Azaleas near PEAK BLOOM at Callaway Gardens

The 2014 azalea blooms are nearing their PEAK at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. If you hope to see them, this weekend is the time!

Here's a video invite from Edward Callaway:




To learn more about Callaway Gardens, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/callawaygardens1 or www.callawaygardens.com.

Callaway Gardens blooms should be spectacular in one week

Callaway Gardens

The cherry trees are in bloom and other plants and shrubs are showing nice color at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Noted meteorologist Kurt Schmitz was at the gardens today and reported that the azaleas are coming in a little slow this year, but should be really nice in about one week. Mid-April should be quite spectacular.

Callaway Gardens

Located on the beautiful rolling hills at Pine Mountain between Atlanta and Columbus, Callaway Gardens is one of the nation's most beautiful places. They were conceived by Cason J. Callaway in 1930. He discovered a rare native azalea growing in an area of worked-over farmland that year. With his wife, Virginia Callaway, bought the site and launched an ambitious project to create one of the world's most scenic gardens.

A labor of love for nearly 75 years, Callaway Gardens has achieved the dream of its founders. The scenery is spectacular and hundreds of thousands of people visit each year.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/callawaygardens1.

Fantasy in Lights underway at Callaway Gardens



Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
Photo Courtesy of Callaway Gardens

The South's premier festival of Christmas lights is now underway at Callaway Gardens.

Fantasy in Lights features more than 8 million lights. That's enough to light up 26,666 six-foot Christmas trees. Stretched end to end, the lights would reach from Callaway Gardens all the way to Baltimore, Maryland (731 miles).

The drive through the extravaganza is seven miles long and can be done either in your own vehicle or on special Jolley Trolleys which feature singing and other holiday fun.

Enchanted Forest Display
Photo Courtesy of Callaway Gardens

Many of the lighting displays are animated and two are operated by Broadway-like control systems. They feature music and quite spectacular light shows with themes that include March of the Toy Soldiers, Magical Christmas Gardens, Firefly Cove, Twelve Days of Christmas, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Santa's Workship and more.

In addition, an impressive 10-minute light show at Robin Lake Beach tells the Nativity Story with orchestrated lights and a moving narration.

The light tours begin and end at Callaway's special Christmas Village, a heated 22,000 square foot area of holiday cheer that offers shopping, food and entertainment.

This year's Fantasy in Lights opened on November 18th and will be open nightly through December 30th. Please click here to view pricing information, etc., for this year's event.

To learn more about Callaway Gardens and Fantasy in Lights, please visit their official website: http://www.callawaygardens.com/gardens/events/winter-fantasy-in-lights.aspx

Other points of interest in the area include:

• Warm Springs, Georgia
• Little White House Historic Site
• Dowdell's Knob
• Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
• Red Oak Covered Bridge

Warm Springs Area Historic Sites

Spring is a phenomenal time to visit the historic West Georgia community of Warm Springs. The dogwoods, azaleas and other natural plants are in bloom and comfortable temperatures have returned, making the easy drive from nearby Atlanta or Columbus well worth the time.

Located just off the northern slope of Pine Mountain, Warm Springs is rich in both natural and cultural history. The community is a popular gateway to nearby Callaway Gardens, one of the finest outdoor attractions in the South, Warm Springs is also known for its unique old downtown area, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Little White House and an array of other sites associated with the man who guided America through the Great Depression and World War II.

A beautifully revitalized historic community, Warm Springs is centered around the site of the train station from which President Roosevelt's body was taken in 1945 after he died at the Little White House. A monument marks the train station site and visitors can tour many other sites associated with Roosevelt, including the restored warm water pools that once attracted him to Warm Springs in hope of finding help for the disabling results of his battle with polio. The Little White House is open to the public daily and the nearby Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park includes numerous other areas associated with the late president.

In addition, the scenery of Pine Mountain is just spectacular. Historic Dowdell's Knob offers stunning views of the valley below and trails lead to small waterfalls, rock formations and other unique settings.

To learn more about the Warm Springs area, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/warmsprings.