County officials and local groups hold azalea planting event at Airlie Gardens

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - County officials and local groups kicked off Plant an Azalea Week with an official planting on Tuesday, April 4 at Airlie Gardens.

The planting began at 10 a.m. in support of the Airlie Gardens’ continued efforts to maintain and enhance its azalea collection, according to an announcement by the county.

New Hanover County Parks and Gardens and the Parks Conservancy of New Hanover County partnered with the Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc.’s Civic Improvements Committee to hold the event. County officials, parks staff and members of the Cape Fear Garden Club planted the azalea.

“We got hit with a lot of storms every hurricane season, and so while the azaleas could have lasted through the storm, some trees fell on them and damaged them. So that’s why we are always continuously planting to keep our azalea collection healthy and available for generations,” said Janine Powell with NHC Parks and Gardens.

The annual Plant an Azalea Week celebration is an effort by the Parks Conservancy of NHC and the county to promote the planting of azaleas throughout the community to return the Wilmington area to a “city of a million azaleas.”

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