In 1951, the Molly French Garden Club was established by women passionate about gardening and enhancing Charleston’s landscape. Having introduced azaleas to the region in the 1940s, they sought early-blooming varieties from the South with help from a respected nurseryman in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This effort marked the beginning of their ambitious gardening endeavors. Some plants thrived, while others did not.

Shortly after the club’s founding, a member proposed planting dogwoods around Charleston, leading to the first tree initiative in which 150 dogwoods were planted. By 1953, the club launched its first plant sale, offering dogwoods, azaleas, and other plants at affordable prices to encourage civic beautification.

The stunning displays of azaleas and dogwoods soon caught the attention of residents, who eagerly added these plants to their own gardens. To support them, the club provided educational materials and carefully selected hardy varieties for sale.

Over time, Charleston transformed into a picturesque town, with vibrant azaleas blooming beneath pink and white dogwood canopies each spring. Years of successful planting and beautification efforts culminated in the creation of the Dogwood-Azalea Festival, now a celebrated event showcasing Charleston’s floral splendor to visitors.