![]() “I once heard someone say that you could have the biggest mansion or the tiniest shack, but when the azaleas are blooming, everything is just gorgeous,” he says. Wherever Encore Azaleas are planted, the goal of the company is not much different from Lee’s own: to leave the world a bit more beautiful than before. “They’re very forgiving,” Lee promises, “and they’ll last a long, long time if you take proper care from the beginning.” He advises planting them shallowly, incorporating acidic materials like pine bark mulch, and avoiding overfertilizing. Thriving equally in sunlight and partial shade, the blooms are easy to care for, meaning new and seasoned gardeners alike can find success. In addition to their rainbow of hues (thirty-three color options, to be exact), the flowers are more sun tolerant than other azalea varieties. Come summer, the azalea’s “second act” begins as new buds start to bloom, resulting in full, bright flowers all through the fall. Each year, their dazzling cycle begins in spring, when the season’s first flowers appear. Today, Encore Azaleas are the best-selling plants of their kind. By the early eighties, Lee had built a successful nursery in Independence, Louisiana, focused on the region’s native flora, and of course, azaleas. “I was collecting seedlings before I entered grade school, always asking questions.” The passion stayed with him-after working part-time in nurseries throughout high school and college, he eventually left a job in the medical field to pursue horticulture as a full-time career. Royalty was voted Azalea of the Year by the American Rhododendron Society. Autumn Royalty is a robust, upright variety with deep green foliage and large, rich purple blooms. “I’ve always been interested in plants,” he says. Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea offers vibrant year-round color to any garden. “Buddy” Lee was drawn to the natural world from a young age. Growing up in a farming family, Robert E. It all began in Folsom, Louisiana, a rural village north of New Orleans. Like all good things, however, azalea season has always come to an end-until Encore Azalea came along, that is. ![]() ![]() The striking blooms are synonymous with spring, creating a lush backdrop for the South’s most agreeable months. While dogwoods, zinnias, and wisteria certainly spark enchantment, Southerners have a soft spot for azaleas, the spring-blooming flowers known for candy-colored petals of pink, purple, and red. While each Southern season brings its own rich foliage, spring is when the region’s storied gardens truly shine, their soft pastels and vibrant greens painting the landscape. ![]()
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