Enjoying Biltmore’s Shady Pergola Posted on July 6, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Enjoying Biltmore’s shady Pergola is an ideal way to enjoy a sunny summer day. This fascinating element is an original design element for the estate’s historic gardens and grounds—let’s take a closer look at this fascinating places. Beneath the wisteria canopy of the Pergola—along the base of the South Terrace next to Biltmore House—is a shady retreat filled with history. The Pergola once served as a resting place overlooking a lawn tennis court popular with Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt and their friends. In 1919, Edith asked Chauncey Beadle, estate superintendent, to convert the original “lawn” court to a clay court; the court was later removed. Now, this space offers a cool and quiet passageway to the Shrub and Walled Gardens and a location for four marble busts nestled along the stone wall. Look carefully to discover that the quartet represents the four seasons: Spring with flowers, Summer with wheat, Fall with fruit and grapes, and Winter with wind. The Pergola itself dates back to the construction of Biltmore House. Grading and construction began in 1891 under the direction of architect Richard Sharp Smith and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. This archival photo shows the walking paths from the Pergola through the Shrub Garden and Walled Garden completed, with the Pergola underway and, in the distance, the Conservatory under construction. Limestone columns and massive wooden rafters form the structure that was originally crowned with ivy. According to Bill Alexander, retired Biltmore landscape and forest historian, Olmsted specified English ivy to be planted at the base of the columns in 1892. “This look of being ‘festooned’ with ivy was typical of Olmsted’s design intent,” Bill said. By 1895, wisteria was planted on the South Terrace and trained to grow out over the Pergola through gaps in the limestone wall created for this purpose. Nearly a century later, Biltmore’s landscape team removed the vines from the top to protect the walls from damage caused by roots, resulting in the leafy and peaceful setting enjoyed today.
Shedding New Light on Biltmore’s Butterfly Garden Posted on June 29, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux Chihuly At Biltmore Was On Display From May 17 To October 7, 2018.Please Enjoy This Archived Content. Just before the Conservatory in the historic Walled Garden is Biltmore’s Butterfly Garden. With the installation of Chihuly at Biltmore—featuring “Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds” in this space—let’s take a closer look at its history and the history of the plants within it. According to Bill Alexander, our Landscape and Forest Historian, the area now known as the Butterfly Garden was actually left blank on landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s original plans for the Walled Garden (which was then referred to as the Vegetable and Flower Garden). About 30 years ago, the Walled Garden supervisor and her crew leader at the time asked Bill about the possibility of creating a garden for butterflies in the space. It was an ideal location for such a garden. The ample amount of sunlight would provide desired warmth for the cold-blooded creatures, while the surrounding walls and exterior of the Conservatory offered the fragile beings protection from wind. Bill agreed to the request with one paramount requirement: The flowers and herbs in the Butterfly Garden must draw heavily from Olmsted’s original list of plants used in the surrounding area. Luckily enough, many of those historic plants offer bright foliage and vibrant blooms that produce nectar throughout the season—which makes them perfect for attracting butterflies. This summer, guests and butterflies alike can enjoy almost a dozen plants original to the space: – Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)– Tickseed (Coreopsis)– Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)– Willowleaf Sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius)– Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)– Alpine Poppy (Papaver alpinum)– Fountaingrass (Pennisetum)– Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)– Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)– Sage (Salvia)– Goldenrod (Solidago) Peak bloom for the Butterfly Garden is mid to late summer, when most butterflies are active. Join us and discover these beautiful historic plants in our Butterfly Garden as well as Chihuly’s unique glass sculptures that so perfectly complement the special space.
Lending A Hand For A New Arm Posted on June 29, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton At one point, Alex Irvine looked like he was popping the question to one of Biltmore’s oldest residents. Earlier this week, Alex, a ceramic artist based in Asheville, didn’t have matrimony in mind. Rather, his down-on-one-knee position at the side of Flora, a 120-year-old statue on the South Terrace of Biltmore House, was more like a healing gesture. Asheville Artist Alex Irvine shows the ceramic arm he created The missing limb Alex has been working with Kara Warren, Preventive Conservation Specialist in the Museum Services department, to re-create an arm that Flora lost decades ago. The original is no longer in Biltmore’s possession. Originally repaired in 2003 using a non-ceramic material, the resulting fix was challenging to maintain and eventually weathered. For the new repair, Alex re-created the arm in his home studio using a fired ceramic material which is expected to stand the test of time. In addition to the missing arm, he has recreated a few missing fingers and a garland that the sculpture held in her hands. Irvine works with the statue of Flora on the South Terrace of Biltmore House Who is Flora? Flora is the Roman goddess of spring who signifies blooming flowers and renewal. The ceramic sculpture is copied after the French artist Antoine Coyzevox’s sculpture Flore (“Flora”). It was offered in a catalog dating back to 1886, along with three other sculptures installed on the South Terrace around 1900. In addition to the re-creation and attachment of the missing elements, an internal structure was fabricated to support the arm and garland. Stabilization of the overall surface of the sculpture will also take place. Irvine installing the new arm on the statue of Flora Preservation for future generations This is a great example of the work we do to preserve the estate for generations to come. An added plus in this case is the chance to collaborate with the local arts community. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with a talented local artist for this treatment,” Kara saud. “Alex brings a great deal of knowledge about ceramic work with him.” Work on the statue will conclude soon. See for yourself To see the newly-repaired statue of Flora and all her companions on the South Terrace, plan your Biltmore visit today.
Restoring Our Roof: North Tower Ridge Cap Project Posted on May 14, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton In 2015, several leaks in Biltmore House made it clear the time had come for restoring our roof. We brought in Huber & Associates, a firm of historical and restoration roofing experts, to remove the original North Tower Ridge Cap from America’s Largest Home®. A worker removes a section of the original ridge cap under the watchful eye of a grotesque carving After carefully removing each section and taking it back to their Florida workshop, the team used the original pieces as models to build an all-new ridge cap for restoring our roof. This seven-month project shows our commitment to our continuing mission of preserving Biltmore. Here’s how the work unfolded: April 2015 The crew arrived at Biltmore and spent several days disassembling the North Tower Ridge Cap and preparing the pieces for travel. A member of Huber & Associates carefully removes an original section of the North Tower Ridge Cap May 2015 Three different weights of copper were discovered — 18, 20, and 24 ounce — as well as a leaf from one of the vertical panels that still had some of the original gold leaf intact! An original roof panel with George Vanderbilt’s monogram still shows traces of gold leaf About 900 individual pieces arrived in Florida, where they were inventoried and analyzed. June 2015 Scaffolding in place to access North Tower Ridge Cap restoration on roof of Biltmore House Meanwhile, work continued at Biltmore to repair any underlying leaks in the roof, and a temporary ridge cap was created to prevent further damage while the replacement was being built in Florida. August 2015 Exact reproductions of decorative copper components from the North Tower Ridge Cap The crew at Huber & Associates created separate casts for stamping, pouring, and forming new molds to replicate the original pieces. October 2015 Huber & Associates returned to install the replicated pieces of the ridge cap Huber & Associates finished their painstaking replication of the North Tower Ridge Cap and brought all the pieces (original and new) back to Biltmore for installation. The photo above shows one of the new copper sections being installed next to an original portion of the ridge cap with its distinctive green patina. November 2015 Installation of the new North Tower Ridge Cap began and the project was completed in late November. The original pieces were placed in storage. The new copper ridge cap is a reddish-brown color that looks much like it did when Biltmore House was completed in 1895. It is being allowed to acquire a natural patina over time rather than trying to match it by modern methods. A worker installs a new section of the North Tower Ridge Cap Biltmore was honored to receive the Griffin Award for Restoration—given annually by The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County for projects that accurately depict the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time—for this preservation initiative. We are grateful to our amazing employees and to Huber & Associates for all their hard work.
Getting to Know Your Glassware Posted on May 7, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Ancient origins The form and function of glassware has continually been refined throughout the centuries, making it suitable for anything from art to everyday needs such as drinking wine. The material has ancient origins and was probably first developed by the Egyptians sometime after 2000 BC. It can also occur naturally, as in the case of obsidian and basalt glass produced as a result of volcanic eruptions. Different glassware options for tasting Biltmore wines Type and shape When it comes to serving wine, the quality of the glassware and the shape of the vessel both play an important role in the tasting experience. “Wine enthusiasts have long known that the shape of the wine glass affects the taste of the wine,” said Jill Whitfield, Wine Marketing Manager for Biltmore. “It’s important to educate wine drinkers on this fact, because it can change how you experience wine from the tasting room to your own home.” A server with red and white Biltmore wines Standard glassware A standard tasting glass usually offers a slightly wider base in proportion to a narrower rim, with a stem to keep the heat of your hand from warming the wine. “This combination allows you to aerate the wine by swirling it in the bowl, but it doesn’t allow the aromas—a vital component of the tasting process—to escape too quickly,” Jill said. White WinesWhite wine glasses tend to have smaller bowls to help preserve the floral aromas typical of white wines. The smaller style also helps maintain cooler temperatures, and allows more of the aromatic qualities to be enjoyed since the wine is closer to your nose. Our Biltmore Estate Pinot Grigio is a great example of a lighter-bodied white wine that would benefit from a glass with a smaller bowl design. Full-bodied whites such as our Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay North Carolina may utilize a slightly larger bowl to showcase the smooth, creamy texture that is characteristic of the varietal. Red WinesRed wine glasses typically have larger bowls to allow some of the wine’s ethanol to burn off before it reaches your nose, allowing more aromas to be expressed. A wider opening allows the wine to flow more smoothly, which enhances the overall experience. Glasses for serving light-bodied reds such as our Vanderbilt Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River Valley are typically wider and shorter than glassware for full-bodied, heavily tannic reds that include our classic Vanderbilt Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley. Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine served in flute glasses Let it sparkle According to Jill, sparkling wines are often served in a distinctive flute with a stem. “The tall, narrow flute shape keeps the bubbles from escaping as quickly while the stem prevents the chilled wine from coming in contact with your warm hands,” said Jill. She notes that aged sparkling wines and those that are especially aromatic may benefit from a tulip glass, which resembles a flute but widens at the waist before narrowing at the rim. As for wide, shallow coupe glasses—they allow the bubbles to fly away, allowing the softer, fruiter aspects of sparkling wines to become more noticeable. Pouring Biltmore Estate Dry Rosé into glasses Glass or crystal? “Another important point to consider is the difference between glass and crystal,” Jill said. “The fine, thin texture of crystal is less interactive than glass, meaning that you’ll taste the wine and its specific characteristics more clearly, but glass is more durable and less expensive, so there are benefits to both materials.” If tasting and understanding the complexities of wine is your goal, definitely invest in the proper equipment to help you succeed. Guests enjoy a wine event in Biltmore’s vineyard “In the meantime,” said Jill, “whether you’re sipping from a plastic festival cup or the tiny crystal cordial glasses passed down through your family, we encourage you to enjoy wine in many forms!” Learn more Purchase our award-winning Biltmore wines online, at the estate, or from your local retailer.
Celebrate with Biltmore Sparkling Wines Posted on May 5, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Marissa Jamison There’s no better time to celebrate with Biltmore sparkling wines than right now! Whether you’re honoring a college graduate, seeking a wedding gift for newlyweds, or adding a bit of sparkle to an afternoon happy hour with co-workers, Biltmore has the best bubbles–handcrafted in the traditional méthode champenoise–for tasting and toasting. Uncork a bottle of Biltmore Estate sparkling wine for any occasion! Five fun facts about sparkling wine For centuries, sparkling wine has enjoyed a certain mystery and allure. It was so enchanting, in fact, that some called it “devil’s wine” due to the effervescent bubbles. Today, we still love the magical bubbles and appreciate the romance surrounding this delightful wine, and here are the fun facts to prove it: There are 90–110 pounds of pressure per square inch in a bottle of sparkling wine–that’s more than three times the pressure in car tires! Only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France can officially be called “champagne.” The grapes traditionally used in champagnes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.Dom Perignon, a Catholic monk and avid winemaker, accidentally discovered sparkling wine when some of his wine re-fermented by chance. He thought it was ruined, but the rest is history.There are an estimated 44 to 57 million bubbles in every bottle of bubbly. Celebrate any occasion, large or small, with Biltmore sparkling wines. Serving and storing sparkling wine Sparkling wine may best be known as a celebratory drink, but we believe it’s the perfect everyday wine too. Whatever the occasion, enjoy your favorite Biltmore sparkling wines with these helpful tips: Chill the bottle in the refrigerator prior to opening. The cold temperature helps preserve the bubbles when opening the bottle.Sparkling wines are best when served at 33-40 degrees.When opening a bottle of sparkling, hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle. Loosen the cage and hold the cork. Gently twist the cork until you hear a whisper of a pop.Holding a towel over the cork when opening will help catch any spills that may occur.Double-check your glasses to ensure the glass is free from detergent residue. A perfectly clear glass allows you to appreciate the bubbles.After opening, all sparkling wines begin to lose their bubbles, so it’s best to drink them as soon as possible.To store an open bottle of bubbly, you can use a special champagne topper. These metal caps with a rubber seal keep the bubbles fresh for the next time you want a glass.Most sparkling wines are sold ready to drink, so don’t hang on to bottles in an effort to further “age” the wine. For the best bubbles, be sure to chill your sparkling wine before uncorking it. An array of Biltmore sparkling wine options Biltmore Estate® Chateau Reserve Blanc de Blancs North Carolina: our finest sparkling wine, handcrafted from estate-grown Chardonnay grapes. Biltmore Estate® Blanc de Blancs: A dry sparkling wine with flavors of Bosc pear and light yeast, plus a surprisingly creamy mouthfeel.Biltmore Estate® Brut: A dry sparkling wine made from traditional champagne grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir.Biltmore Estate® Blanc de Noir: A dry sparkling wine with a light pink hue and flavors of wild strawberry and lemon.Pas de Deux® Sec: A semi-sweet sparkling wine created from fragrant Muscat Canelli grapes. Enjoy Biltmore sparkling wines during your next estate visit or savor them at home. Celebrate with Biltmore sparkling wines When you’re ready to celebrate with Biltmore sparkling wines, you can find them at estate shops and restaurants, online, or close to home with our Retail Locator.
Restoring Our Roots, One Tree at a Time Posted on April 11, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Ellie Garst When George Vanderbilt first visited Asheville, North Carolina, in 1888 and began envisioning his private estate, the wooded slopes of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains included vast numbers of American chestnut trees. Seeds from one of Biltmore’s hybrid chestnuts encased in a spiny, protective “burr” History of the American chestnut tree Known as an all-purpose tree, American chestnuts grew quickly to great size. The wood was strong and resistant to rotting, making it a prized material for foundations, fencing, and railroad ties while the edible nut was an important source of food for cattle, hogs, and wildlife. Around the turn of the 20th century, a blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) struck the American chestnut tree, effectively destroying the species as a source of food and lumber. The blight doesn’t kill the tree’s underground root system, but once an American chestnut sprouts from an existing stump, it succumbs to blight before it matures into a tree. Scaly, thickened bark on this branch shows evidence of chestnut blight Restoring our roots In 1997, Biltmore partnered with the American Chestnut Foundation (AFC) to provide a test site for hybrid chestnuts as part of the AFC’s work to restore this heritage tree. The AFC collected pollen and seeds from the estate and crossed the genetic material with blight-resistant Chinese chestnut trees. The seedlings were planted on a sunny slope near Deerpark Restaurant. “In a way, we’re restoring our roots,” said Jason Mull, Landscaping Supervisor for many of the outlying historic areas of the estate, including the Approach Road and the chestnut plantings. “This project has a natural tie to the importance Vanderbilt and Olmsted placed on landscaping and managed forestry. Jason Mull indicates one of the original hybrid chestnut trees planted at Biltmore in 1997 The project continues Jason has been involved with the chestnut project since the beginning and has now cared for several generations of trees. The test site includes a mix of American-Chinese hybrids plus full Chinese chestnuts that act as a control group. “There are only three hybrid chestnuts left from the original planting,” Jason said. “They’ve grown pretty well in the last 20 years. They do show effects from the blight, but it hasn’t killed them.” According to Jason, some of the more recent plantings carry a much higher percentage of American chestnut DNA than the originals because the hybrids have served their purpose in helping increase resistance to the blight. Students from a local charter school help plant new hybrid chestnuts at Biltmore in 2013 Planting a legacy “We’re continuing to work with the AFC to establish another planting site on the estate—preferably in the kind of wooded area that chestnuts tend to prefer,” Jason said. “If our trees continue to do well over time, that’s a wonderful legacy to leave for future generations.” Featured blog image: Jason Mull and a student from a local charter school plant a hybrid chestnut tree near Deerpark Restaurant in 2013
Instagram Takeover: Our Curator of Interpretation & “Glamour on Board” Posted on April 10, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Karina Hux In honor of our latest costume exhibition—Glamour on Board: Fashion from Titanic the Movie—we invited Leslie Klingner, Biltmore’s Curator of Interpretation, to take over our Instagram! In a series of posts shown below, she shared more information about the exhibition, including some exclusive details from our Glamour on Board Premium Guided Tour. A post shared by Biltmore (@biltmoreestate) on Apr 3, 2018 at 7:05am PDT “What a privilege it has been to create the first large-scale exhibition of the original costumes from the film #Titanic! Working directly with @20thcenturyfox, my team members and I were able to select more than fifty costumes that were worn during the production of the film. Much of the costuming had been packed away for safe storage for the last 20 years. From Kate Winslet’s iconic broad-brimmed purple hat to the handsome white tie and tails Leo wore to dinner, we marveled that they had retained so much material from the making of the movie.” A post shared by Biltmore (@biltmoreestate) on Apr 3, 2018 at 7:59am PDT “As a historian, I think it’s fascinating that the film #Titanic featured several prominent historical figures who were on board the ship. Among these were Lady Duff Gordon, a celebrated British fashion designer; mining magnate Benjamin Guggenheim; and socialite Madeline Astor. The stunning wardrobes created for each of these characters give a true reflection of what members of this sector of society would have been wearing—and insight into their individual tastes and personalities. The iridescent blue and black beaded dress designed for #LadyDuffGordon is my favorite in the film!” A post shared by Biltmore (@biltmoreestate) on Apr 3, 2018 at 8:50am PDT “Costume designer Deborah Lynn Scott and her team were scrupulous in their research into the historical fashion of the 1910s. They drew inspiration from portraits and periodicals of the time and looked closely at the work of revolutionary couturiers such as Paul Poiret. Poiret first introduced the tapered 'hobble skirt' look that Rose wore on deck. This style narrowed toward the hem and was said to allow women a greater freedom of movement by eliminating petticoats and corsets. #Poiret was a favorite designer of Edith Vanderbilt’s as well, so it’s no wonder the costumes look so at home in Biltmore House.” A post shared by Biltmore (@biltmoreestate) on Apr 3, 2018 at 10:56am PDT “Another of my favorite features of this exhibition are the mannequins’ wigs, which were custom-made to match the actor and actresses own hairstyles. Constructed of watercolor paper and curled by hand, each wig is a work of art in its own right! They also give us the perfect opportunity to show off the fanciful hats, feathered headpieces, combs, and tiaras that were the height of fashion at the time.” A post shared by Biltmore (@biltmoreestate) on Apr 3, 2018 at 12:36pm PDT “Seeing the exhibition in person reveals a level of detail in the costumes in #Titanic that can’t be fully appreciated just by watching the film. Though there are some tight shots of Rose’s red dress as she perched precariously on the edge of the ship, you would never have a true sense of its beauty or detail. Each bead on this dress was hand-applied and there are enough of them to make it quite weighty! With all of this exceptional ornamentation, the dress weighs almost ten pounds!” A post shared by Biltmore (@biltmoreestate) on Apr 3, 2018 at 12:39pm PDT Glamour on Board: Fashion from Titanic the Movie is on display in the grand rooms of Biltmore House now through May 13. Follow us on Instagram @biltmoreestate for exclusive info about #titanicatbiltmore and more!
From the Ground Up: Preparing for Chihuly at Biltmore Posted on March 20, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Chihuly at Biltmore was on display from May 17 to October 7, 2018.Please enjoy this archived content. While still in high school, Clare Cottrell discovered two important things that would help shape her future: 1) it was possible to have a career in Public Horticulture, and 2) the location of her dream job was Biltmore. Clare joined Biltmore’s landscaping team in 2007 after earning her degree in Horticulture Management at Bob Jones University. She served in a number of garden-related roles before becoming Supervisor of Gardens and Conservatory in 2017. Clare at work in the Conservatory Chihuly at Biltmore In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities supervising these areas, Clare was also involved with the preparations to host Chihuly at Biltmore—the first art exhibition in our historic gardens and the first North Carolina garden exhibition by artist Dale Chihuly whose works are included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. “The preparation for this exhibition was intense,” Clare said, “but it is wonderful to have our gardens be a focal point for guests in 2018.” Base for one of the Chihuly sculptures in the Walled Garden Planning and preparation Planning for Chihuly at Biltmore—and its special evening component Chihuly Nights at Biltmore—began nearly two years ago and includes the addition of major infrastructure in our gardens. Power and data lines had to be in place before last year’s spring tulip bulbs were planted, and in a carefully timed three-month period during fall 2016, two crews spent three months installing underground utilities. In November 2017, the foundations for Chihuly’s sculptures were installed, and some of the complimentary garden plantings were completed. Chihuly sculpture mounted on its base (shown above) in the Walled Garden “Specific types and colors of plants were planned around the sculptures and will change with the seasons,” said Clare. “Many of the botanical elements help provide a protective buffer for the artworks, such as low-growing juniper and sedges planted around the foundation of one of the large pieces in the Walled Garden.” Towering palm in the Conservatory Palm project According to Clare, some long-term garden maintenance projects had to be completed ahead of schedule to prepare for the exhibition. “Because of the sculptures that are displayed in the Conservatory, we went ahead with a major overhaul of the Palm Room,” Clare said. “There are more than 200 palms in the Conservatory, and some of them are very old. We re-potted and repositioned them to focus the view on the ends where Chihuly’s Chandeliers are installed.” Walled Garden and Conservatory at Biltmore The future looks bright Even with the demands of the extra planning and preparation, Clare is excited that the estate is hosting Chihuly at Biltmore now through October 17, and she looks forward to the future. “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to upgrade the infrastructure of the gardens, and that means we can try new ideas and events,” said Clare. Featured blog image: Clare Cottrell, Supervisor of Gardens and Conservatory
Spring is a Special Time to Honor Olmsted Posted on March 8, 2018 at 12:00 am.Written by Jean Sexton Spring is a special time to honor Frederick Law Olmsted, Biltmore’s landscape designer. A quiet spot near the Bass Pond highlights Olmsted’s landscape design When designing Biltmore’s historic gardens and grounds, Olmsted knew that spring would set the stage for all the glorious seasons to come. Today, the meticulously maintained landscape still stand as a timely tribute to Olmsted’s springtime birthday. Born April 26, 1822, Olmsted is known as “the father of American landscape architecture,” with premiere projects including Central Park in New York City and the grounds of California’s Stanford University. The Lagoon is one of Olmsted’s many landscape designs for Biltmore “There are many beautiful American parks and landscapes that reflect Olmsted’s genius,” said Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture, “but it’s the design for Biltmore that is considered Olmsted’s masterpiece.” According to Parker, Olmsted had already worked on several Vanderbilt family projects when George Vanderbilt approached him in 1888 for advice on the North Carolina property he’d already purchased. “Now I have brought you here to examine it and tell me if I have been doing anything very foolish,” Vanderbilt reportedly told Olmsted. Olmsted’s frank assessment The Approach Road to Biltmore House is lined with azaleas each spring “Olmsted was frank in his assessment, advising Vanderbilt that the soil seemed to be generally poor, with most of the good trees having been culled already,” Parker said. “He noted that the topography was unsuitable for creating the type of park scenery that characterized the English country estates that Vanderbilt admired.” Colorful spring blooms in Biltmore’s Shrub Garden Plans for both the house and landscape changed in 1889 when Vanderbilt and architect Richard Morris Hunt toured France together and the scale of Biltmore House and its surrounding gardens expanded. Olmsted wrote that he was nervous, not sure how to “merge stately architectural work with natural or naturalistic landscape work,” but Olmsted biographer Witold Rybczynki says that the landscape architect achieved something completely original at Biltmore: the first combination of French and English landscape designs. White wisteria blooming in the Walled Garden “You can see Olmsted’s creativity and skill in the transitions between Biltmore’s formal and natural gardens, and his use of native plants, small trees and large shrubs, and color and texture year-round,” said Parker. Now that Biltmore welcomes 1.7 million guests each year, the historic gardens and grounds must be protected and preserved as carefully as Biltmore House and all other original parts of the estate. Guests of all ages love discovering Biltmore’s “outdoor rooms” like the Azalea Garden “In addition to the impact of so many visitors, the landscape has changed and matured over the past century,” said Parker, “and the challenge for today’s landscaping team lies in determining what Olmsted intended.” Landscaping crews at work to carry on Olsted’s vision for Biltmore “The team uses archival resources such as early plans, original plant lists, letters of correspondence, weekly reports written during the construction of the estate, and information about Olmsted’s design philosophies to help them preserve the landscape style while remaining true to Olmsted’s vision,” Parker noted. Plan your visit this spring Prepare to be dazzled as the splendor of spring unfolds across Biltmore’s historic gardens and grounds and thousands of blossoms create a tapestry of color across the estate. Featured blog image: A couple enjoys a visit to the estate’s historic gardens and grounds