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Mountain Laurel Bloom Festival
May 15 @ 9:00 am - May 25 @ 4:00 pm
We invite you to our three weeklong festival dedicated to the beautiful blooms of the Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) at Historyland Memorial Park & Arboretum. The Mountain Laurel Bloom Festival kicks off on Wednesday May 8th and ends on Saturday May 25th. The festival is a come at your own leisure event where you can walk the woodland Grief Trail located at the park to view the plethora of blooming Mountain Laurels and ends with a guided hike of the trail on the 25th.
The Mountain Laurel Bloom Festival puts a spotlight on the important native understory shrub found throughout woodlands of the Eastern United States. The Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that is typically multi-stemmed and can easily be identified this time of year with its showy, white, bell shaped flowers with pink speckles on the inside. Like all native plants, the Mountain Laurel supports many of Virginias woodland species including being a valuable larval host to the Laurel Sphinx Moth (Sphinx kalmiae). While strikingly beautiful and beneficial to wildlife, the plant is toxic if ingested by humans, so please admire but do not touch!
During your hike, please enjoy the many other native trees, shrubs, and plants found on the trail that help facilitate a healthy ecosystem in Virginia!
This, like all events at Historyland Memorial Park & Arboretum is open to everyone and is free to enjoy during park hours (Mon-Fri 9-4, listed Saturday’s 9-4). The guided hike is on Saturday May 25th from 11 AM to 12 PM and is hosted by Historyland Arboretum Curator Matthew Amato & Historyland Family Service Counselor Emily Mitchell.
Historyland Memorial Park is located at 11227 James Madison Pkwy, King George, VA 22485 For additional information please Call (540) 775-7733 or email [email protected]