Encore Azalea Creator, Buddy Lee, to Host Free Azalea Clinic March 21st

Springtime in Tyler is all about Azaleas. This year the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail will feature a free azalea clinic with guest speaker Buddy Lee, nationally known plant breeder, horticulturist and creator of the world's best-selling re-blooming azalea, kicking off the event which takes place from March 21- April 6.

The clinic is set for 1:30 p.m. on Friday March 21, at the IDEA Demonstration Garden located at 420 South Rose Park Drive in Tyler. In addition to Lee, Keith Hansen, a Smith County horticulturist will also speak at the event hosted by the Tyler Azalea Trail Committee and the Texas Chapter of the Azalea Society of America.

Lee will discuss how to select azaleas, planting and care tips as well as proper placement for optimal success during "Azaleas A-Z." He will also highlight new varieties of his famous Encore Azalea, which is known for beautiful fall blooms in addition to the traditional spring.

Though Lee has been interested in azaleas and gardening since his youth, in the 1970's he began experimenting with a fall-blooming species of azalea cross breeding it with traditional azaleas to create the Encore hybrid. Fifteen years later, the Encore was introduced named for the popular phrase, "the show goes on."

For more information about the free clinic, contact the Texas Chapter ASA at 903.825.9220.