Blossoming flowers and colorful stories enrich Biltmore Blooms. Biltmore’s annual celebration of spring has been delighting guests for more than three decades. This year’s event begins April 1 and continues through May 23, 2019, combining acres of historic gardens, a new exhibition in Biltmore House, a spring wine release, and more.
Biltmore’s spring gardens and bloom reports
A vibrant landscape of flowers blankets the estate during Biltmore Blooms, paying homage to the legacy of landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted and his final professional project – George Vanderbilt’s gardens at Biltmore.
Daffodils, crocus and forsythia are among the first to bloom, followed by thousands of tulips. The concentrated tulip bloom in Biltmore’s Walled Garden pattern beds will be the result of some 80,000 bulbs planted in late fall last year. Tulips can be seen in warm hues of purple, pink and red. Later spring days bring irises, roses and azaleas, with mountain laurels and rhododendrons close behind.
For trip planning during Biltmore Blooms, stay up to date with what is currently flowering with weekly reports from the estate’s director of horticulture Parker Andes at Biltmore.com/bloomreport.
Blossoming flowers and colorful stories enrich Biltmore Blooms
Spring is brought indoors in Biltmore House
Floral arrangements and tropical plants flourish inside Biltmore House, complementing the estate’s current exhibition, A Vanderbilt House Party – The Gilded Age. Flowers familiar to western North Carolina such as rhododendron, viburnum and japonica are integrated into Biltmore House, reflecting what might have been used by the staff during the Vanderbilt era.
The exhibition tells stories of celebrations once held in Biltmore House, bringing to life how George Vanderbilt and his family entertained with festive house parties during the Gilded Age. The exhibition features the recreation of elegant Vanderbilt-era clothing by Academy Award-winning costume designer John Bright. Black-and-white photographs (circa 1900) in Biltmore’s archives served as the source material to create the outfits.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 21
One of the largest in the Southeast, Biltmore’s Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Easter Sunday, April 21, on the front lawn of Biltmore House. Entertainment is for children ages 2 through 9 and includes treat bags, magic shows, jugglers, and photos with the Easter Rabbit. Egg hunts begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Registration begins two hours before each hunt. Parents should bring baskets for children to collect eggs.
Gardening tips and design inspiration
Join Biltmore’s gardening and design experts as they offer tips and techniques. Weekend “Ask a Gardener” stations in the Walled Garden allow guests to talk with horticulture experts.
Blossoming flowers and colorful stories enrich Biltmore Blooms
Effortless Orchids, a free demonstration on caring for this beautiful and diverse plant species, takes place daily at 1 p.m. at A Gardener’s Place Shop located beneath the Conservatory.
