Hundreds visit Tyler Azalea Trails despite fewer blooms

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - It's the first weekend for the Azalea Trails in Tyler. Gardeners tell us one thing is missing, the azaleas.

The Pyron Garden is a center piece in the Historic Azalea District. Its where the trails kick off every year.

"A beautiful day, for beautiful flowers," one tourist said.

This year tourists are in for an unusual sight, withered Azaleas.

"Because of the weather, but they are still gorgeous," she said.

"About the first part of February we started seeing buds," said gardener Joan Pyron.

By the end of February the azaleas had already bloomed.

"We knew during that time we weren't going to have any azaleas in the azalea trail," Pyron said.

Pyron said she has been a part of the trails for more than two decades. She said she would panic when the flowers didn't bloom on time but has learned.

"Tyler knows when they are blooming and so Tyler comes," Pyron said.

She said the lack of azaleas hasn't slowed tourists from outside the city because there is still plenty to see and do.

"People will still come as you can see. The yard is full and we don't have azaleas," Pyron said.

This year the Pyron's have added an orchid house the yard to give visitors more variety.

"My husband became crazy without orchids. Every time he'd come home he'd have an orchid," Pyron said.

Azalea trail leaders said they won't know the full economic impact of the azaleas blooming early until after the trails are over. The Azalea Trails will continue through April 9th.

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