Rare azalea specimen in full bloom, Charleston, SC, 1939

About this postcard

A single large azalea shrub, densely covered in pink-red blossoms, fills most of the view. A small green wooden gate and dark foliage sit beneath the mass of flowers, with slender tree trunks, pale spring growth, and a clipped lawn and path edge in the foreground. The shrub is presented as a rare specimen, the kind of spring display that drew visitors to Charleston's gardens. The sender's note describes a trip through Charleston and Florida and names Magnolia, Middleton, and Cypress Gardens as the day's destinations. Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place, both on the Ashley River near Charleston, were long-established plantation gardens known for spring azaleas, and Cypress Gardens near Moncks Corner added another stop on the same circuit. Charleston's mild coastal climate brings azaleas into flower early, and spring travelers often timed visits to catch the displays.