The Spring Hill area in the north-western part of Mobile, Alabama, is one of the most lovely parts of the city. And right in this lush and hilly residential area is Mobile's botanical garden located.
In March I had the pleasure to visit this over 100 acres of an extended treasure. It’s a wonderful blend of cultivated areas and nature trails. Best of all: Dogs on leashes are allowed in this lovely area. Huge pines allow for welcoming shade and add acidic soil which is favored by the Azaleas and Rhododendron shrubs and trees.
How Camellias Came to Mobile
Wandering the woodland trails was especially delightful as the Camellia blooms were at its peak: from white to light pink into mauve, purple, and maroon. Camellias are believed to have first arrived from Europe through the Port of Mobile nearly 200 years ago. But the inspiration for today’s K. Sawada Winter Garden really began in 1910 with the arrival of a Japanese immigrant.
Kosaku Sawada, fresh from horticulture school in Osaka, had journeyed to America with big dreams to start a small nursery in 1914 - growing a plant which is well known in his native homeland—Camellias! Many years of painstaking work followed, during which Sawada said only a small number of seedlings from two separate years—1925 and 1931—produced flowers worthy of public distribution.
The Camellias’ “competition" is the Azaleas, who showed off with lovely color shades that went from yellow to light orange, copper, and into the pink color wheel.
Other Garden “Rooms”
Discover the Fern Glade, Fragrance and Texture Garden, Herb Garden, Japanese Maple Garden, Rhododendron Garden, and collections of hollies, magnolias, roses, and the perennials, as well as 27 acres of longleaf pine habitat. You might spend a whole day in this lovely environment...
Lots of Events and workshops/classes are offered to garden enthusiast and those with a green thumb. Amazing: the fee to visit the garden is only $5. Most botanical gardens charge three times this amount.
A pity only that I missed the plant sales which are taking place every Saturday morning from March 30-June 29, and then again in October. Maybe next year…
Best time to visit the Magnolia garden and the Rhododendrons is late February.
http://www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org/hours-and-admission/
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