Biltmore

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.

During Visit:

• 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.

Plant List:

• 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

Circulation: brick, stone steps, asphalt, wooden bridges

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