"Bellingrath Gardens" Theodore by grandmaR

Theodore is a suburb of Mobile Alabama. Prior to 1900 the area was known as Clements, but then it was named for William Theodore Hieronymous (a sawmill operator and postmaster).

The main attraction in the area is Bellingrath Gardens. I went to Bellingrath Gardens for the first time in 1960 with my parents when I was living in Pensacola. I visited them for the second time in January 2006 with my husband. Having just visited the Leu Gardens in Florida, I was disappointed in Bellingrath which was beautiful but sterile.

Planter at the gardens

The gardens include a bridal garden, a conservatory, a great lawn, a nature walk, an Oriental garden, a rose garden, a chapel, the Mermaid Pool, Mirror Lake, an observation tower, and a river pavilion where river cruises are provided on the Southern Belle and the "Kingfisher". The site was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on September 14, 1977 and on the National Register of Historic Places on October 19, 1982

Bellingrath House

The Bellingrath home was completed in 1935, encompasses 10,500 square feet and features hand-made brick salvaged in Mobile from the 1852 birthplace of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont. Ironwork was obtained from the demolished Southern Hotel (1837), also in Mobile. Since photos were not allowed inside the house, we did not visit it.