91猫先生

35 East Texas high school students to welcome visitors for Azalea and Spring Flower Trail
Published on Tuesday, 21 March 2017 16:06 – Written by EMILY GUEVARA, [email protected]

The 58th Azalea & Spring Flower Trail kicks off Friday with ribbon cutting. With the launch of the 58th Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, visitors will find more than just flowers in some East Texas yards.

Thirty-five freshman and sophomore high school girls are serving as this year’s Azalea Belles, wearing antebellum-style dresses, greeting visitors and answering questions.

These young women serve as ambassadors for the trail and are always happy to visit with guests and pose for photos in any of the beautiful gardens along the trail.

The first Azalea Belles served in 1964 when the Chamber of Commerce decided guests needed to be welcomed in true southern style, according to a news release about the event.聽 That year, two Chamber secretaries dressed in their own handmade costumes and distributed brochures to guests along the trail.

Now, girls must go through an application process, antebellum-style dress fittings, and an orientation where they learn how to answer frequently asked questions along the trail.

This year鈥檚 Azalea Belles were chosen from the following schools:

Cumberland Academy, The University of Texas at Tyler鈥檚 Innovation Academy, East Texas Christian Academy, A Beka Academy, King鈥檚 Academy, 91猫先生, Good Shepherd, Grace Community, Early College High School, Robert E. Lee High, Lindale High, Whitehouse High, and home-schools.

鈥淲e have a great group of girls this year, and we can鈥檛 wait to get them out on the trail to greet visitors,鈥� Susan Travis, Visit Tyler鈥檚 vice president of tourism and servicing, said. Ms. Travis has been in charge of the belles for the past 13 years and said the competition was tough. 鈥淭his year we had more girls apply than ever before, so these girls were the best of the best,鈥� Ms. Travis said.

The Azalea & Spring Flower Trail kicked off Friday and ends April 9. The belles participate on the weekends.