1 Approach Road, Asheville, NC
Pre-visit:
- George Vanderbilt brought together the talents and skills of Richard Morris Hunt who designed the Mansion and Frederick Law Olmsted who designed the grounds.
- Vanderbilt was grandson of the famous Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt who was a railroad maghate.
- Began buying land for the estate in 1888.
- 125000 acres including Mount Pisgah were purchased.
- Olmsted established an on ground nursery in 1889.
- 1890 Chauncey Detos Beadle ran the nursery.
- Nursery was destroyed in 1916.
- Olmsted recommended that only the area immediately around the house should be formally landscaped.
- Remainder of land should be left as managed forest and farmland.
- 3 mile approach road to maintain mystery of the house.
- View to Diana isn't obstructed like last time.
- Esplande.
- South terrace.
- Walled gardens.
- Italian gardens.
- Conservatory.
- Azalea garden.
- Spring garden.
- Bass pond.
- Boat house.
- Winery.
- Espalier.
- Waterfall with tucked away seating.
- Wisteria
- Juniper
- Boxwood
- Japanese maples
- Ironwood
- Hemlock
- Carolina jessamine
- Rose
- Harry Lauder Walking stick
- Forsythia
- Azalea
- Witchhazel
- Rhododendron
- Pear
- Ivy
- Apple
- Bald cypress
- Peach
- Bamboo
- Crepe myrtle
- Pine
- salix 'flame'
- sedges
- river birch
- flowering quince
- pennisetum
- pyracantha
- grapes
- pampass grass
- daffodil
- pansy
- magnolia
- lavender
- rosemary
Essence: Formal around the house managed open wilderness all about transition here
Post-Visit:
- Transition from managed to wild is amazing.
- You can really learn how to tuck away seating with elegance here.
- Greenhouse was beautiful.
- Not many people take the large paths but it is well worth it
- loved the seat facing the waterfall.
- Variety of materials used demonstrate beginning and ends of circulation gracefully.
- Bridge details--->widened for seating
