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Brief History And Basic Information
The Biltmore Conservatory was completed in 1895 and highlights a wide variety of exotic plants. The Conservatory is a part of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC originally built by George Washington Vanderbilt. Construction was begun in 1889 and the house was officially opened in 1895.
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A Visit To Biltmore Estate
On a cold and crisp November afternoon we visited the Biltmore Estate. The tickets were easy to purchase online and you select a time for entry from those available on the website when purchasing the tickets. Turning down the street for Biltmore from downtown Asheville, you follow a long drive that takes you through beautiful tree-lined vistas, woodlands, ponds and pastures. There are signs conveniently located along the drive to help you find your way. And inside any of the buildings on the estate, you will find helpful people who will assist you in getting where you need to be.
There was ample parking in the lots and we found our spot. And although there is a shuttle that will take you over to the house, we chose to walk and follow a clearly marked path to the long drive in front. Once there, you can enter a roped off cue when your selected entry time is near.
As other guests enter the house, the line shortens and you eventually enter the front doors. At this point you are given a walkie-talkie type device that you hold to your ear to listen to a self guided tour through the house. Each room is numbered in succession. You enter the number into the device and a narration for that room begins.
The Holidays At Biltmore
It was only the first week of November but they had already started decorating for Christmas. Their holiday tours cost more and were to begin on November 4. We were there on November 2. They were hanging Christmas lights on some of the trees in the large grass area in front of the house while we were there. The Christmas Trees shown in the pics were already decorated and on display.
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The tour of the house takes less than one hour to complete unless you like to linger in each room. Since it is a self-guided tour with narration, you can take longer if you prefer. I will place a gallery of pics of the interior of Biltmore at the bottom of this blog.
The Courtyard And Stables
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After touring the house, we exited to a courtyard which is set up as a food court for visitors. This area was the former stables for the Estate. There are dining options including the Stables Cafe. You’ll also find small shops with chocolates, toys, souvenirs, and Christmas ornaments. We stopped in at the coffee shop to grab some liquid warmth and then found a seat under a ceiling vent which was blowing warm air. This area was very busy and you had to place your order then wait for them to call your name when it was ready.
The Walled Garden
Even though it was not the most abundant time of year for a garden, there was plenty to see in the walled garden that is in front of the conservatory. There were a variety of colors of mums placed throughout. It was interesting to see the garden structures such as the surrounding brick wall, walkways, seating areas, statuary, garden gates and the late Fall landscape. You could also see areas where espaliered plants grew against the wall. They were in their winter dormant stage at this time.
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I’m not sure what is growing in this garden during the Spring and Summer seasons, but I hope to return during one of those times to see for myself.
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Be prepared to do a lot of walking on level surfaces as well as up and down stairs and inclines throughout the grounds. You’ll want to explore every inch so wear comfortable walking shoes.
The Conservatory
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There were many beautiful exotic plants growing in the conservatory. I cannot give you the names. They were not all labeled and I do not know the names of most of them. It was very enjoyable to stroll down the aisles and see so many tropical plants and orchids of various colors and sizes. I will also admit that being inside the warm conservatory was a nice break from the chilly outdoors.
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In the Spirit of Christmas, there were poinsettias of different colors tucked in among the regular plants.
Biltmore Gardens & Grounds Video
One piece of history I found interesting is that the CNN Anchor, Anderson Cooper, is the great great nephew of the original owner, George Vanderbilt. Watch the promo video below for more information on the Conservatory and Grounds.
Features That Peaked Our Interest
There were many water features on the estate. Unfortunately, due to the time of year, they were all drained and not in use. I especially liked the turtle fountains (pic below).
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I know unless I win the lottery, there is little chance that I will ever own any location that comes close to the magnificence of Biltmore. However, I still like to take pics of designs and details that I might be able to use as patterns or inspiration in my own humble garden. The pics below are some that I took for this purpose.
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Drone view of Biltmore
The amateur video below will give you a bird’s eye view of the Biltmore Estate, the grounds and woodlands surrounding it. Watch for the different plantings in the walled garden and other areas.
Biltmore Interiors Gallery
There is so much more on the Biltmore EFor more information on the Biltmore Estate
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Summary Of Biltmore Visit
I am a fan of history, particularly the Gilded Age in the U.S. I have visited the Breakers House in Newport, Rhode Island, which is another of the Vanderbilt family homes. I find these locations inspiring and try to bring ideas home that I can use in small ways in my own domain. I encourage any gardener to visit the Estates of these Titans of Industry. One thing I really enjoy is seeing what trees and plants look like after they’ve been growing for over 100 years. If you have visited Biltmore in Asheville, NC, please leave a comment below and let us know what you enjoyed the most from your visit.