photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph Sarah McInroe of Longview takes photographs of spring flowers Tuesday at the historic Pyron home at 212 W. Dobbs St. in Tyler.

The annual Tyler and Spring Flower Trail begins March 25 and runs through April 10. The driving route begins at South Broadway Avenue and Houston Street and splits into two separate trails – Lindsey Trail and Dobbs Trail.

The trails cover about 10 miles and take visitors through neighborhoods in the Azalea District famous for gardens with azaleas, dogwoods and other blooming plants. Signs marking the trails are already in place and the azaleas are beginning to bloom.

Special events are scheduled each weekend of the trail.

 

Special events during the trail

Rose City Artisans & Flower Market: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 and 26 at Goodman Museum, 624 N. Broadway Ave. The grounds of historic Goodman Museum are transformed into huge flower market with bedding plants, hanging baskets and items for the garden for sale.

Azalea Arts and Crafts Fair: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 9 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 10 in Bergfeld Park, Broadway at Fourth streets: Dozens of crafts and concession vendors will be set up in the park.

Historic Tyler on Tour: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 and 1 to 5 April 3. Historic Tyler presents the annual tour of select private residences in the Azalea District. Tickets cost $20. Information on this year’s houses is on the website historictyler.org.

The Spirits of Oakwood: Take a guided tour through Tyler’s oldest cemetery where historians in period costumes portray notable residents buried there. Tours will take place on April 9 beginning at 1 p.m. The $10 admission helps pay for upkeep of the cemetery.

McClendon House Tours: Located at 806 W. Houston St., the historic home is open for tours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday of the trial.

 

Great places to take photos and videos

The Broadway/Dobbs/College/Lindsey block: Park the car and walk the block. You won’t be disappointed. It has everything: charming red brick streets, grand homes, the historic Woman’s Building and beautiful tiered backyard gardens with some of the largest azalea plantings in town.

Bergfeld Park area: Both the Dobbs and Linsey driving routes pass through the Bergfeld Park area – the traditional heart of the Azalea District. Besides azaleas, there are dogwoods, tulips and crepe myrtles. Explore the park and its amphitheater dating to the 1930s.

The Rudman/Sherry Loop: On southern end of the Dobbs Trail is the Rudman/Sherry Loop off Old Bullard Road. The steep elevation change provides a cascading effect for row after row of azaleas. Look for white dogwood trees. The interesting houses along the street are worth checking out regardless if the flowers are blooming.

The 1300 and 1400 blocks of Belmont: Near the end of both routes is this section of homes featuring yards with large trees. Some have signs encouraging trail visitors to come into their private backyards and look around.

Park Heights: Located along the Lindsey Trail, this short section off Chilton Avenue between Seventh Street and Old Jacksonville Highway, is another great place to park, see large azalea plantings and interesting houses.

 

Interesting Facts About the trail

Azaleas were introduced in Tyler in 1929 by local nurseryman Maurice Shamburger who had boxloads shipped in by train from Georgia. They were an instant hit in the “Rose City.”

The first Azalea & Spring Flower Trail was in 1960 and featured about 60 homes on a five-mile driving route.

The Azalea Belles, the young girls in colorful antebellum dresses posing along the trail on weekends, are freshmen and sophomores from Tyler area high schools. The first belles in 1964 were two chamber secretaries who wore their own hand-made costumes and handed out brochures to visitors.

The azalea plantings along the trail are all maintained by the individual homeowners, who take pride in sharing their beautiful gardens.

The Lindsey Trail was the original route. As more homes began planting azaleas, it became necessary to add a second route, The Dobbs Trail. Over the years, both routes have been expanded and altered.

 

Source: Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce