Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile Bay in Alabama ~ Pictures of Unsurpassed Beauty
80Garden Lovers Delight
Bellingrath Gardens is located on the Fowl River in Theodore, Alabama just off of Mobile Bay which connects with the Gulf of Mexico. Pictures will be shared with readers of this hub as well as videos that others have produced showcasing this unsurpassed beauty in the Southeastern part of the United States.
My mother, niece and I were traveling to Florida from Houston in the year 1986 and decided to detour slightly off of our path to take in the renowned Bellingrath Gardens and Home.
It was not much of a detour since it is only about 25 minutes south of Mobile and we had planned to spend the night in Mobile anyway.
We had heard of the stunning beauty of the Bellingrath Gardens from my grandparents who had traveled extensively in the United States.
Assuredly, the detour was well worth it!
Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens in the Spring
The Bellingraths
Walter Bellingrath was the President of the Coca Cola bottling plant in Mobile, Alabama after he and his brother William secured the franchises to do the bottling in Montgomery as well as in Mobile. Mr. Bellingrath chose to operate the plant in Mobile. The lady that would become his wife, Bessie Mae Morse, was a stenographer at the Mobile Coca Cola bottling plant.
In addition to that enterprise, Walter Bellingrath was a founding partner in the Waterman Steamship Company in 1919 and went on to acquire the National Mosaic Tile Company located in Mobile in 1920. Obviously he was entrepreneurial and very successful financially
Mr. Bellingrath originally purchased this land (which was to become the famous Bellingrath Home and Gardens) in 1917 as a fishing camp for recreational purposes for himself and his buddies. It had been established as such but would become much, much more!
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Bellingrath Gardens
George B. Rogers
The architect that had built the home in which the Bellingrath's had purchased to reside in Mobile, Alabama was George B. Rogers. They liked his designs and enlisted his help sometime later in developing the gardens at that address of 60 South Ann Street.
When the Bellingraths decided to have a home built on the location of their fishing camp which they called "Belle Camp," naturally they chose George B. Rogers to also help them with that project, both the residence and the gardens.
Bellingrath Gardens
Asian Water Garden at Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens
Azalea Trail and beyond...
The Bellingraths allowed people to tour their home gardens in Mobile when the very first Azalea Trail was developed but what really drew great interest was when their gardens at Belle Camp were opened for the occasion of the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs annual meeting in 1932.
The renamed Bellingrath Gardens have never closed since that date when droves of people were introduced to those gloriously designed garden sites.
Naturally the word spread and those 65 acres ( 26 hectares ) have been visited by countless individuals ever since April of 1932 when it was first opened to the public.
Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens in the Fall
The Bellingrath home was completed between 1935 - 1936 and great use of recyclable materials were utilized in its construction.
George B. Rogers, the architect, obviously saw the beauty and utility in using bricks, flagstone and even ironwork from other sources and the end result is a gorgeous 15 room home which is situated overlooking the Fowl River.
The landscaped gardens with land and water features seem to mesh perfectly into this great tapestry of a design.
Bellingrath Gardens
Duck at Bellingrath Gardens
Each season of the year showcases something special in the Bellingrath Gardens.
These year round gardens are beautiful no matter what season one may encounter them. My mother, niece and I saw them in August.
In the Winter one can count on seeing vast amounts of Camellias in bloom.
Azaleas...some 250,000 of them!... fill the gardens with their special kind of beauty in the Spring.
Roses of every type and color highlight the gardens in the Summertime.
Chrysanthemums rule the days of the Fall, and Holiday Lights fill the Christmas Season with sparkle and an extra air of festivity.
Needless-to-say, there are many other plants in addition to those that are mentioned above which artfully dot the grounds adding to the enjoyment of the Bellingrath Gardens in each and every season of the year.
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Bellingrath Gardens - Oriental American Garden
Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens
Types of Gardens
There are distinct forms of gardens that can be enjoyed while strolling the extensive grounds at Bellingrath Gardens. They include the following:
Mirror Lake...aptly named due to the reflections of the sky, clouds, and surrounding landscaping.
Oriental - American Gardens ( Many of my pictures show features of this part of the grounds.)
Rose Garden
Formal Gardens
Butterfly Garden
Great Lawn
Rockery
Also to be enjoyed is a Conservatory on the grounds which houses tropical plants and other specimens.
Mirror Lake at Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Open every day except for Christmas, be sure and tour the home and chapel in addition to the gardens.
Fine antiques decorate the home and the Bellingraths had amassed over the years an extensive porcelain collection which includes porcelains from the finest makers.
Bellingrath Gardens
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Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens
Riverfront walk
The gardens at Bellingrath extend down to the water and the walkway along the Fowl River is not only pleasant, but the breezes coming off of the water gave us a little respite from the heat on the day of our visit. How pleasant it would be to sit on that covered area of the pier merely enjoying the river views for a while.
45 minute river cruises can be arranged from February to November if one chooses.
Bellingrath Gardens waterfront views
Mobile, Alabama
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Have you visited Bellingrath Gardens?
See results without votingMrs. Bellingrath preceded Mr. Bellingrath in death but prior to his last days on earth, Mr. Bellingrath graciously saw to the establishment of a foundation to care for their beloved home and gardens so that the public could enjoy these grounds in perpetuity.
Recommendation...
If you wish to see sites of unsurpassed beauty near Mobile Bay, make it a point to visit the spectacular Bellingrath Home and Gardens if you find yourself anywhere near the Southeastern part of the United States. From old oak trees draped with Spanish moss to the Fowl River and other ponds and water features, to individual specimen plants or others massed together for maximum effect...this garden is a delight for all the senses. Be sure to take your camera! You will want to capture pictures of your own making!
Bellingrath Gardens
Bellingrath Gardens - 
Some other garden hubs by Peggy W...
- Beacon Hill Park in Victoria - Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
- Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, Canada - Natural Beauty
- Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, Canada - Spectacular Daytime and at Night
- Queen Elizabeth Park & Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver, Canada - Fabulous!
Many bridal parties get their photos taken here.
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CommentsLoading...
A very lovely place Bellingrath Gardens. The grounds are absolutely beautiful in your photos. It deserves the recognition of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is indeed a lovely place. Great hub.
Hello akterpk,
I'm glad you liked these pictures of the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens near Mobile Bay in Alabama. Thanks for the comment.
very good all picturs
Hello Shirley Pisa,
Glad that you enjoyed these pictures of Bellingrath Gardens and thank you for the comment.
I love these pictures. These are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing such beauty to us.
Hello Prasetio,
You are very kind with your comments. Thanks! Hope that you do get to see Bellingrath Gardens in person someday!
I love garden very much. Thanks for presenting the beautiful garden for us. I really enjoy all the pictures you gave to us. I am glad to visit this garden someday. Good work, my friend. Vote up as usual.
Prasetio
Hello Ethel,
Bellingrath Gardens is indeed that. Lovely! Thanks for the comment.
Looks lovely Peggy
Hello D.A.L.,
Glad that you enjoyed these pictures from Bellingrath Gardens, and thanks so much for your comment.
Hi once again you have introduced us to a gem of a place. Thank you so much for taking the time to produce it. The photographs are wonderful.Best wishes to you.
Hello youcanwin,
Happy to hear that you enjoyed seeing these pictures of the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens. Thanks for the comment.
Beautiful pictures.
Thanks a lot for sharing it with us.
Beautiful pictures.
Thanks a lot for sharing it with us.
Hi Mike Lickteig,
My aunt and uncle used to live part of the year in Florida so that was the incentive to drive that direction from Houston several times. We always liked to take in some sites coming and going...thus the side-trip to Bellingrath Gardens, Tarpon Springs, Cypress Gardens and so forth. On some of those trips, my young niece joined my mother and me, and on other trips, it was just my mother and myself. Really cherish those memories now that my mother is gone.
Was your trip to Florida a vacation?
Hello oliversmum,
Happy to have been able to share these photos and impresssions from Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama just off of Mobile Bay and south of the City of Mobile. They are truly amazing and beautiful. So nice that Mr. Bellingrath had it set up that the rest of us could enjoy these gardens forever more. Thanks for your nice comment.
Hi Billy,
Thanks! Will hop on over to your hub now to see the answer.
Another amazing area. Your vacations are truly wonderful, and you have seen so very much. Except for one trip to Florida, I have never traveled southeast. It looks as if I have missed a lot. Thanks for sharing more wonderful photos and memories.
Mike
Peggy W. Hi. My goodness me. These are the most beautiful Gardens that I have ever seen.
You do live in a great Country.
The photographs are absolutely wonderful and I love the little bridge.
Thank you so much for sharing your Family travels with us.:) :)
Again beautiful gardens Peggy and yes I agree the Gulf economy got wrecked from all the negative noise and politics also in addition to the environmental damage. A disgrace by the politics - remember the Florida AG and now the Alabama AG that sends a message the holiday is in a toxic playground.
I answered your twitter and 60DX questions - unfortunately I copied wrong when I did the new hub.
Hi James,
Bellingrath Gardens are certainly that...beautiful! Thanks for the compliment on the photography. The videos created by others certainly added great images from different times of the year to this hub. Thanks for coming by, reading and leaving a comment. Have missed your visits!
These are the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. But more than that, your photography is magnificent!! Thank you for this journey. It is pure pleasure to the eye.
Hello Om Paramapoonya,
So happy to hear that you liked these photos and descriptions of the lovely Bellingrath Gardens. Thanks for the comment.
Lovely! The pictures are great, and your wonderful writing made me feel like I was there with your family lol
Hi Billy,
The worst part about all the publicity is that the summer vacation time is nearly gone and all of those vacations that were cancelled along the Gulf Coast cannot now be recovered. So oil on the beaches or not...the damage has been done and for many businesses, the losses will remain.
For anyone with remaining vacation time or available money to be spent...information like that from your friends might spur some much needed business to the Gulf of Mexico environs. Am sure that crowds at Bellingrath Gardens have been diminished as well.
So for anyone reading this...go and visit these places now! You will be doing businesses a great favor and you will get a dollar-stretching bargain at the same time. A WIN-WIN all around!
Peggy thanks for your reply - I agree on the hurricane - it wasn't their first merry-go-round. On the spill I was thinking more generally. Actually I have a t least 4 groups of friends who have been to the Gulf - Florida and Galveston and seen no oil damage and said they had an unbelievable vacation - no one there and everything cheap, cheap, cheap! Makes you wonder doesn't it.
Hi Martha C,
Happy to hear that both you and your grandson enjoyed these photos and videos from Bellingrath Gardens. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be surrounded by landscaping like that! Thanks for the visit and comment.
This just so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. My grandson especially enjoyed these pictures and he is only fourteen. The natural beauty and someone's obvious landscaping talent combined together is truly breathtaking.
Hello North Wind,
Am sure your Bellingrath Gardens book is filled with gorgeous photos taken at all times of the year. The videos I found to include in this hub share different visions of what these gardens are like in other seasons. Thanks for taking the time to comment and enjoy your book! :-)
Hello Dardia,
Hope that you and your husband do get to visit the spectacular Bellingrath Gardens. My mother is now gone, but we always enjoyed visiting gardens on our travels together. Thanks for your comment.
Hello Merlin Fraser,
I certainly understand! It would be hard to be able to see all the gorgeous gardens of the world in person. Happy to hear that you enjoyed this look at Bellingrath Gardens. I also know you have some wonderful gardens in your part of the world. Thanks!
Hi! I have a book about these lovely gardens and have always wanted to visit them. Thank you for reminding me about it!
Hi dahoglund,
So true! If it were not for people like the Bellingraths who leave such wonderful and enduring legacies behind them, we (John Q. Public) would not be able to enjoy beautiful sites like the Bellingrath Home and Gardens. Many of our National Parks were started that way...wealthy people leaving behind land and money for the benefit of future generations of people to enjoy. Thanks for your visit and comment.
Hi Micky Dee,
Glad you liked this peek at Bellingrath Gardens just outside of Mobile, Alabama. Thanks for the complimentary comment.
Hello Pamela99,
Happy to have introduced you to Bellingrath Gardens for a possible future visit. It is truly a beautiful site.
Hello Hh,
Yes, my mother, niece and I had a wonderful time at Bellingrath Gardens. Always spoke of going back in the Spring of the year when all of those azaleas would have been in bloom but did not make it. We have gorgeous azaleas and an Azalea Trail in Houston each year...some in our own garden, for that matter. Great time of year! Thanks for the visit.
Hi Billy,
I cannot answer that question with authority, but I would suspect that the gardens are OK after Katrina. Anything lost has probably been replanted by now. The biggest things at risk would have been the big trees, but they have probably gone through many hurricanes over the years. Since the River would flow out to sea, doubt that the BP oil spill has affected Bellingrath Gardens in any way except for possibly scaring tourists away from that area in general which would be bad enough.
Beautiful gardens! My husband and I love to visit gardens. Maybe I can talk him into driving that far south to check it out one day. I am glad you added the photos to give a glimpse of what we are missing. As Merlin Fraser above said, This may be the only way some get to see it.
Thanks for sharing Peggy it maybe the onlt way some of get to see the wonders of this wonderful garden.
Although we have one or two spectacular ones over this side as well.
It is good that some successful people see fit to leave a legacy to be shared by the public. Great hub.
It's really pretty and you've done excellent work here. Thank you again Peggy.
Peggy, The pictures are gorgeous and I was unaware of that park. It certainly is a place I would love to visit.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures and informative hub. You must have had a great time.
Peggy glorious shots - I was wondering how were the gardens affected after Katrina given Mobile was affected? I see it is further inland though. There is much beauty on the Gulf coast and a reminder of what the BP spill put at risk.
Hello loriamoore,
Happy to have introduced you to Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama. I had heard about it for years because of my grandparent's travels and was happy to have seen it in person. Would be fun to revisit at various times of the year. Thanks for your comment.
Hello Cassie Ann,
Glad that you liked this hub about Bellingrath Gardens. As you say, it is gorgeous! Thanks!
Hello DiamondRN,
Yes, I would definitely say that Bellingrath Gardens is a treasure. Thanks for the first comment.
I had no idea that Alabama held such a treasure. Wow!
Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
What a treasure, Peggy!
Peggy W Hub Author 7 months ago
Hi Cheryl,
Alabama is fortunate to have such a lovely place as Bellingrath Gardens in their State. As you say, the grounds are truly beautiful. Thanks for your comment.