BY SKEETER
A year ago, the Saint and I discovered beautiful Biltmore House and Gardens during the Garden Blogger, Asheville Spring Fling 2012. This past weekend, the Saint and I went back for another visit. This visit was compliments of Del Holston of Explore Asheville. I won the Bloggers contest thus, our return visit this year! Again, Thanks Del for hosting this contest at the Fling!
Last year was a very early spring in Asheville and this trip was very different in the gardens of Biltmore.
When booking Spring visits to gardens, one never knows what will be happening too far in advance. Mother Nature is always keeping us on our toes.
The Saint left the booking up to me and I picked the last weekend of April in hopes of seeing azaleas and tulips. Little did we know at the time the weather would not be too kind for our entire trip. More on that later, on this day, it was glorious!
We drove to the Azalea Garden area, parked our car and enjoyed a Pimento Cheese Sandwich and chips atop the gardens.
Our stroll through the Azalea Gardens was such a treat.
We had never seen Redbud trees this full of blooms. We do not see many Redbuds in our area here in my GEORGIA GARDENS.
Although, this year we seem to notice more then in years past. I assume they had a good year here in GA.
Azalea's were bursting with color throughout the gardens!
We headed up to the Formal Gardens where we were shocked to find Tulips still hanging around for our visit! The tulips above were my favorite. Do not ask me what they are named as I was only here to admire them.
Double Tulip's were a treat as I have never seen them before.
The Tulips were on their last few days of putting on a show but beautiful none the less.
Red, Pink and Purple is not a color combination I would think of but I loved it!
Flingers will recall sipping Champagne in this spot last May. This photo does not give the Flower Combination here justice. The blooms ran down both sides of the arbor from front to back! It was stunning.
With the sun shining bright on this day, the Yellow Tulips were glowing!
The Sea of Tulips went on and on.
I like the shape of this planter.
April is the month for 1000's of Tulips to shine!
The Arbor taking one from the house into the gardens, had blooming Wisteria. It was not as full as I had expected but pretty just the same.
The Purple Color did not stand out as I expected but the bees seem to enjoy it.
Wisteria reminds me of grape clusters.
When I see Wisteria covered Arbors, I desire to have one in my gardens.
But such vines must be maintained and at times cut way back such as this area in the middle of the arbor. Maybe this empty spot was the reasoning behind my disappointment of the Wisteria Arbor.
The Arbor was pretty, it just did not pop like I thought it would with the sun shining upon the purple petals. Plus, the petals were not all opened just yet.
The Arbor by the House was bare at this time. The Trumpet Vine will be blooming in time though.
The size of the vine keeps me captivated.
We headed back down into the gardens and caught views that stopped us in our tracks.
I remember the view being much different a year ago when standing in this spot.
We worked our way back down the hill taking in all the colors.
I have some of the same azaleas in my gardens but none are as spectacular as these large beauties.
The colors just glowed with the sun hitting them. Notice how some have yet to bloom.
Pink and Purple, so pretty.
The Saint and I spent about 5 hours strolling around the grounds never making it inside the house! We toured the house last year and we did not want to spend time inside with such a beautiful day filled with AZALEA, TULIP, REDBUD AND WISTERIA, In the Garden....
Stay Tuned for more of Biltmore's Spring Gardens, Christopher's Mountain top, North Lodge B&B and a meet up with some Garden Bloggers amongst other fun things...
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden