Nacogdoches Azalea Trail set March 17-31

NACOGDOCHES - The eighth annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail will usher in springtime in East Texas March 17- 31 with a mixed bouquet of new events and mainstay favorites.

As always, the centerpiece of the Azalea Trail will be the more than 20 miles of self-guided driving routes that meander through the city and include the stunning Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, the largest in the state of Texas.

Each trail begins at the Visitors' Center, located at 200 E. Main St. in historic downtown Nacogdoches. Color-coded signs mark the routes, and maps are available at the Visitors' Center. Nacogdoches, "The Oldest Town in Texas," is located about 150 miles north of Houston via U.S. Hwy. 59.

Every weekend of the Azalea Trail will also feature at least one special event, including a plant sale, floral design exhibit, photography show and "Little Princess" garden party. The Azalea Society of America's national convention will be held in Nacogdoches March 28 through April 1 and will take the place of the symposium this year.

"The excitement surrounding our Azalea Trail is really building as we make final plans for the special events and our residents prepare their gardens for the azaleas' big annual debut," said Melissa Sanford, executive director of the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Azalea Trail will officially kick off with the annual Azalea Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 17, on the downtown square. Local garden clubs, nurseries and commercial growers will offer a variety of azaleas for sale, as well as perennials, houseplants and other choice ornamental shrubs and trees.

"This is a great opportunity to find a wide variety of plants that perform well in this region," says Eloise Adams, project chairman for the Flora Garden Club, which organizes the sale.

Entries in the first-ever Azalea Trail Photography Show will be on display from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, March 20-25, in Room 208 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building at Stephen F. Austin State University. All submissions must be received at the CVB by Feb. 15. The photographs should include azaleas and must have been taken within Nacogdoches County. The contest is sponsored by the Daily Sentinel and judged and exhibited by the Nacogdoches Photography Club. For more contest information, call 936-564-7351 or 888- OLDEST-TOWN.

The horticultural and artistic talents of local gardening enthusiasts will be on display at a floral design exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at The Art Center, 329 E. Main St. Unique floral arrangements featuring azaleas and other native plants will be included in the exhibit entitled "The Art of Floral Design: Color & Textures from the Gardens."

New for this year is the "Little Princess" Garden Party in the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden. Introduce your favorite little princess (or prince) to the beauty and joy of the garden at its most splendid time of year. Dress her up in her favorite princess or garden party outfit to enjoy refreshments, party favors, entertainment and crafts.

The party will take place from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, March 25. Admission is $15 per adult and $10 per child. Seating is very limited, and pre-registration is required. Call the CVB at 936- 564-7351 by Friday, March 16, to reserve your seats.

Early registration for the Azalea Society of America's national convention, "Azaleas in the Pines - A Texas Garden Party," will continue through Feb. 22. Attendees will tour gardens and nurseries in Nacogdoches and Tyler and hear lectures on azalea care and garden design.

"East Texas has been growing azaleas for a long time, but there has been a real renaissance of interest in the last few years," says Barbara Stump, convention co-chair. "This spring we will introduce the Azalea Society of America to new azalea gardens that are also learning laboratories for the horticulturists of tomorrow."

For more information about the 2007 Azalea Trail or to schedule a group tour, call the CVB at 936-564-7351 or 888- OLDEST-TOWN.