Ring in Spring with Biltmore’s Festival of Flowers

Time to mark your calendar for Biltmore's 27th annual Festival of Flowers beginning April 7 and continuing through May 20. Watch Biltmore spring to life with colorful flowers and gardens, live music and activities, and fascinating programs.  

The first burst of spring color will come in April with more than 100,000 tulips in hues of red, pink, yellow, orange, purple and white. An expansive bed of tulips will welcome you at the estate entrance and a colorful display in the Walled Garden will reawaken Biltmore’s gardens.
Mid-festival, the flower show continues with poppies, pansies, snapdragons and acres of azaleas. Roses in the estate’s historic rose garden, native mountain laurels, and vertical gardens of succulents continue long into summer. Cascades of native and exotic blooms grow in natural gardens and along walking trails throughout the growing season.

Biltmore’s gardening experts will also be on hand to lend tips, tricks and techniques. Weekend “Ask a Gardener” stations in the Walled Garden allow you to talk with Biltmore’s horticulture experts. Daily seminars will be held in A Gardener’s Place at the Conservatory on the following topics: “Houseplant Know-How,” 1 p.m.; “Wreaths: Spring Blossoms All Around,” 2 p.m.; and “Asian Inspired Arranging,” 3 p.m.

So pack your bags and head to Biltmore for an amazing spring extravagana! For all the details, check out Biltmore's website at http://www.biltmore.com.


-Stacey
Garden Media Group
@StaceyGMG

Fall Foliage at Biltmore

Fall is my favorite season by far. The air is getting cooler, the leaves are still changing color and pumpkin lattes are in every coffee shop.

To celebrate fall, I thought I would share some amazing pictures from Biltmore Estate. Fall colors are at their peak in Asheville now through the end of this month and into the first week of November.

According to Parker Andes, Biltmore's Director of Horticulture, you can see the oranges and reds of the Maples, the bright yellow Hickory trees, Birches and Beeches and the maroon leaves hanging on the Sourwoods and Sweetgums. And with all the different tree species and varieties in Asheville, if one tree looks finished, you can just walk or drive around the corner to see one that is in its full glory. (See pics below.)

There is still time to see this spectacular display of color at Biltmore, so plan your visit today at www.biltmore.com! I know you won't regret it!

-Stacey
GMG

   

Biltmore WOWs This Mother Daughter Duo

WOW! That would be enough said about our mother daughter retreat to Biltmore. It was an amazing experience each and every hour.

From the moment we arrived and entered the main gate, Katie and I felt so welcomed, so enchanted and so amazed by the grandeur, the contagious hospitality and the sheer beauty of the landscape.

George Vanderbilt wanted his guests to relax and leave the stress of the big cities behind, and that's exactly what we did. That gracious feeling is one of his legacies today. When I say contagious hospitality, I mean just that. Everyone is so warm and friendly it is catching. Everyone from doormen to bus drivers to housekeeping goes beyond gracious in their efforts to make your visit genuinely perfect.

We started with the wine tasting at Antler Hill Village and Winery, which used to be a dairy barn. We sipped white, rose, red - and even a Festival of Flowers wine and enjoyed every glass.

The next day we spent the morning touring the gardens and strolling the woodland paths. Designing George Vanderbilt's 120,000 acre Biltmore Estate near Asheville, NC was Fredrick Law Olmsted's last project. Olmsted wanted the grounds to feel like a park, to allow guests to be surprised around every corner and to see flowers, trees and shrubs they'd never seen before. He also wanted guests to think they were further South than they actually were so he planted lots of semi-tropical plants, grasses, bamboo and vines. The landscaping often takes a backseat to the castle, but for us, it was the highlight.


Well, almost. The highlight was getting a behind the scenes tour with Parker Andes, director of horticulture, who gave us a look at Olmsted's original plans for the Approach Road and explained to us Olmsted's "design intent" and how they are interpreting it for today's guests.

The original landscape design, as requested by Mr. Vanderbilt, was to draw the guests into the quiet solitude of nature and get them to relax unconsciously as they road in their carriages from the train station to the house. Mr. Vanderbilt requested that the drive take an hour so his guests could unwind from the journey and be in the right frame of mind for seeing the house for the first time.

Site paths were meticulously planned to delight and surprise guests as they traveled 5 MPH in horse drawn carriages up the three mile Approach Road. Switchbacks increased excitement and anticipation for seeing the house. There was even a rest stop for refreshments for both the two and four legged visitors.

Today, guests travel in coaches and cars and have a slightly different perspective on the landscape. Parker's challenge is to restore the Approach Road so guests traveling at 15 MPH can enjoy the same experience as a century ago - but a little faster. This means wider sight paths, ponds sculpted for more frontage and waterfalls angled slightly more toward the road are just a few examples of how Parker and his team are sustaining the Olmsted legacy.

A special thanks to LeeAnn Donnelly, Biltmore public relations, for making our stay extra special. The Biltmore Signature massages she arranged for us was out of this world!

If you've never visited Biltmore, you must put it on your bucket list. Both Olmsted and the celebrated architect Richard Morris Hunt, who modeled the house on three châteaux built in 16th-century France, considered Biltmore their most outstanding projects.

And Katie and I would agree.

But be careful. You may catch a little Vanderbilt graciousness.

Suzi, Garden Media Group

Tiffany Comes to Biltmore This Summer

Have you ever seen a dragonfly with a 40-foot wingspan? How about one made entirely out of beautiful blossoms?

What, you haven’t? Well, either have I, but I will this summer when I take a family trip down to Asheville, NC to see Biltmore's Estate new Tiffany exhibition, which will celebrate the creativity and designs of

Louis Comfort Tiffany.

From fountains to walled gardens, the entire Biltmore Estate is going to be transformed into a living work of art. Most stunning and amazing are the “stained-glass” gardens inspired by Tiffany botanicals and dragonflies, a 6’ X 24’ “living” Tiffany-style lamp in the Winter Garden and a “living” stained-glass wall of plants and flowers. All this and 45 stunning Tiffany stained-glass lamps (see above) in an array of colors, shapes and sizes.

The exhibition, which is included in your estate admission, runs from July 1 – October 23 with estate-wide events planned for the whole family, including glass-blowing and stained glass demonstration and live music. Plus, the Biltmore gift shop will feature an array of Tiffany books and gifts.

Come see why Biltmore is the place to be this summer!

-Stacey

GMG

Garden Goods Prize Pack

Friends! The Garden Media Group has 3 wonderful garden gift packs to give away to our loyal readers, friends and followers! In 50 words or less leave a comment on this blog about why the special man in your life deserves our GMG Prize Pack.

This prize pack includes:

• Spot Gone! The natural, organic way to remove urine spots on your lawn! Keep the dog, lose the spots!



• Centurion loppers to clean up your space



• JAZ rose spray concentrate - a natural way to promote vigorous roots, shoots and blooms!



• The Biltmore Nursery - A Botanical Legacy by Bill Alexander. The history of the Biltmore Nursery and a complete 1912 Biltmore Nursery catalog.
  

Leave your comment below before June 9 - and you could be one of 3 lucky winners! Winners will be announced on June 10.

On a side note - I am getting ready for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers conference in Cleveland June 13-17. I will be tweeting, facebooking and blogging throughout the week. :) Kathleen at GMG

Royal buzz in U.K BUT we have our own "castle" too!

Ok. I'll admit it. I'm kinda caught up in the hoopla surrounding the Royal wedding of the century between William and Kate. Reporters and pundits have swooped upon London and are babbling in giddy non-stop marathons about the "Royals" and of course, slipping in noted attractions like Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Cathedral.

Well, they got me. The other day while I was sipping my morning Joe and surfing channels I landed on a morning news/talk show and bam! there it was... Buckingham Castle in all it's splendor.

The reporters shepherded the viewers for a mini tour of sound bites and quick shots of gilded this and that and the Royal "apartments." Yes, it is spectacular.

But did you know that right here in the USA we have a fabulous "castle" too?

Yep- in N.C. there's the Biltmore House, that includes the amazing former home of George and Edith Vanderbilt and the gorgeous gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (father of American landscape architecture.)

With acres of woods, walking trails, a winery, sustainable farm, and a "castle" filled with antiques, art and collections from the Vanderbilt travels abroad, this destination attraction gives Buckingham Palace a run for the money! Or should I say- ahem, "pound"?

Right now the famous Festival of Flowers is in full swing. Along with thousands of flowers, brilliant azaleas and flowering shrubs and trees, and woods that are home to ancient species, there's the centerpiece...the mansion that looks like Sleeping Beauty's castle.

Whether you're a lover of gardens and art or want to explore the sumptuous Biltmore House and feel like a prince or princess for a day, Biltmore Estate is a place to see.

The only little suggestion I have is adding a moat and drawbridge... and a few Knights in Shining armor would be a nice touch.) Just sayin'...
~Lynne
GMG
Buckingham Palace photo credit Wikipedia

Historic Biltmore Estate Featured in Inc. Magazine

When I started planning a little mother-daughter get away before Katie's wedding, I knew we wanted to go to someplace luxurious where we'd be pampered, but we also wanted to hike, practice yoga, and spend time outdoors. When I discovered Katie had always wanted to go to the Biltmore, our new client, it was a no-brainer.

Inc. Magazine, one of my favorite reads, recently listed Biltmore House and Gardens as one of six great historic sites to visit. Inc. says that "if you're looking for a new venture, maybe it's time to brush up on your history."

This lush family-run estate is locate in Asheville, North Carolina, and situated next to The Pisgah National Forest, a half million acre forest in the Great Smoky Mountains created when George Vanderbilt, the grandson of railroad baron, Cornelius Vanderbilt, assembled property around his growing estate.

He hired the founding father of American landscape architecture—Frederick Law Olmsted—to design the grounds. Olmsted's vision for Biltmore included a small pleasure ground and garden, a major arboretum and nursery, and a systematically managed forest, the first in the country.

George and Edith Vanderbilt built the 250-room manor as their private residence in 1898. In 1930, his enterprising daughter Cornelia Cecil opened up the sprawling 125,000-acre estate for limited tours.

Today, Biltmore hosts more than one million visitors annually and employs almost 2,000 people, one of the largest employers in Buncombe County. It features gardens, a winery, shopping, and dining - even horseback riding, fly fishing and segway-ing. Biltmore welcomes visitors from all ages and regions.

LeeAnn Donnelly, a spokesperson for the Biltmore Estate, says historical tourism is a sound market: "I can say that, in general, smaller regional attractions have tended to do better as people have opted for less expensive, closer to home vacations, or 'staycations.'"

Check out Inc for other exciting and profitable historical sites around the nation.

See you at Biltmore in May! Suzi, Garden Media Group

A toast fit for every season!

Now that Spring's arrived it's the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy cool events. A particular favorite with many are wine festivals and visits to wineries.

For those of you who have yet to experience the sheer pleasure and allure surrounding wine and wine-making, I highly recommend a visit this spring to an event near you.

Here in PA , the Chaddsford Winery is Pennsylvania's largest and most acclaimed winery. The tasting rooms and barrel aging cellars and superb wines are a treat to experience, along with the rolling green hills of Chester County, PA.

For those of you who plan to visit the gracious south and especially North Carolina, definitely head to Biltmore's Winery in Asheville, N.C. It's America's most visited winery with over 1 million visitors enjoying the fruit of the vines. Biltmore's award-winning Estate Wines with original artwork on their labels, along with tours of the winery, wine-tasting and more is well-worth the visit! Sip and savor white, red, rose and sparkling wines and linger over new introductions.

Best yet, for the second year, Biltmore is holding a wine label design contest for their Commemorative Christmas wine. Submit your original design, photo or piece of artwork by the May 1st deadline for a chance to win terrific prizes!

Just think... you can make history and enjoy some amazing wines in Biltmore Estate's enchanted gardens this spring.

Cheers!

~Lynne

GMG

Hop into spring at Biltmore!

Spring is nature showing-off her colors and filling the air with perfumed scents. This year, hop into Spring and get close to Mother Nature at Biltmore for inspiration and entertainment for the whole family.

Biltmore has it all: an incredible estate with over 8000 acres, amazing gardens, rare trees, walking trails, an award-winning rose garden, ornamentals, a winery, music and art, and entertainment for everyone- young and old alike.

We're counting down the days for the annual Festival of Flowers that starts April 2nd until May 15th. With daily live music in the Conservatory and Winter Garden, over 100,000 tulips and floral displays, and the spectacular Biltmore House, it's a sensory treat!

And don't forget the kids! You can enjoy the Festival of Flowers and take the kids for Biltmore's annual Easter Egg Hunt (runs throughout the day) on April 24th, with music, magic shows, games, stories and more!

Plus, there are activities at Antler Hill Village with music at the Barn, and a Grape Stomp at the Winery. (now that's something I just gotta' see!)

Definitely pencil this one in on your calendar. And hop into Spring with joyful abandon!

Lynne, GMG

A Gardener's Paradise!

If you love gardens, get ready for a sensory experience that will knock your socks off!

Biltmore's 26th annual Festival of Flowers, in Asheville, N.C. is the place to be this spring.

It's a garden lover's paradise filled with opportunities to drink in heavenly horticultural beauty.

From April 2nd-May 15th, over 100,000 eye-popping tulips across the estate and floral displays as the entrance and Walled Garden will dazzle! Plus, thousands of tulips and daffodils and hundreds of ornamental allium are displayed at the Walled Garden.

From display tables, Ask a Gardener, and daily seminars on culinary herbs and edible flowers, there's always something fresh to learn and discover.

The Festival's floral theme is 'Flowers from Around the World', inspired by George Vanderbilt's world travels to such exotic locales as Egypt, India, Russia, Asia and Europe. Bold, rich floral colors evoke mysterious lands that continue throughout the Biltmore House and Conservatory.

Keeping with the travel theme, the Winter Garden will contain a compass made of potted plants that surround the center fountain. Even the Conservatory is dressed up with old trunks and luggage.

If this isn't enough, the estate-wide event features daily live music (for every taste), activities for kids, talented artisans, a winery, and Art Show, and of course, the not-to-be-missed Biltmore House!

So get ready to enjoy a little piece of Heaven this spring and rejuvenate your senses at Biltmore's Festival of Flowers. Let us know what swept you away!

Lynne

GMG