Located in Ashville, North Carolina, Biltmore was built in 1888 by American Art Collector, George Biltmore. He was a member of the famous Biltmore family who amassed a fortune through steamboats, railroads, and other business ventures. The 250-room mansion is the largest privately owned home in the United States. Biltmore hired famous landscape designer, Frederick Law Olmsted to design the 8000-acre garden that surrounds the mansion.
You can begin your garden tour at the library terrace where 100-year-old wisteria and trumpet creeper flowers add a splash of color to the surroundings. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the estate's vast acreage.
Moving on to the Italian garden, exotic water lilies, tropical plants, and koi fish provide an elegant and symmetrical example of aquatic gardening.
Winding paths lead to the 15-acre azalea garden which in the spring pops with vibrant pink and red colors.
The walled garden is the most well-known, with geometric designs of changing colors and textures, reflecting the flora of each of the four seasons. Other gardens include the rose garden, butterfly garden, and conservatory.
Admission, while a pricey $99 per person, includes entry into both the home and gardens. Hours are daily from 9-5. If you can do it, this is a place to see at least once in your lifetime.
Gardening tip: Use Epsom Salt to take care of house plants. Use 2 tablespoons per gallon of water and feed plants monthly. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. It helps seeds germinate, plants grow fuller, produce more flowers, and keeps slugs away.
Hi, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Shady and I both love to stroll through magnificent gardens of this type. In the last couple of years, we have visited the duPont Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delaware, and Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. A few years ago, we traveled through Asheville on vacation, but did not take time to tour The Biltmore Estate. We often regret that decision. As you know, portions of The Biltmore Estate suffered extensive damage last year in the widespread flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. I hope by now all of the affected buildings and grounds have been restored to their full glory.
I wish you a good month, dear friend Sherry, and please remember that I think about you every day.
Thank you, Tom. I hope you do get to visit Ashville someday. My in-laws live in Highlands. Major damage there. It took several months to reopen one of the main roads that went up the mountain.
DeleteThe admission price is astonishing. Beautiful grounds, though.
ReplyDeleteYes. Very expensive!
DeleteWe've been to Asheville so many times just never had the time to spend two days at Biltmore. (Nor did we really want to spend the money. It's even more expensive at Christmas.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know why it's so expensive. But it is amazing to see it.
DeleteWe will see it someday. $99? The price has really gone up. Funny, we saw 1000 year old Edinburgh Castle for a whole $10 25 years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt's ridiculous how much it's gone up!
DeleteBeautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteI the Epson Salt trick good with Aloe plants? Just curious.
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I looked it up. Yes, Epsom salt works with Aloe plants. Use it once a month.
DeleteA co-worker just told me about sprinkling Epsom salt around the base of trees and watering it in. I did it a couple of weeks ago. My trees are greening up and growing, but it could just be that it's spring. LOL Time will tell...
ReplyDeleteI bet it'll make a difference.
DeleteI didn't know that about epsom salts. I'll give it a try, though mostly my plants would be grateful for a consistent watering schedule.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteHi Sherry - I'm sure I've heard of Epsom Salts in aiding plants ... but have never used it. Amazing place - but $99 is a little high - I doubt I'll ever get there ...but it looks amazing - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt really is a bit steep on the price.
DeleteI would love to visit Biltmore. What a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yes, it is!
DeleteBiltmore is fabulous. We went for my dad's 80th birthday fourteen years ago. I'm glad it survived all those floods and could reopen. It's a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a treasure!
DeleteThe gardens are beautiful
ReplyDeleteSome of the prettiest I've seen.
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