2009 Biltmore Visit Planner - (Page 7) ROAM A LANDSCAPE OF CAPTIVATING BEAUTY AND HISTORY What place could capture a man’s heart for 60 years? For Chauncey Beadle it was Biltmore; he said he came to work for a month “and stayed a lifetime.” Beadle played a major part carrying out the landscape plans of Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Together, they created a magnificent park of colorful sights bringing beauty from season to season. Olmsted, who never saw the full glory of his Biltmore designs during his lifetime, planned a combination of formal gardens and naturalistic areas for the estate’s grounds. Beadle continued the work, adding his collection of rare native azaleas as his legacy. Olmsted’s foresight becomes apparent as you first enter Biltmore’s grounds on the Approach Road. Make your way on gentle tree-lined curves that ease away the outside world to a pace slowed by time and nature. A century ago, a carriage ride to the house took nearly an hour; now the three-mile drive lasts about 10 minutes, still building your anticipation. Then hemlocks, pines, and hardwoods screen your view of Biltmore House until you pass the iron gates and see its full glory. After resting beneath the shade of stately Japanese wisteria on the Library Terrace, continue exploring the Italian Garden and Shrub Garden. Nearby, the Spring Garden offers shady seclusion beneath its canopy of old trees. The Walled Garden is a star attraction with stunning tulips during Festival of Flowers and spectacular displays of roses and summer annuals. A quilt of colorful chrysanthemums is a sure indication fall is just around the corner. Inside the Conservatory, exuberant tropical plants bloom year round. Enjoy a quiet walk in the 15-acre Azalea Garden—Beadle’s passion—brimming with native azaleas sheltered by an evergreen forest. Further on, the boundary between cultivated garden and woodland disappears, with trails leading through forests and fields beyond. From managed forests (the first scientific school of forestry in America started here) to manicured gardens, the estate is a living tribute to Olmsted’s genius, Beadle’s dedication, and those who honor their visions. The master of delayed gratification It was quite a challenge for an elderly man: turn worn-out farmland and barren hillsides into a setting suitable for a castle. Especially when Frederick Law Olmsted knew it would take decades for the trees and shrubs to mature enough to fulfill his vision for Biltmore’s grounds. But Olmsted’s expertise— he designed New York City’s Central Park—made him embrace the opportunity offered by George Vanderbilt. Although hindered by illness, Olmsted threw himself into the formidable task and made the results his life’s crowning achievement. Like any great artist, Olmsted had a few regrets, even at Biltmore. He lamented, “Mr. Vanderbilt and his guests always miss the best of the bloom.” 800-411-3807 • BILTMORE.COM 7 http://www.BILTMORE.COM
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