Azalea Belles walk through the garden at the 60th Annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail opening ceremony at the Pyron garden in Tyler on Friday March 22, 2019. Azalea Belles are ambassadors of the trail who are placed at various gardens to greet visitors. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Eager to learn more about the history of the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, and to wear an elaborate antebellum dress, Lili Bazzell applied to become an Azalea Belle.

As part of their volunteer service, the belles serve as ambassadors on the trail who meet and greet visitors, promote Tyler and pose for photographs.

“I hope to really get to know the city of Tyler better and meet a lot of people who love Tyler as much as I do,” Bazzell, one of this year’s 35 Azalea Belles said.

On Friday, the group of local high school girls was introduced to the public during a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony held for the 60th Azalea & Spring Flower Trail at the home of Guy and Joan Pyron.

The trail will be open for three weekends, from now until April 7. During that period, locals and visitors alike are encouraged to take time to view gardens, join in or various community events, and experience the beauty of Tyler in the spring.

“My favorite time of the year is right now because right now is when God’s hand can be seen throughout this community and throughout this beautiful nation,” Skip Ogle, board chair of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce said at the event. “Look and drive and tour through this community that we call Tyler, Texas and you will see the blossoms that are so beautiful that they attract people from all over the world.”

The trail begins at Broadway Avenue and Houston Street and later splits into two trails. The homes on the approximately 10-mile routes are known for having large azalea plantings, as well as other flowers and dogwood trees that typically bloom this time of year.

Kathleen Gray, of Tyler, attended Friday’s ceremony with her 4-year-old daughter Lillian. The family is new the city and was blown away by the event and the tour they received of the Pyron’s garden.

“It’s gorgeous,” Gray said.

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, shared history at the event about how azaleas were introduced to Tyler in 1929 by Maurice Shamburger, one of the city’s early nurserymen. 

Pleased, with the results of a test garden of azaleas, Shamburger began shipping the flower to the city by the boxcar loads from Georgia. When Shamburger completed his garden, he discussed the beautification potential of azaleas with Sarah Butler of the Tyler Courier Times-Telegraph.

Butler reportedly encouraged Shamburger to promote azalea plantings in the city, and planted a number of bushes at her own home. The garden at the home, along with several other gardens along Lindsey Lane, became well known for featuring the colorful azaleas.

In 1959, the azaleas continued to attract attention and the chamber of commerce established the first marked route of the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail.

Gohmert said he’s met people from both near and far who know of the city for its beautiful flowers.

“I hear people from Maine say ‘yeah, we came down to East Texas to see your azaleas or came down to see your roses,’” he said. “We’re a special place.”

TWITTER:@TMT_Augusta