As the chill of winter begins to fade, Texans in search of the first signs of spring should head to Tyler, Texas, for the annual Tyler Azalea Trail. Each year, from mid-March to early April, thousands of visitors flock to Tyler to take in the vivid colors and bright blooms of Tyler’s famous azalea bushes, adorning an 8-mile trail in the historic brick street district.

Azaleas made their debut in Tyler in 1929, when nurseryman Maurice Shamburger tested the plant in his garden. Pleased with its success, he had large quantities of azaleas shipped from Georgia. After consulting with Sara Butler of the Tyler Courier Times Telegraph, the two decided azaleas could serve as a beautification tool for the city and began promoting the colorful plant. Butler planted several at her home on Charnwood Street, and the plant quickly became a must-have garden item at homes on other Tyler streets, including Lyndsey Lane, the original route of the Tyler Azalea Trail.

Tyler residents began buying azaleas by the thousands, and by 1960, the blooming bushes were attracting so much attention, the Tyler Chamber of Commerce established a marked trail, which featured 60 homes on a five-mile route.

By making it official, the Chamber began a successful tradition that would bring thousands of visitors to Tyler and significant tourism dollars to the local economy. Today, the Tyler Azalea Trail attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year, and has been expanded to include an additional trail, the Dobbs Trail, to accommodate other homes with beautiful azalea gardens.

Each year, the homeowners dedicate countless hours to perfecting their gardens and making them inviting to visitors young and old. Last year, Southern Living Magazine profiled three families whose gardens are central to the Tyler Azalea Trail: the Pyrons, Edmondses, and Davises. For these families, gardening is not only an enjoyable hobby but a way to make visitors feel welcome in Tyler. Gus Davis told Southern Living, “It is gratifying to see people enjoying the garden. Tyler has been good to us, and this is our way of giving back.” Guy and Joan Pyron have a sign in their yard that reads, “You are welcome to walk through our backyard.” These families are accustomed to having visitors not only during the annual trail, but year-round, too. The Edmondses once invited a full busload of Japanese tourists, who were visiting off-season, into their home. Don Edmonds told Southern Living, “Part of the group was a choir, and they gathered together and sang to us a cappella. It was beautiful.”

In addition to the homeowners, the Tyler Azalea Trail also depends on the assistance of young students from the area. Female high school students from Smith County compete to earn a spot as an “Azalea Belle” – the trail’s official greeters stationed at each home. The 9^th and 10^th graders submit written applications describing what Tyler means to them and participate in interviews with members of the Azalea Trail Committee. If selected, the girls are then fitted for long antebellum-style dresses that they wear when greeting tourists on the trail.

This year, visitors can usher in the spring by touring the 51^st Tyler Azalea Trail from March 19 through April 4. For more information, visit the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau’s official trail web site, www.tylerazaleatrail.com, or call 1-800-235-5712.

Sources: Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau; Southern Living Magazine

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