SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WJAR) — Kinney Azalea Gardens in Kingston is once again in bloom this spring, with flowers in all sorts of vibrant colors to make additional appearances during the summer.
Since 1956, guests have been greeted to an assortment of flowers, plants, and trees.
The owners, Betty and Tony Faella, said they love welcoming “loads and loads of people” to explore six acres of the property during daylight hours.
“We allow people to park in the backyard and they come all year-round,” Betty told NBC 10 News during a tour of the property.
“People come in here with a picnic lunch,” Tony, a World War II veteran, added. “Some people come here, and they get married.”
Kinney Azalea Gardens in Kingston is once again in bloom this spring, with flowers in all sorts of vibrant colors to make additional appearances during the summer. (WJAR)
The couple has been married since 1951 and briefly lived in Connecticut before settling in Rhode Island.
Betty’s father, Lorenzo Kinney Jr., established the gardens four years later at his home at 2391 Kingston Road.
Betty grew up there and said her dad was a leader for 4-H Clubs in Rhode Island and spent most of his time raising azaleas when he retired.
“They told him azaleas wouldn’t grow this far north,” Betty said.
But she said he proved everyone wrong.
“He kept the azaleas in the house during the first winter with cuttings, and then he planted them all among the evergreens for a couple years until the stems were about the size of your finger,” Betty said. “Then, they could stand the cold. They did not have azaleas in this part of the country before that. There were a couple of native varieties.”
So, why azaleas?
Kinney Azalea Gardens in Kingston is once again in bloom this spring, with flowers in all sorts of vibrant colors to make additional appearances during the summer. (WJAR)
Betty said her father visited the east coast, where he met her mother, Elizabeth, who adored azaleas. The two were married and after coming back to Kingston, he began visiting gardens, nurseries, and hybridizers, and collected newly introduced species and hybrids to create his not-so-secret garden.
During that time, Betty and Tony each has jobs as educators. But they had every summer off tp spend freely.
“We were homes summers and we would help in the gardens,” Tony said. “We’d help with the lawn, dig, plant, whatever.”
Sadly, Kinney passed away in 1994.
But Betty and Tony have been operating the gardens ever since. Dr. Sue Gordon serves as the general manager.
Betty said Gordon, who has a Ph. D in plant sciences and horticulture, has been working there for more than 40 years.
“She came here when she was in high school, went to college and got a doctorate in plant science and has been running it ever since,” Betty said. “She worked with my father as long as he was living and still manages it. She is in charge.”
Gordon said it’s an amazing place to work, as well as visit.
“I love being outside and growing beautiful plants,” Gordon said, adding that it’s inspiring to see people in awe of the flowers.
Aside from the lush history, the gardens offer “thousands and thousands” of flowers and plants for viewing, including more than 500 varieties of azaleas, plus rhododendron, wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and evergreens.
Kinney Azalea Gardens in Kingston is once again in bloom this spring, with flowers in all sorts of vibrant colors to make additional appearances during the summer. (WJAR)
Take a stroll along several small paths and observe the “carefully planned” vistas.
Find the white dogwood tree on Dogwood Trail, enjoy wildflowers in Wildflower Walk, or look for the “pixie” along Pixie Path.
There is also the Troll Bridge, as well as Jungle Trail, which offers bamboo and “unusual plants.”
Kinney Azalea Gardens in Kingston is once again in bloom this spring, with flowers in all sorts of vibrant colors to make additional appearances during the summer. (WJAR)
Betty said visitors especially enjoy the Moon Gate, a circular rock sculpture that was built for Tony’s 75th birthday more than 20 years ago.
“They stand in the Moon Gate and have their picture taken,” Betty said of guests.
While the gardens are in all their majesty in May, flowers will still blossom through the warmer months.
“In the middle of May, there are colors all over,” she said. “It’s really spectacular.” But it’s always pretty. The paths are all pretty and the Moon Gate is also pretty.”
The owners of Kinney Azalea Gardens, Betty and Tony Faella, said they love welcoming “loads and loads of people” to explore six acres of the property in Kingston during daylight hours. (WJAR)
Tony agreed. He said some people have visited during winter months with snow on the ground.
“We’ve had people here cross-country skiing,” he said. “They bring their skis and their snow shoes and go all around.”
There is not an admission fee, but a donation box sits at the entrance.
“We do ask people to wear a mask,” Tony said. “That’s about it.”
Kinney Azalea Gardens in Kingston is once again in bloom this spring, with flowers in all sorts of vibrant colors to make additional appearances during the summer. (WJAR)
Comments are closed.