covering over 10,500 square feet, is decorated and furnished with antiques that the Bellingraths brought home from their travels (well, that Bessie brought home. She always waited until she was alone with the shop owner to write the check, or so the story goes).

Bessie died in 1943. Walter spent the rest of his life on the gardens. He said not long after he lost Bessie, "These gardens were my wife's dream, and I want to live to see that dream come true."

Today, Bellingrath Gardens is one of the most popular destination gardens in the United States. The gardens are famous for its azaleas - an estimated 250,000 in 200 varieties.

The gardens, massive as they are, take up only 65 acres of the property. The estate covers 905 acres, most of it has been left in its natural state. Boardwalks cross wetlands near the Fowl River, giving the visitor an up-close look at native plants, snakes, water fowl and other creatures.

Spring is the season that the Bellingrath's famous azaleas are blooming, but the Gardens feature beautiful flowering plants all year long. Over 75 varieties of roses are blooming in the summer along with every other plant than can grow in the Mobile summer heat. In the fall and winter tulips, camellias, ornamental cabbage, snapdragons, and many more species provide color.

There is even a riverboat, the Southern Belle, docked on the river offering a 45 minute tour.