History

Landon School purchased the Perkins House and two-and-a-half acre azalea garden, adjacent to the school, in 1954. The garden was first planted by renowned World War II economist Milo Perkins and his wife Theron as a memorial to their two sons who both died before the war's end and had attended Landon School. In 1945 the Perkins began planting azaleas, pouring their energy into developing an extensive garden in their sons' memory. Mr. Perkins served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the late l930s and early l940s and his contacts there led to the planting of hundreds of new hybrids in this garden.

Rare Hybrids Inhabit Garden

The Perkins' close friendship with Ben Morrison, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, advanced their keen interest in azaleas which eventually led Mr. Perkins to co-author the Azalea Handbook, published in 1952. The Perkins deepened their azalea expertise as they planted hybrids, called Glenn Dales, developed by Mr. Morrison. Nearly 360 of the Glenn Dales flourish in the Perkins Garden, one of the largest collections on the East Coast.

The Chugai hybrids were given to the Perkins by Albert Close, a colleague of Morrison's and a chief propagator. This hybrid group had been introduced into the U.S. in 1938-1939 by the Chugai Nursery in Japan. The Perkins also acquired 41 Kurumes and 19 Southern Indian varieties. Kurumes are named for their city of origin in Japan. First displayed at the Panama Exhibition in 1915, some 50 Kurumes were selected by E.H. Wilson after a trip to Japan the following year to introduce into this country. The Southern Indian hybrid group arrived in the U.S. under the name of Belgian Incas. Unable to withstand the cold in the northern regions, they became greenhouse plants in the North. However, a collection flourished in Magnolia Gardens near Charleston, S.C. From among these a group hardy in the deep and middle South came to be known as the Southern Indian Azaleas, such as 'George L. Taber' and 'G.G. Gerbing.'

Three azaleas in the garden have close associations with the school: Landon, Landon Pride, and Princess Mary Lee (named after the school's Co-Founder Mary Lee Banfield).

Maintaining These Remarkable Gardens

Landon has been fortunate to have two wonderful and dedicated gardeners, Marlyn Heitzelman and Roger Fink. Under their care and direction, the garden has grown and evolved with the addition of new and significant plantings that provide seasonal interest all year. However, budgetary constraints make it difficult to devote funds to the garden and the Friends of the Perkins Garden, an adjunct to the Landon Azalea Garden Festival, was formed in May 1990 to raise funds which supplement that expense.

Click here to learn more about the Friends group.