Busting Out All Over?
 

Hi,<BR><BR>We are planning a trip to South Carolina and Savannah (GA) sometime this April or May. Please tell me when is the best time to go there to see the flowers in bloom?<BR><BR>Thanks

Sorry. I meant to say Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. <BR><BR>

Gloriously, it's a matter of which flowers you want to see! We start with cherries, dogwoods, etc., move on to azaleas, then (I believe) magnolias.... And of course, Savannah will be a tad earlier in the pageant than Charleson. If you aim somewhere toward latter April, you'll probably do well, but you can't go wrong any time -- and of course, the weather can shift things around by as much as 2 weeks or more, so planning it too tightly isn't any guarantee.

Aren't you a bit confused? I thought it was June that was busting out all over. I think you're going too early.

OK, I tried to be witty and now I realize that people may think I'm serious. Although June is busting out all over in Maine (ala Carousel), April should be the best time in the cities you're talking about. You're just going to have to find another song to sing.<BR><BR>

Think I've posted on these previously, but plan around the first two weeks of April for both Savannah and Charleston. The Hidden Gardens of Savannah tour, sponsored by the The Garden Club of Savannah, is April 12-13, and the annual walking tour of Charleston private homes & gardens is the same weekend. It's tricky to predict when peak blooming season will appear, esp. with the warm weather we've had, but think these two events may help in planning your trip.

chris:<BR><BR>I remember a friend of mine visiting her sister in NC in March and she told me everything was in bloom as compared to PA where we have to wait until the end of April to beginning of May. In Feb., the temps usually start getting into the 70s already.

I went to Charleston and Savannah the first week of April 2001 and the azaelas, camelias were almost gone by. If I had gone a week or so earlier I would have seen them at their peak. I still got to see quite a few in bloom, but not as many as I might have. However, each year is different, depending on temperatures.

Will be in Charleston April 4-8 for the Festival of Houses & Gardens. It runs mid March - mid April. Info at www.historiccharleston.org or 843-722-3405. Don't think they would be having a garden tour if not a peak time for blooming. Make room reservations early as that same week-end is the Cooper River/Bridge Run that draws thousands.

Third week of March for Savannah's peak. The masses of azaleas in the squares and Forsyth Park are awesome.

I'm sure I'm not the only guy who saw the title of this thread and opened it hoping to find a racy story. Boy, what a let down.

Dan, I was the first respondant, and my message was deleted. But then I realized I was on the wrong topic, too.