Dogwood-Azalea Festival

Check back from time to time for information about the 59th annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival! Voted one of America’s BEST Spring Flower Festivals! In 1951, the Molly French Garden Club was established by women passionate about gardening and enhancing Charleston’s landscape. Having introduced azaleas to the region in the 1940s, they sought early-blooming varieties from the South with help from a respected nurseryman in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This effort marked the beginning of their ambitious gardening endeavors. Some plants thrived, while others did not. Shortly after the club’s founding, a member proposed planting dogwoods around Charleston, leading to the first tree initiative in which 150 dogwoods were planted. By 1953, the club launched its first plant sale, offering dogwoods, azaleas, and other plants at affordable prices to encourage civic beautification. The stunning displays...