Experience the thrill of The Hunt

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We are honored to announce the release of our newest wine—The Hunt. Inspired by the celebration of feasts based on estate hunts, this wine is a robust, Bordeaux-style red blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Merlot, handcrafted using grapes from our growing partners in Sonoma County.

Winemaker's notes

According to winemaker Bernard Delille, The Hunt has been aged for about 18 months in French and American oak barrels. “The intensely dark, black cherry color shows its rich layers, while its nose expresses black cherry, blackberry, and raspberry, with notes of vanilla, oak, and chocolate,” said Bernard.
 
“We have worked hard to attain a nicely balanced wine with velvety, mouth-coating tannins that linger softly. The Hunt offers good aging potential. If you let it age, good—but if you can’t wait, The Hunt is delicious by the glass and pairs especially well with smoked meats and cheeses, short ribs, duck confit, venison, and other game meats.”

A label inspired by the past

The Hunt’s striking label was inspired by the strong lines and rich heritage of an extraordinary firearm in Biltmore’s original collection and features a photograph of the finely wrought engraving of a vintage Auguste Francotte shotgun crafted of walnut, steel, and silver.

Remarkable for its outstanding balance, finely hand-checkered stock, and detailed engraving, this double-barreled, double-trigger shotgun was made by the Belgian company Francotte & Cie, one of the world’s premier gun makers.

“Francotte’s sporting firearms were considered to be among the highest quality,” said Leslie Klingner, Biltmore’s Curator of Interpretation, “and would have been a first-rate choice for the Vanderbilts and their guests when shooting rabbits and quail.”

Architectural elements

The Hunt is also a nod to Biltmore’s legendary architect, Richard Morris Hunt, who worked closely with George Vanderbilt to create the iconic French Renaissance-style chateau, which would be his final masterpiece of creative design and technological innovation.

Join us in the celebration of The Hunt’s release. This outstanding wine is a perfect choice for those who appreciate luxury, adventure, and the best that Biltmore has to offer!

Purchase The Hunt on the estate during your next visit.

Guastavino’s architectural influence in Asheville

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When Spanish architect Raphael Guastavino came to the U.S. in 1881, he already had a reputation for creating grand arches, domes, and vaults in Europe. Within a few years, his work caught the attention of Richard Morris Hunt, head architect for Biltmore House.

“Guastavino had introduced an impressive and inexpensive alternative to iron beam construction in the U.S. that resulted in interiors with soaring arches and open spaces,” said Leslie Klingner, Curator of Interpretation. “His tile work was low maintenance, fireproof, and functional.”

He was commissioned by Hunt to create the decorative tile vaulting at Biltmore House, including the hall ceilings around the Winter Garden. His tile work in the Swimming Pool is reminiscent of the vaulting in New York City’s earliest subway stations, another Guastavino design.

“The herringbone pattern on the ceiling of the Porte Cochere as you exit the house is remarkable,” Leslie said.“He also created the beautifully patterned vaults at the Lodge Gate—the acoustical effects when horses passed through there must have been amazing.”

St. Lawrence BasilicaAfter his work on Biltmore House, Guastavino also remained in the area, focusing on two projects near and dear to his heart. His masterpiece—St. Lawrence Basilica in downtown Asheville—is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the architect is buried there.  Guastavino finished the plans, including a dramatic freestanding elliptical dome, and gave them to the church but died before construction was complete.

Guastavino built a modest estate known as Rhododendron in Black Mountain. His home, called the Spanish Castle, was a rambling three-story wood structure built with timber from his property. Outbuildings included wine cellars, chapel, bell tower, and kilns where he experimented with tile and glazes.

Unfortunately, the home burned in the early 1940s. Some ruins remain, mostly the kilns and wine cellars, on property which is now part of Christmount Christian Assembly. A walking tour on the property offers a view into this working estate from the late 1800s into the 1940s, including photographs and information from historical sources. The Christmount Guest House hosts a temporary exhibit displaying relics from the house and kiln areas found over the years; the exhibit is open to the public.

Around the country, more than 1,000 buildings feature his designs, including his signature vaulting, including the Boston Public Library, New York’s Grand Central Terminal, Carnegie Hall, and the Elephant House at the Bronx Zoo.

Photos

Main: Swimming Pool in Biltmore House, with tile vaulting created by Raphael Guastavino

Left: St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, ca. 1909, designed by Raphael Guastavino. Photo courtesy of St. Lawrence Basilica.

Preserving History in Biltmore’s Italian Garden

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Filled with numerous varieties of exotic water lilies, tropical bananas, papyrus, and koi fish, the Italian Garden pays tribute to George Vanderbilt and Fredrick Law Olmsted’s vision each year. Although it’s is one of the most visited areas on the estate, many guests do not realize this special garden is astoundingly accurate to Fredrick Law Olmsted’s original design in 1895.

Beautiful photo of Biltmore's Italian Garden with house reflecting off water
The Italian Garden’s design intent has remained unchanged since Vanderbilt’s time. Two of the pools have been refurbished, and the Hemlock hedges have recently been replaced with American Holly hedges to preserve Olmsted’s visions.

Century-Old Traditions

In early spring, Biltmore Gardeners Charles Cissell and Steven Ayres strategically choose which lilies they will order from Tricker’s Water Gardens – the very same supplier that Olmsted used in 1895. The William Tricker Company was one of the first commercial water lily growers in the United States, experimenting with growing and hybridizing water lilies to improve the shape, colors and hardiness. Olmsted’s keen eye took note of these unique beauties and deemed them a perfect fit for Biltmore, an idea that still rings true today.

From planting, to grooming, to cleaning, the Italian Gardens require extensive maintenance. “We plant each lily in a 45-gallon nursery pot with a mixture of clay and manure. Then we use a Bobcat to lift each plant into the pool,” recalls Cissell, a process that is no doubt far easier than in 1895. Although “plant metabolism” is a foreign term to most aquatic plant novices, Cissell notes that, “Lilies are heavy feeders. We fertilize once a week and groom three times a week throughout the season, usually June to October. Grooming is especially important because the more pollinated blooms you remove, the more new blooms it will produce,” says Cissell, who has spent the last four of his seven years with Biltmore dedicated to the Italian Garden.

In addition to the lilies themselves being originally-sourced from Tricker’s, the pool filtration features the original 1895 technology as well. “It’s a natural system with constant water flowing into and out of the pools. The original gravity-fed reservoir provides the water for the pools, which also used to provide water to the house,” says Cissell. This natural filtration is especially beneficial to the dozens of koi swimming about – one of which Cissell says is close to 50 years old!

Italian Garden Pool Cleaning
Meticulous attention is devoted to preserving the pristine condition of the Italian Garden Pools.

Magical Lilies of the Italian Garden

Each year, Cissell gets excited to see the new hybrids and cross-varieties that Tricker’s Water Gardens offers. He orders many of the exact plants featured in 1895, but now with new colors and hardier blooms that Tricker’s has cultivated over the years. Each pool is strategically planned and includes several varieties of night-blooming lilies, the distinct Victoria Water Platters, hardy lilies, and various banana trees and shrubs to add texture and depth.

Each lily variety works together to provide an unforgettable experience, no matter what day or time a guest visits. Night-blooming lilies reach their peak bloom in the early morning and will be completely closed by noon, while day-bloomers will open in the morning and carry into the early evening. Though each plant is expected to show between three to nine blooms at a time, Cissell notes that many guests don’t realize that lily blooms only last for three days, and he describes the bloom process as being “sort of magical.”

Hardy lilies typically have standard colors like red, white, yellow, and pink while tropical lilies produce vibrant blues, purples and even combinations of color. “One of my favorites is Nymphaea  ‘Green Smoke’ which transitions from green outer petals to blue, then yellow inner petals to finally having light purple in its center,” says Cissell. And in the case of the large Victoria Water Platters, he notes that these lily blooms can even change colors. “The Victoria is hermaphroditic – when it blooms, it changes from female to male overnight. Beetles are attracted to this flower’s warmth, and as the bloom closes, it traps the beetles inside and forces them to pollinate the flower. The new bloom will change from white to a pink or maroon the next night.”

View of Biltmore House from Italian Garden
The Italian Garden pools in summertime are filled with aquatic plants such as tropical water lilies, Victoria water platters, papyrus and huge lily pads. Photo credit: The Biltmore Company.

Uniquely Biltmore

In 2014, the Italian Garden closely resembles original outline by Olmsted, with Cissell saying the only main difference being the center bed display. “I use a more contemporary garden design with banana trees and elephant ears. Also, due to the sheer amount of lily varieties available now, we’re able to create a mosaic effect out of the different colors they would not have had back then,” says Cissell.

The Italian Garden serves as an introduction to aquatic gardening for many Biltmore guests, as water gardens are not something often seen. It draws thousands of admirers each spring and summer, and Cissell says the garden has even inspired a few to create their own water garden at home. Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture at Biltmore says, “This is world-class. This water garden is as good as you’re going to see pretty much anywhere in the United States, but it’s a bit different. It’s uniquely Biltmore.”

Cornelia’s birthday celebrations continue

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As Cornelia Vanderbilt grew older, her birthday parties became grand events. Her twenty-first birthday on August 22, 1921 began with a surprise gathering of 250 estate workers and tenants at 7 a.m. in front of Biltmore House. The staff clearly had a deep affection for Cornelia, and many of their children had been her playmates since her birth.  

As part of their surprise for Cornelia, whom they had watched mature into a sophisticated young woman, the employees improvised a band that played old-time dance tunes. The group then presented Cornelia with a game-bag as a gift. Later that same evening, more than 200 guests attended a masquerade party at Biltmore House in Cornelia’s honor. 

An elegant masquerade party

The Asheville Citizen-Times published the following account of the occasion:

Miss Vanderbilt is accorded honors on reaching majority; masquerade party given on Monday at mansion

Miss Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt reached her 21st birthday Monday and was accorded honors becoming the lady of Biltmore mansion. Monday night a large masquerade was given and guests were present in large numbers.  

The social calendar for the week started with one of the most brilliant of the season's entertainments, the fancy dress ball, given the Monday evening at Biltmore House by Mrs. George Vanderbilt in honor of the birthday of her daughter, Miss Cornelia Vanderbilt. Dancing was enjoyed in the sunken garden where masses of ferns and palms made a pleasing and charming background for the two hundred or more fascinating and gorgeous costumes of the guests. The Garber-Davis orchestra from Atlanta provided the dance music. Late in the evening supper was served in the banquet hall. A special feature of the entertainment was that the assemblage of the guests, at the commencement of the evening, a closed sedan chair was brought in by four attendants, and as the curtains were drawn, Miss Vanderbilt stepped forward in a most attractive costume of a page of the period of the French Renaissance.

Miss Rachel Strong, of Cleveland, who is visiting Miss Vanderbilt and was among the chief guests at the party, was charming as an oriental dancing girl, her frock being among the most gorgeous. Among the costumes represented were Japanese Geisha girls, Gypsies, pirates and Sultans. Miss Vanderbilt received many birthday gifts.

Grand parties continue

Cornelia’s birthdays continued to be stunning occasions, even after she married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil in 1924. The Asheville Gazette reported on celebrations for Cornelia’s 25th birthday. Again, note how employees were always part of the celebration. 

On Friday, August 22, 300 employees attended a garden party and tea at 4 pm with dancing to Guthrie’s Orchestra.  Biltmore Dairy employees gave Cornelia a surprise birthday gift of a giant ice cream cake—4’ high and 2’ square at the base—made of 26 gallons of Biltmore Dairy ice cream.  It “consisted of alternate layers of chocolate parfait, Lady Ashe ice cream, and a covering of vanilla mousse.  The cake was studded with roses and lilies and also bore the inscription ‘May your joys be as many as the sands of the sea.'”

Cornelia celebrated the following evening with an open air ball for 300 people at 9:30 p.m. Guests danced in a pavilion to the Charles Freicher Orchestra. The lawn was lit with Japanese lanterns placed in trees and shrubbery. 

The Gazette further noted that, “the beautiful array of summer gowns of the many dancers made a scene as beautiful as that of gay moths and fireflies in a fairy garden,” and a buffet supper was served at midnight.

Although we have no further descriptions of Cornelia’s birthday parties, we are sure they were often celebrated in style. From her earliest days as the “Biltmore Baby” to her life as a celebrated socialite of wealth and style, Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil continues to exemplify the Roaring 20s and the Jazz Age that still fascinate us today.

Happy Birthday, Cornelia Vanderbilt

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On August 22, 1900 George and Edith Vanderbilt welcomed the arrival of their only child—a daughter—who was born in the grand Louis XV Bedroom in Biltmore House. She was named Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt in honor of prominent members of both her mother and her father’s family.
 
Cornelia’s birth was mentioned in the society pages of newspapers all across the country, including the Asheville Citizen, which reported:

Stork comes to Biltmore
To Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt a Child is Born
“The advent of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Vanderbilt was announced last evening from Biltmore House. The little stranger is a Buncombe baby—pretty as babies go—but with the Buncombe birthright of the mountain health its days of babyhood will dot in dimpled sweetness and the fairy lines of beauty blend in a vision fitting to its home on the grand estate.”

And from the Spartanburg Journal of upstate South Carolina:

Biltmore’s New Star
“A new star has appeared at famous Biltmore, and the charming mistress of this most gorgeous home is smiling upon her first born, a tiny girl called Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt…”

Birthday celebrations

Although we have no specific descriptions of birthday parties during Cornelia's childhood, we do know that she had many playmates among her cousins and the the children of families who lived on the estate.

As Cornelia grew older, her birthdays would be celebrated in a style befitting a young woman who was making her debut in society. We’ll take a look at some of those festivities in an upcoming post.

In the meantime, happy birthday, Cornelia Vanderbilt!

Camping in Pisgah Forest, circa 1901

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Summertime in the mountains brings to mind thoughts of hiking trails, camping along clear creeks, and marveling at a cascading waterfall—sometimes all on the same excursion.

The call of the wild

Pink Beds Vanderbilt Campsite, July 1901
Excursions were multi-day affairs, with campsites like this one being moved to new locations every few days.

Just as many of us do today, George Vanderbilt and his friends often found the lush forests of Western North Carolina calling their names. They frequently headed out for multi-day trips to explore the beauty of Pisgah Forest, according to information gathered by Lori Garst, Curatorial Assistant in Museum Services.

Several years before George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House was completed, the call of the mountains led Vanderbilt and his friends into the forest to camp, fish, shoot, and enjoy the beauty of Western North Carolina.

Gearing up for success

1901 Camping Excursion Pack Mules
Mules could carry up to 20% of their bodyweight for 20 miles a day, during excursions.

In June 1893, Estate manager Charles McNamee wrote to Dr. Westray Battle that he was so glad that Dr. Battle would be joining Mr. Vanderbilt’s camping excursion. McNamee prepared Battle by telling him that the group was headed to a place near Brevard where they would be met by Mr. Vanderbilt’s mules and then would proceed on towards the camp. McNamee outfitted the party for fly fishing and recommended that Battle take a firearm “for service or sport.”

Calming any hesitation about roughing it in the backwoods, the Estate manager assured Dr. Battle that there would be tents, a cot for each man, and even a cook. McNamee writes, “I thought it better to be semi-respectable in our camp rather than to be absolutely savage…”

The great excursion of 1901

George Vanderbilt at
Schenck’s workers built George’s second lodge in three days, earning it the nickname “Three-Day Camp.” The cabin had six rooms, a porch, and a dining room.

Years later, a series of photographs taken by Dr. Carl Schenck, Estate Forester, document a lively 1901 trip into Pisgah by Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt. Included in the large party were Dr. Battle, Marion Olmsted (F.L. Olmsted’s daughter), and Dr. Schenk. The Vanderbilts returned from an extended stay in Europe on June 6 and, without wasting any time, Charles McNamee began arranging for the outing within a few days.

McNamee ordered two tents on June 8, 1901; however, he received no reply. Requests for the tents continued until June 26. All other provisions for the excursion were in order. Perhaps in response to the lack of tents, a plea came from Vanderbilt to Schenck to build a place where the group could stay near Looking Glass Rock.

Revisiting lost memories

Edith Vanderbilt at Looking Glass Falls
Edith Vanderbilt favored the beauty of Looking Glass Falls.

We are fortunate to have 22 photographs documenting the Vanderbilts’ excursion in 1901, beginning on June 30 with a photo of the group of men with mules.  The remaining images show the trip to Looking Glass Rock with stops along the way at Looking Glass Falls, an unnamed waterfall which we now recognize as Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Creek, and “Three-Day” Camp. The final image is of Carl Schenck’s house in Pisgah with the men and mules. The back reads, “Making ready to leave for Buck Spring Lodge July 1, 1901.”

Plan your mountain escape!

Today, you can still visit the many sites the Vanderbilts’ went to in 1901 including Looking Glass Rock, Sliding Rock, and Looking Glass Falls. There are several camping spots in the area perfect for your summer getaway, too!

Lucas Jack and Biltmore’s Rose Garden

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If you are the resident expert for a historic garden like Biltmore’s Rose Garden, people might assume that’s your favorite spot in the estate’s 8,000 acres. But the location Lucas Jack prefers may surprise you.

Lucas JackBiltmore’s Rosarian didn’t grow up dreaming of a career cultivating roses. The only exposure to the flower he can remember was an old garden rose his mother received from a neighbor. His rose career was more of a happy accident, fueled by a love of the outdoors, plants, and history.

Since 2011, Lucas has overseen the care of 1,800 roses in the estate’s Rose Garden and maintained the space as a show garden for guests within the Walled Garden.

In college he worked landscaping jobs to make money that would fund weekend trips to visit his girlfriend Brooke (who became his wife in 2007). He earned a degree in forestry from Haywood Community College and interned at Biltmore in the arboriculture department. After graduation, he started a landscape company, but soon found that tending to the details of running a business didn’t leave him much time to focus on his love of gardening or his desire to become a more proficient gardener.

He applied for a full-time position at Biltmore working the perennial borders inside the Walled Garden, but didn’t land it. Instead, he was offered a temporary job in the Rose Garden. The prospect of working with Biltmore’s professional crew of horticulturists appealed to him and it wasn’t long before a sense of direction began to take root.English roses

“I felt there was something there for me,” he said. “What I knew of roses was very limited, but I love history and plants so I found that in dealing with roses, you deal with history in some way.

“Phillipe Noisette hybridized historic roses in 1811 and 1812 outside Charleston, S.C. in the middle of the War of 1812, and now I'm working with that same species of rose. That strikes me as being a very interesting pursuit considering that historical social climate, yet that's what he did. As gardeners, that's what we are doing now during yet another tumultuous period in history; we are providing a place of beauty and calm here in Biltmore's Gardens.”

The role of Biltmore Rosarian is steeped in its own history, as the Rose Garden has been in continuous cultivation since 1895 when Frederick Law Olmsted walked the grounds as George Vanderbilt’s chief horticultural adviser. Lucas relies on Olmsted’s design intent and combines that with contemporary horticulture practices to ensure that Biltmore’s Rose Garden is world-class. Lucas and his team of rosarians maintain more than 200 different cultivars laid out in both French formal and English border designs. The garden is home to nearly every class of roses, and one may find roses of antiquity and new cutting-edge varieties.

Conservatory rosesIn addition to taking care of the descendants of those roses planted in the 1890s, Lucas also oversees the planting and cultivation of the Biltmore International Rose Trials, which recently completed its third year of trialing and competition.

While he obviously loves the Rose Garden, he has a few other favorite spots around the property, including the hill overlooking the Bass Pond. It’s an easy spot to reach; cross the bridge over the Bass Pond spillway, and then follow the trail to the top of the grassy knoll.

“The hill overlooking the Bass Pond and French Broad River is a very pleasant place to catch a breeze and look at hundreds of acres of farmland. This area is simple and natural, showing that there is no need for everything to be planned and structured,” Lucas said.Bass Pond bridge

He recommends looking back towards the Bass Pond from your vantage point on the hill to get a great view of the bridge with the forest in the background, especially in the morning. From this point, you can easily see how Biltmore House, gardens, and the grounds beyond are perfectly blended into the natural setting. 

“It’s a testament to Olmsted’s design and vision for what could be accomplished here at Biltmore,” Lucas said.

Our American Series wine labels are inspired by our past

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In 1960, George Vanderbilt’s grandson William A.V. Cecil took over management of Biltmore. In keeping with his grandfather’s vision of a working agricultural property that could sustain itself, Mr. Cecil realized that nothing was more appropriate for a French chateau than a vineyard.

The first vines were planted at Biltmore in the early 70s, and by 1983, the Biltmore Estate Wine Company was firmly established. Renovation began on an original dairy structure to convert it into a state-of-the-art winery, which opened to the public in 1985.

Early labels

Chateau Biltmore wine label from 1976In honor of our new wine labels that celebrate our distinguished American appellation, we’re taking a look back at our past:

In 1976, our first wine label featured a sketch of Biltmore House along with the Cecil family crest and a rampant lion. The labels were inspired by the very successful Biltmore Dairy logo that consumers already associated with quality and authenticity. Wines bearing this label were only available on the estate.

Vintage Biltmore wine label featuring the Winery

The next iteration of our labels was created in an effort to simplify the process of choosing wines. Each varietal was numbered, beginning with red wines and moving to whites (dryer whites were even numbers and sweeter whites were odd). “It was a hearfelt method for us,” said Jerry, “but we quickly discovered that our customers wanted to know a little bit more about the wine than just its name and number!” These labels appeared in local markets from 1984–1985 and helped kick-off the opening of our new Winery.

New designs for new markets

Biltmore Wine Label featuring Biltmore House in goldThis simple, elegant label graced our wines from 1986–1993. Although more refined than its predecessor, it featured the Winery clock tower and lacked a visual reference point to Biltmore House. We updated the label again to include a detailed line sketch of America’s Largest Home® since this was so iconic for our brand.

Created for us by the experts of Colonna Farrell Design in Napa Valley, these labels highlighted that our wines were neither “French traditional” nor “California modern,” but authentic to Biltmore and reflective of our own unique style and heritage of winemaking. The labels were a big hit with consumers on and off the estate.

 

Former Biltmore Wine label with Biltmore House against the Blue Ridge MountainsFurther refinements and new printing techniques resulted in this second Colonna Farrell label with a view of Biltmore House against the Blue Ridge Mountains. This label, which we used from 2001–2008, helped consumers easily identify our location and understand that our wines were crafted and bottled here. More prominence was provided for the varietal, as well, to make it easier to shop our wines. 

 

 

Biltmore wine labelIn 2009, these labels were designed as part of an overall branding initiative for the entire company. The new look focused on the wine varietal along with highly recognizable elements of Biltmore House.

Five years later, we were ready for the launch of our newest label, which you see as our featured photo for this post. We chose the design experts at CF Napa to help us craft a stunning visual statement that celebrates our history and our passion for fine wines.

2014: A distinctive look and taste

Current Biltmore Wine label for American SeriesEach of our American Series wines is handcrafted to represent true varietal character as well as outstanding taste. Recognizable by their rich red capsule, gorgeous rendering of Biltmore House, and signature of founder George Vanderbilt, the American Series is widely available in restaurants, grocery stores, and wine shops as well as the estate.  

Current Biltmore Estate Limited Release wine label

 

 

For our Limited Release wines in the American Series, it was important to create similar-but-distinctive labels to highlight this special collection available only on the estate, online, or through the Vanderbilt Wine Club.

“Handcrafted in smaller quantities, our Limited Release wines are unique,” said Jerry. “Our winemakers offer creative varietal blends crafted with special techniques, and we invite you to taste them the next time you visit Biltmore.”

Summertime Strolling in the Gardens-Q & A with Parker Andes

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We love the long days of summer at Biltmore, especially in the gardens. There’s just something special about an early morning or late afternoon stroll along the winding paths through the Shrub Garden and down into the Walled Garden. Summertime is when this garden is really full of itself! Tropical plantings mix with manicured patterns to create what we think is a Monet landscape come to life.

Tropical plants and palms figure heavily into the mix to create the effect, and relate closely to what Biltmore’s original landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, envisioned. His plan called for Biltmore’s summertime gardens to mix tropical elements into manicured areas, as was the style in the late 1890s. Biltmore's horticulture team works diligently to stay true to that vision. We asked Parker Andes, director of that team, to share some fun tidbits about the gardens this year, and what it takes to insure Olmsted's ideas are alive and well on the estate. 

Open House Blog:  How many types of plants are in the Walled Garden pattern beds this year?

Parker Andes:  There are 18 different types of plants in the Walled Garden pattern beds for summer 2014.

OHB:  How many specific plants are in the pattern beds?

PA:  Roughly 14,000.

OHB:  What is typical summertime bloom span?

PA:  From June through late September as the weather allows.

OHB:  What colors will we see in the Walled Garden this year?

PA:  Purple, peach and lime green. Chartreuse, blue and lavender will also make an appearance. 

OHB:  How many gardeners and how many hours does it take to care for the Walled Garden?

PA:  It takes six people roughly 40 hours a week, totaling up to 240 hours a week.

OHB:  What is the largest lily pad in the Italian Garden pools?

PA:  The Victorian lily pad. In the tropics of South America, they can grow to 10 feet or more in diameter and have been known to support the weight of a small child. For our plants at Biltmore, the leaves will get to 2.5 to 3 feet wide since the air is cooler.  Ours don’t support a small child but Green Herons can be seen standing on the leaves early in the mornings, hunting for tadpoles.

OHB:  What should guests look out for on their next visit?

PA:  One of my favorite perennials in the Walled Garden that is quite unique is the Pineapple Lily. The Sparkling burgundy variety has a dark foliage bulb with a bloom cluster that looks like a pineapple. 

OHB:  What are some other fun facts about Biltmore's summer gardens that come to mind?

PA:  Daylilies! We have lots of them. The American Daylily Society will hold its national meeting in Asheville this summer, so as a tribute and with their assistance, we’ve planted hundreds of them throughout the estate, from the Walled Garden to Antler Hill Village. Guests will see some of the latest hybrids of daylilies. 

OHB:  We recently heard that there are actual grapes growing in the Walled Garden, which we didn't realize. Is that true? 

PA:  It is. The Arbor that runs down the center of the garden has four different grape varieties growing on it. They're named after four rivers: Catawba, Concord, Niagara and Delaware.

OHB: What is one of your favorite aspects of the Walled Garden in summer?

PA:  There is a trellis along the wall that provides support for plants we prune and groom in the “espalier” style. The plants we maintain in this style are apples, pears, apriums, wisteria, Rose of Sharon and pyracantha. The word “espalier” is French, and it comes from the Italian “spalliera,” meaning “something to rest the shoulder against.” The purpose is to save space and control the plant growth for the production of fruit. We prune and tie the branches to a frame, and set the frame flat against the wall. We prune ours for the ornamental aspect of it rather than fruit production. However, ours do flower and produce some fruit.

Top photo: The Walled Garden, summer 2013.

Inset photo:  Parker Andes, Biltmore's director of horticulture.

“Miracle On The Hudson” Wins the 2014 Biltmore International Rose Trials Competition

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The second trial in the Biltmore International Rose Trials competition came to a close this past Saturday when an international jury selected the winning roses in 11 categories.

“Miracle On The Hudson,” bred by Robert Neal Rippetoe in California, took the George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose. “Miracle” also took the top spot in three additional categories: the Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub Rose; the William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit; and the Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant.

Since 2011, Biltmore’s Rose Garden has been home to the trials in which more than 90 varieties from growers and breeders worldwide have been planted and cared for by Biltmore’s expert horticulturalists. Each trial lasts two years and a permanent jury judges the roses four times per year. During this year’s competition, the international and permanent juries conducted the final round of judging for the trial group of 29 roses planted in 2012.

Before entering their roses into trials and competition, breeders work on their creations for four or five years prior. The roses judged this year were from Canada, France, Ireland, Germany, the UK and the U.S. Rose trials are a more common occurrence in Europe, with trials held in 20 different locations in 15 countries. 

New rose varieties will be planted for trials each May. They are evaluated for garden performance, fragrance, disease resistance and ability to be used in varying landscape situations. The next awards will be in 2015 for the trials planted in 2013 and will continue annually.

Congratulations to all of the winners of the second annual Biltmore International Rose Trials!

“Miracle On The Hudson,” bred by Neal Rippetoe of California, winner George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose Of The Trials (Best in Show); Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub Rose; William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit; and Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant. Available through Roses Unlimited. 
 

Award of Excellence For Best Established Rose
“Honorine de Brabant”

Frederick Law Olmsted Award for Best Groundcover
“Sweet Drift” bred by Meilland in France, distributed by Star Roses and Plants available at garden centers nationwide.

Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda
“Tequila Supreme” bred by Meilland in France, distributed by Star Roses and Plants available at garden centers nationwide.

The Honorable John Cecil Award for Open Group
“Pookah” – polyantha bred in California by James Delahanty and available through Burlington Rose Nursery in California.

Gilded Age Award for Best Climber
“Bajazzo” bred in Germany by Kordes, available through Roses Unlimited.

Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea
“Francis Meilland” bred by Meilland in France, distributed by Star Roses and Plants available in garden centers nationwide.

Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for Most Fragrant Rose

“Munstead Wood” bred in the UK by David Austin Roses and available in the U.S. through David Austin Roses in Tyler, TX.

Top photo: International Rose Trials jury member Susan V. Fox gets in close to enjoy the scent of “Bajazzo,” winner of Best Climber category.