On the outskirts of Asheville, North Carolina, totally surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, sits the Biltmore Estate. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest single-family home, it was build at the turn of the 19th century by George Washington Vanderbilt, grandson of railroad magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt.
With that kind of size and pedigree, the house gets most of the attention. However the job of designing gardens to complement this masterpiece was given to Frederick Law Olmsted, a designer well up to the task. Olmsted is probably best know for his public projects, like New York City’s Central Park. This was the last and also the largest commission Olmsted took on in his career.
Mr. Vanderbilt came to the project with very definite ideas of his own. The original landscape plan was referenced in a surviving letter from Vanderbilt to Olmsted, showing that an area Olmsted originally designed as a fruit and vegetable garden was transformed into an ornamental garden at Vanderbilt’s request. But you can definitely see the Olmsted influence in the gardens, even as they have evolved over the years.
Gardens by their nature are dynamic, ever changing works of art. So there is an inherent challenge to maintaining an historic garden. No reputable garden designer expects their work to remain static. But how do you maintain the integrity of a notable garden without condemning it to the obsolete?
The gardeners at the Biltmore estate in Asheville, NC have solved that conundrum by working to maintain the spirit of the original plan, along with many of the original plants and trees which have survived, and supplementing with suitable modern varieties that keep the gardens relevant.
Background of the Garden Style
The grounds and gardens were completed at about 1895, which was the end of the Victorian period. Although the Victorian border is a great attraction, the Director of Horticulture, Parker Andes, feels the term “Turn of the Century” more aptly defines the scope of the landscape. Olmsted had traveled widely, borrowed ideas from the best landscapes around the world and combined them into one final showcase. Unlike with his many public garden projects, here Olmsted was working for a contractor who had both the ambition and the financial means to complete the design as it was intended.What You’ll See
The various display gardens cover a good 65 acres. The 8,000 acres of grounds, including the display gardens, trails and forests, keep a staff of 60 quite busy. Olmsted gave more detail in certain areas and contributions have been made by additional designers over the years, but the overall layout remains intact.Entry Drive & Azalea Garden
With this much land, trees have to play a major role. It’s almost as easy to be overwhelmed by the forests as by the house. Here you’ll see the tallest Carolina Hemlocks, dating back before G.W. Vanderbilt took up residence, as well as imposing specimens of Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) and Franklinia. Also not to be missed is the 20 acre Azalea Garden. Native azaleas share space with modern hybrids and are accented with evergreens.Don't miss the ramble, the walled garden and what estate is complete without a rose garden?
