Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Theodore, Alabama
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About twenty miles southwest of Mobile, a quiet but well-advertised beauty spot nestles in the Alabama countryside: Bellingrath Gardens and Home. It is a quiet, peaceful place that delights all the human senses. We’re so grateful we spent a day touring this 65 acre estate and the elegant home that sits in its midst.

We strolled down an elegantly landscaped, paved walkway in the heavy shade of huge magnolia trees. Azalea and holly shrubs surrounded the arrows directing us to our first stop: the Rose Garden. Over 2500 rose plants of more than 50 varieties offered us a feast of color for our eyes and noses. Circular beds were thick with blooms of white, pink, orange, red of various hues, yellow, lavender and some gorgeous specimens with mixed colors.

In the Conservatory building near-by there was a variety of more tropical plants. We saw banana trees, a mango tree, pineapple plants, orchids, an "elephant’s foot tree," and an assortment of hibiscus plants in more colors that we could ever have imagined.

Next stop was the Butterfly Garden. It is small and densely planted with flowering plants that especially attract butterflies and hummingbirds. When we stood still for a few minutes in its midst, the area looked like a moving picture of moths and butterflies darting from one bright bloom to another.

We walked past the Great Lawn on a walkway bordered by Mexican petunias, coleas, coladia, coneflowers, and other species too numerous to identify. The lawn was as smooth as an outdoor carpet – and we didn’t see a single dandelion!

Several fountains add charm to the estate with the sound of their trickling waters. Here and there are sculptures and benches where the tourist can rest while enjoying a magnificent view.

The Bellingrath Home was built in 1935 by Walter and Bessie Morse Bellingrath. He had made his fortune owning the first Coca-Cola bottling plant in the Mobile area. The Home is a 15-room, towering brick structure that stands in the middle of the gardens, near the shore of the Fowl River.

The Home and Gardens are now operated by a private foundation, the Bellingrath-Morse Foundation, which makes it available to the public for tours. The Home is furnished much as it was originally, including the extensive collection of silver, china and crystal they used for lavish entertaining. Mrs. Bellingrath also collected ceramic art pieces and many of them are on display throughout the home.

Leaving the house, we walked around Mirror Lake, crossing scenic small bridges and admiring the elegant landscaping. Our final stop was a stroll through the Oriental-American Garden. Small ponds thick with water-lilies curved around a Japanese-style tea-house and under several high-arched bridges painted Mandarin red.

Our feet welcomed our arrival back at the entrance and our stomachs were glad for a big cold drink and a little food. But our spirits were already rested and well-fed by our tour through this beautiful part of Alabama.

Ala-beautiful!