Wilmington Azalea Festival 2008 Belles of Garden Seven

The beauty of Wilmington, North Carolina

With the help of the garden club volunteers, the garden of Mary and Walter Whitehurst on Meadow Brook Drive was tastefully presented.

Artist and Master Gardener

Max found the people side to the presentation of gardens at the 2008 Wilmington Azalea Festival to be a key ingredient in making the tour a success. Over one hundred and twenty five young high school juniors and seniors performed three hour shifts around the gardens in 1865 period gown complete with parasols. Max noticed that as people entered the gardens and moved through the larger gardens that these young ladies presence gave the gorgeous plantings a formal and elegant touch.

At the Whitehurst garden Max was greeted by a single hostess dressed in relaxed summer style, with a very large hat. This fine lady directed Max to the garden entrance.

Though garden chairs were available to them, two Belles sat on the side lawn of the house. One wore a pink gown with a matching ribbon in her hair.

The other Belle wore a brown gown with black lace trim. She held a matching parasol in her black gloved hands. A red flower was delicately placed in her hair to provide contrast.

The Belles wore elegant hair styles that fit with their gorgeous gowns.

To the credit of the garden club the young women were selected in such a way that all the young women in the Wilmington area were fairly represented. Each young lady had their hair done up for the event and looked lovely in the beautiful gowns.

Some young ladies did get better position arrangements than others simply because porches, benches and stairs afforded them better seating arrangements. A few of the ladies in the bright Wilmington sun had difficulty with parasol's that work better for show than for shielding them from the sun.

At each entry way the members of the garden club greeted the visitors with wide smiles and a few words about the garden. Most gardens had two members of the garden club though an occasional sight would have one or two more that were busy enjoying the day.

Max realized that in addition to the young ladies and the garden club members many people were busy out of sight of the gardens. There were the strategically placed security personnel to direct traffic. Deeper hidden in the background are all the people that sponsored, planned and prepared for the event who may or may not have been visible during the event.

Here is some background on the Wilmington Azalea Festival.

The Cape Fear Garden Club organizes the annual Wilmington Azalea Festival. This non-profit, philanthropic, and educational association is organized to stimulate knowledge of gardening among amateurs in the Cape Fear Region of North Carolina. The organization works to provide education on gardening and horticulture. It works closely with agencies to encourage environmental improvement to protect, restore and preserve the natural world for trees, plants, birds so that these can be enjoyed.

Founded in 1925 the garden club today has about three hundred active members. The Annual Azalea Festivals is one of the biggest events not only for the club but for Wilmington, NC. Numerous related events including a sizable parade are held on the same day.

Wilmington itself is a unique city with an eclectic nature. Driving into the city it appears to be a place of strip malls and small hotels. For many people traveling through to the New Hanover County beaches or south to Myrtle Beach this may be the only city they see.

Just before the bridge out of town, a right turn will take a traveler to a quaint though lively waterfront downtown. Here the buildings are of brick and lined with interesting shops on one end. The other end of the street is lined with restored buildings going back to a more elegant time. The gardens in some of these houses can be explored by the public only during the Azalea Festival.

Going back north going along side streets on either side of the fast north/south routes through the city are enchanting neighborhoods lined with interesting homes. Hidden behind and around these homes are a plethora of gorgeous gardens. Only a few of these are open at anytime other than through an opportunity like the festival affords us.