Walled Garden Tulips

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For many years Betsy and I have made a Spring trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  We go primarily to see the tulips in the Walled Garden of the estate.  Seeing all those beautiful tulips tells us that Spring has truly arrived.

Mother of Pearl Rose

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I’m beginning to think that it is unwise of Betsy and me to visit the Walled Garden at the Biltmore Estate.  When we were there in May we saw this beautiful rose — Mother of Pearl.  Now we’re trying to find a place for it in our yard!

The Colors of Spring

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A beautiful Spring day brings out all the glorious colors of the season.  I don’t think I could find a scene that shouts “Spring Is Here!” any more than this photo does of the view we enjoyed as we walked to the Azalea Garden on the Biltmore Estate.

Thoughts of Spring

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It’s amazing what sunshine and mild temperatures can do for the spirit.  After several weeks of rain and cold weather, the sun finally made an appearance on the Cumberland Plateau.  It’s probably too early to declare that Spring is finally here, but hope springs eternal, and both My Beautiful Bride and I have been doing yard work for the past couple of days.  If this keeps up we’re going to have to head to Biltmore to enjoy the Spring flowers in the Walled garden.  The above photo of the Walled Garden on the Biltmore Estate was taken a few years ago.

Christmas at Biltmore

Although the holiday season is about over, I couldn't resist posting a picture I took of the front lawn of Biltmore when Betsy and I attended the Candlelight Christmas event there.  There was just enough snow on the ground to set the mood as we approached the house.

Chihuly at Biltmore

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In September Betsy and I went to Biltmore to see the Chihuly exhibit at night.  We arrived late in the afternoon, which is when I got this photo of “Sole d’Oro”, which was located on the lawn in front of the house.  The sun was directly behind the glass sculpture when I got this photo, which caused the sculpture to glow in the light.

Tulips in the Walled Garden

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Since Betsy and I have seasonal passes to Biltmore, we try to get there at least once each season.  And although we would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite season, it’s hard to beat Spring.  I got this photo of tulips in bloom in the Walled Garden in April of this year.

A Sure Sign of Spring

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Dogwood blossoms against a brilliant blue sky are a sure sign that it truly is Spring.  I got this photo in the Walled Garden at Biltmore House and Gardens.

Merry Christmas!

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I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.  These beautiful — and for me, different — poinsettias were seen in the Conservatory at Biltmore House and Gardens near Asheville, North Carolina.  Betsy and I visited there on November 20, 2016.

Biltmore Orchid

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A visit to the Conservatory at Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina, is a wonderful way to bring some color and beauty to a dreary January day.  This picture, from my archives, was taken a couple of years ago.

Conservatory Foliage

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When Betsy and I visit the Conservatory at Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina, we usually pay a lot of attention to the beautiful blossoms, but the foliage can be beautiful as well.  I got this photo on a January, 2013, visit to Biltmore.

Biltmore's Walled Garden

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Betsy and I visit Biltmore House and Gardens several times a year, and we always stop by the Walled Garden.  The lower level is the Rose Garden, while the upper level (seen above) is planted with seasonal flowers in geometric patterns.  The panorama above was taken during our visit in August of this year.

Biltmore House Vista

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When Betsy and I visited the Biltmore Estate near Asheville, North Carolina, at the end of July, we hiked up to the Statue of Diana, where we had this wonderful view of the house with the mountains behind it.

Beauty in the Conservatory (2)

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Betsy and I often spend a great deal of time wandering through the Conservatory when we visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. I admit that I don't often know the names of the plants I'm seeing, but I do enjoy seeing them anyway. I like the color and shape of the leaves of this plant in a picture taken last February.

Beauty in the Conservatory

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I've mentioned several times that Betsy and I have season tickets to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. While we enjoy the beautiful gardens, we almost always visit the Conservatory when we are there. I'm not up on all the names of the gorgeous blossoms we see, such as the beauty above, but my breath is always taken away by what we find in the Conservatory. It's a good thing there was a 'Do Not Touch' sign, or I would have touched this just to convince myself it was real.

Exotic Beauty

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This is one of the blossoms that Betsy and I saw in the Conservatory at the Biltmore Estate when we visited last month. I was struck by the colors and the markings on the petals.

Purity and Beauty

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Betsy and I usually manage to see the Conservatory every time we visit Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. We wandered into the Orchid Room of the Conservatory when we visited in late November. The simple beauty of this orchid caught my eye.

Stepping Back in Time

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While in the Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, I captured this reflection of the house in one of the pools. The monochrome image seems to take me back in time to the late 1890s, when the house was built.

Water Lily

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This is one of the colorful water lilies we saw at the Italian Garden on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. I like the vibrant color and the reflections in the water. I also like the bee in that first blossom.

Clouds in Water

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I was taking pictures of the water lilies and flowers in Biltmore's Italian Garden when I noticed the clouds reflected in the waters of a pool. I thought they looked pretty neat.