88th Azalea Trail
March 6, 7, & 8, 2026
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Visit Seven Gardens for $35
- The $35 ticket grants you access to all seven gardens and can be used over multiple days, functioning like a punch card.
FOUR PRIVATE GARDENS
Throughout the history of the Azalea Trail, select homeowners have generously offered an intimate look at their beautifully curated private home gardens. In 2026, Azalea Trail goers will be able to tour four private home gardens featuring unique, breathtaking designs. Each home garden offers an abundance of inspiration, including enticing planting combinations, creative concepts, emerging trends, and stunning floral displays. Exact location addresses will be shared on purchased ticket details and order confirmation emails.
BAYOU BEND COLLECTION & GARDENS AT 6003 MEMORIAL DRIVE
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, a branch of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is an oasis of nature and beauty located just five minutes from downtown Houston, and was one of the first homes built in the new River Oaks subdivision. Ima Hogg and her brothers, Will and Mike Hogg, chose this 14-acre site for their home in 1926. The stately John F. Staub mansion is filled with Miss Hogg’s extensive collection of American antiques and art. Bayou Bend is surrounded by natural woodlands and historical formal gardens, which have been supervised and maintained by ROGC since 1961. The gardens feature multiple varieties of azaleas and camellias, as well as dogwoods and redbuds. A highlight of the trail is the large bed at the southern entrance. This year, the bed will feature 6000 tulip bulbs (Diamond White, Olliocules, and White Proud) and 1500 daffodils (Thalia) planted by members of the ROGC. The Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center, which opened in 2010, is a LEED silver-certified building surrounded by an urban garden with native plants. Also, experience the beauty of Ima Hogg’s residence in full bloom for the Azalea Trail. Explore the historic rooms, where stunning floral arrangements are on display.
RIENZI, MFAH HOUSE MUSEUM FOR EUROPEAN DECORATIVE ARTS AND GARDENS AT 1406 KIRBY DRIVE
Situated on four acres in the heart of River Oaks, Rienzi, the former home of philanthropists Carroll Sterling Masterson and Harris Masterson III, has long been known for its fine collection of European decorative arts, including paintings, furnishings, porcelain, and extensive holdings of miniatures, and its lush gardens and woodland setting. John F. Staub designed the original house in 1952, which he called “Palladian with contemporary.” In 1971, the Mastersons commissioned Hugo Neuhaus to design the opulent ballroom addition. Rienzi was used and enjoyed by the Masterson family until 1997, when the property and its contents were given to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Ralph Ellis Gunn was entrusted with designing the landscape, which features a combination of formal gardens and native plants. Visitors will see numerous young trees planted throughout the estate, thanks to gifts from The Garden Club of Houston, ROGC, and the Sterling-Turner Foundation. Since 1998, Rienzi’s gardens have been maintained by The Garden Club of Houston. Tour the stunning estate and house, adorned with floral installations that mirror the beauty of the home’s permanent collection.
(Photos were taken during my visit to the previous Azalea Trail.)
THE FORUM OF CIVICS BUILDING AND GARDEN, ROGC’S OWN GARDEN AT 2503 WESTHEIMER ROAD
Built in 1910 and owned by the River Oaks Garden Club since 1942, the Forum of Civics building is recognized as historically significant and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Its gardens provide valuable green space in the heart of the city and are open to the public free of charge.
Initially built as a county school, the building was remodeled in 1927 by John F. Staub as headquarters for the Forum of Civics, founded by Will Hogg. One of the Forum’s projects was the citywide planting of crepe myrtles, roses, and shade trees, all donated by Will Hogg. The Hogg estate bequeathed the building to the University of Texas in 1939 with the stipulation that it continue to be used for educational purposes. When the River Oaks Garden Club purchased the Forum of Civics building, the UT Board of Regents stipulated that the Club “carry on the educational work directed primarily to stimulating knowledge and love of gardening, aiding in the protection of native plants and birds, and encouraging civic planting and planning.”
- No valet parking; no transportation between properties
- Limited wheelchair access; strollers are not recommended
- Children under 14 are free
- No pets and smoking are prohibited at all locations
- Admission is free at The Forum of Civics
- Restrooms are available at Bayou Bend and Rienzi
- The $35 ticket grants you access to all seven gardens and can be used over multiple days, functioning like a punch card.
- No discounts for large groups
Spring has finally arrived in Houston — and with it, the azaleas in full bloom.
Two years ago, as I walked through the 87th Azalea Trail, I found myself surrounded by waves of white, pink, red, and purple blossoms swaying gently in the breeze. The carefully curated private gardens, the elegant homes, and the layered floral landscapes felt like stepping into a living painting.
I still remember slowing down beneath an archway of blooming azaleas, breathing in the soft fragrance while my children wandered nearby, stopping to admire petals up close. In that moment, time felt softer. The white felt serene, the pink tender, the red vibrant, the purple almost mysterious — each color carrying its own quiet energy of spring.
Azaleas, members of the rhododendron family, thrive in Houston’s mild climate and acidic soil. They bloom briefly each spring — often for just a few vibrant weeks — which makes their arrival feel even more precious. In many cultures, azaleas symbolize femininity, renewal, and the quiet strength of home — a reminder that beauty can be both delicate and resilient.
For me, Azalea Trail is more than a garden walk. It’s a gentle reminder to pause, to notice beauty, and to celebrate renewal — not only in nature, but in ourselves.
As the 88th Azalea Trail approaches, I’m already looking forward to stepping back into that sea of blossoms — and sharing that spring magic once again.
Garden Tour Locations:
3985 Inverness Drive
Houston, TX 77019
1620 River Oaks Blvd
Houston, TX 77019
2960 Lazy Lane Blvd
Houston, TX 77019
3781 Willowick Road
Houston, TX 77019
The Forum of Civics
2503 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77098
Bayou Bend and Collection And Gardens
6003 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77007
Rienzi
1406 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77019
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