Back in April I finally got to photograph the Wilmington azaleas!! Our first spring in North Carolina I drove up to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC on the same weekend as the North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington, so I missed out. The festival was then cancelled in 2020, thanks to the pandemic. Although it was back on track this year, we decided to go visit the Airlie Gardens instead. This was definitely the perfect time to visit, while the temperature was still mild.
If you’ve driven around coastal North Carolina in the spring you know the azaleas are everywhere! So I was incredibly happy to finally get to photograph these beauties and a few other flowers. Check out this webpage with some info on why the azalea is so loved in the area.
Let me just say that Airlie Gardens took our breath away and we could not believe how big it was!! It is actually a 67-acre haven in the middle of Wilmington. It was started in 1886 as a private garden for the Pembroke Jones family and subsequently named after their family home in Scotland. In 1999, it purchased by New Hanover County. The garden is also home to a 500 year old southern live oak tree!
Not only were the azaleas in bloom when we visited, but also the camellias. There were also some leftover tulips and a few early hydrangeas. My favorite thing (besides the azaleas) was the Spanish moss draping from all the trees!! And without further ado… here are 100+ flower photos because the Airlie Gardens was my heaven and I could not contain myself!
^^ It’s seriously so hard to edit photos of pink flowers!! ^^ 
Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403
Hours: 9AM-5PM Daily
Before your visit you can check what flowers are in bloom at the bottom of this page!
Tickets:
General Admission – $9
Military (ID Required) – $5
Children (4-12) – $3
Children (0-3) – FREE
Tickets must be purchased online in advance!
If you’re PCSing to the Camp Lejeune / MCAS Cherry Point area, or simply planning a visit, make sure you check out the rest of my North Carolina blogposts!!
