A great way to welcome spring is with a stroll through a garden in bloom, where the season’s warmer air draws the fragrance from the flowers. To many people, this sensation is sheer paradise. Evelyn Stewart thought so, too, and aptly named the five-acre formal garden she created at Chippokes the “Paradise Garden.”

Evelyn’s garden and former home, the Jones-Stewart Mansion, are part of Chippokes State Park today. Although she has passed on, her hospitality endures. Stroll through her Paradise Garden and enjoy spring’s bright colors, birdsong and exotic scents. If you're looking for a relaxing, secluded outdoor activity this season, get to know some of the signature plants that make Evelyn’s Paradise Garden unique.

Spring Starflower (Ihpeion uniflorum)

The spring starflower may be the first flower you see in bloom as you arrive at the Mansion. Its six blue or white petals and light onion-like odor are an unmistakable part of spring at Chippokes.

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

If you approach the Paradise Garden from the parking lot, you not likely to miss the gnarled old redbud tree leaning over the brick wall. This native tree has bright pink, edible flowers and is a part of the pea family.

Camellia (Camellia japonica)

These stately flowering shrubs have a long history at Chippokes. The plantation’s 19th-century owner Albert Carroll Jones had a sister named Camellia, and Evelyn Stewart cultivated many varieties. Today you'll find red, pink and white camellias blooming throughout the gardens.

Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)

Bearded irises have graced American gardens since colonial times. Their incredibly showy, heavily ruffled flowers and strong grape-like scent are easily identified along the garden’s brick paths.

Arrowwood (Viburnum carlesii)

Tucked in the far back of the garden, the arrowwood shrub is a true gem (and worth the effort to find). Also known as Korean spice viburnum, its scent from the velvety white-and-pink flowers is almost too good to be true.

Azaleas (Rhododendron simsii)

The most spectacular floral show at Chippokes is the blooming of the Paradise Garden’s azaleas. Eighty-year-old shrubs burst into mounds of vivid pink and purple blossoms. Almost like clockwork, this display tends to coincide with Easter each year.

Chippokes State Park is located at 695 Chippokes Park Rd., Surry, VA 23883. Park admission is $7 per car with no extra charge to visit the Paradise Garden. Call the park office at (757) 294-3439 or visit our website for more information.