Spring flowers — especially azaleas — are the stars of the 57th annual garden tour sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club. It’ll be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 9, 10 and 11, 2010, at various gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina, as part of the annual Azalea Festival (which includes so much more than just those gorgeous flowers and runs April 7-10, 2010).

“Southern Gardens for Afternoon Tea” is the theme for this year’s event, and each of the 12 gardens featured will include their own version of afternoon tea. The gardens showcase a variety of styles including historic formal designs, a contemporary landscape, child friendly gardens and coastal settings with views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Azalea Belles welcome visitors in each garden during the tour, which is self-guided. Garden Tour tickets come with a map of Wilmington and the gardens and may be used anytime during the three-day tour.