#79 Biltmore Estate Gardens 4-9-09

Remember the picture of the Red Bud Tree from a previous post. Below is a closer shot of the blooms on that tree.

The Biltmore estate has live flower arrangements all throughout the house. At the entrance/exit there is a display naming the various flowers that are blooming and are used inside the home.

On the way to the gardens are beautiful rock wall that have plants growing out of the cracks.

This is a fountain built in the wall just before you turn to go towards the Conservatory.

A Japanese split leave maple lines the walkway.

I couldn’t identify this beautiful flowering bush—thank goodness the estate puts these wonderful signs at the base of the plants

This Cedar was so striking I just had to take a picture of it.

We are headed to the conservatory, walking down the lattice arbor.

We are surrounded by beds of many colored tulips, pansies and daffodils. The view above is through one of the oval openings in the lattice work

I love the lay out of paths and tulips and border plants.

Can you believe that the flower above is a tulip?

This is the layout of the Conservatory above. It really doesn’t give you the size of these buildings. I was in heaven.

Just to give you an idea of how tall and big these buildings are. Those plants are full grown and you can see how tall they are compared to the woman standing below.

I only thought these flowers would grow in Hawaii

Hydrangeas. What a beautiful color.

Inside the Conservatory there are quiet reading and resting places. This is in the tropical part of the conservatory.

This is a working nursery and the plants that are grown and maintained out here are used in flower arrangements inside the home.

OK, which is the hot house flower?

Orchids in my favorite color!

Below another view of the height and size of this building.

The palm room—my kind of plants.

We are outside again. This is a flowing Camellia bush.

Up close and personal with the Camellia.

Pansies in different colors.

I couldn’t resist taking the picture of this very crooked bush. No name sign for it, and it hasn’t bloomed yet either.

Below is the gate we will be driving through when we leave the home estate and head to the winery

The bush below is being trained to grow along side the retaining wall

Good by to the Conservatory and the wonderful beautiful tulip beds.

We were a month too early for the roses, but the tulip beds were spectacular.