This is the first international trials on the East Coast, and only one of two held in the U.S. Rose trials in Europe are a more common occurrence, with trials held in 20 different locations in 15 countries. ”The trials are a valuable way for the home gardener to learn what roses do well and what may be potential candidates for their own gardens,” said Paul Zimmerman, coordinator of the trials. “Trials of this type are usually open to all rose breeders around the world – from professional to beginner.”

Our own rosarian, Lucas Jack, had an integral part on the rose trials.  “Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden is the perfect setting for trials,” said Jack. “We’ve enjoyed introducing these new varieties to our guests as they stroll through the gardens. It has been an educational experience, and it complements the work we do to care for Biltmore’s collection of heirloom roses.”

New rose varieties will be planted for trials each May. They are evaluated for garden performance, fragrance, disease resistance and ability to be used in varying landscape situations. The next awards will be in 2014 for the trials planted in 2012 and will continue annually.  Below are this year’s winners:

The winners of the first Biltmore International Rose Trials

George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose Of The Trials (Best in Show)

‘ATHYfalaa’ bred by Mike Athy of Mike Athy Roses, New Zealand

Award of Excellence For Best Established Rose

‘Belinda’s Dream’ bred by Dr. Robert E. Basye, United States (Wisconsin)

Award of excellence for International Jury Favorite

‘ATHYfalaa’ bred by Mike Athy of Mike Athy Roses, New Zealand

Frederick Law Olmsted Award for Best Groundcover

‘Roxy’ bred by Kordes Rosen, Germany

Edith Wharton Award for Best Floribunda

‘Milwaukee Calatrava’ bred by William Radler of Conard-Pyle/Star Roses, United States

The Honorable John Cecil Award for Open Group

‘Sunshine Daydream’ Grandiflora rose bred by Michèle Meilland Richardier, France

Gilded Age Award for Best Climber

‘ATHYfalaa’ bred by Mike Athy of Mike Athy Roses, New Zealand

Pauline Merrell Award for Best Hybrid Tea

‘Beverly’ bred by Kordes Rosen, Germany

Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub

‘Darcey Bussell’ bred by David Austin of David Austin Roses, United Kingdom

Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for Most Fragrant Rose

‘Beverly’ bred by Kordes Rosen, Germany

William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit

‘ATHYfalaa’ bred by Mike Athy of Mike Athy Roses, New Zealand

Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant

‘ATHYfalaa’ bred by Mike Athy of Mike Athy Roses, New Zealand

We have Chauncey Beadle to thank for all of that gorgeous color. Chauncey, a Canadian horticulturalist hired in 1890 by Frederick Law Olmsted for his encyclopedic knowledge of plants, served as estate superintendent from 1909 until his death in 1950.

“Beadle loved all plants, but he had a special fondness for native deciduous azaleas,” said Bill Alexander, Landscape & Forest Historian. “He and two close friends became known as ‘the azalea hunters’ collecting virtually every form and color variation.”

Beadle and his colleagues kept detailed notes about their forays, writing down when and where they collected plants on travels throughout the Southeast. Native azaleas were Beadle’s passion, and he called them the finest American shrubs.

In 1940, he gave his entire collection of azaleas (which he fondly referred to as “his children”) to Biltmore, planting them in the valley below the Conservatory known as the Glen. Edith Vanderbilt changed the garden’s name to the Azalea Garden to honor Beadle and his lifelong work on his 50^th anniversary with Biltmore.

Today, gardeners Bob Smart and Charles Harris, members of the estate’s Historic Gardens landscaping crew, are responsible for maintaining Beadle’s legacy and the never-ending upkeep of the Azalea Garden.

“Chauncey Beadle planted several thousand azaleas originally,” said Bob. “We try to keep as many old plants as possible, replacing them when needed with old types and species, but we also bring in new ones to keep the garden thriving.”

Last year, they replanted several hundred azaleas—mostly evergreens—lining the stone stairs at the Azalea Garden’s entrance and added nearly 400 more in the rest of the garden. Charles explains that the eye-catching evergreen varieties have heavier, more prolific blooms and some even re-bloom. They also planted many native deciduous azaleas that display delicate orange, yellow and pink flowers in late spring.

Not all their time is spent planting; they devote hours researching and collecting additional azaleas to keep the garden beautiful. They find plants at trade shows, through the North Carolina Nursery Notes bi-monthly magazine, nurseries, and growers who visit here.

“Sometimes growers we know will visit the garden and suggest a particular addition,” said Charles. “They recognize that it’s an honor to have plants here.”

Dogs are often called “man’s best friend,” and with good reason. Dogs are always happy to see you, glad to spend time with you, and eager to be by your side.

Our partner Unique Stone has captured the faithful spirit of the dog with a lifelike interpretation of canine devotion in their Biltmore Stoneybrook Hounds Collection. Each realistic hound statue features the soulful expressions and stance of man’s best friend at his finest.

• Stoneybrook Hound with Bird waits attentively for the praise that accompanies his fine birding and retrieval skills (above, left)

• Stoneybrook Hound with Collar is relaxed, caught in a playful moment with his collar between his front paws (above, right)

Each Stoneybrook Hound statue is approximately 35 inches in height and weighs around 300 pounds. Place this sturdy pair of sentinels at the entrance to your home or property, or use them to highlight your lawn, patio, or garden. (Each hound sold separately.) Unique Stone creates all their statuary with a subtle finish that gives an aged and weathered appearance.

Find the Stoneybrook Hounds here.

Biltmore’s Canine History

The Vanderbilts had many pets including a Borzoi and Cedric, a smooth-coated Saint Bernard whose likeness graces Cedric’s Tavern today. George Vanderbilt also maintained a kennel of Collies before his death in 1914, and Cornelia Vanderbilt developed a kennel of Llewellin Setters in 1921.

After Cornelia married the Honorable John Amherst Francis Cecil in 1925, the Biltmore Kennels invested in the Saluki Gazelle Hound—a sight hound known for its beauty, speed, and endurance. After the Biltmore Kennels closed, John and Cornelia kept one Saluki (Haffief, pictured above) as a pet.

The Stoneybrook Hounds resemble the grace and style of this handsome hound who made America’s largest home his home, as well.

As the season changes to spring, it’s natural to move from Biltmore’s  heartier red wines you enjoyed during the colder winter months to our lighter, refreshing white wines.

Think outside the house

From patios to picnics to pool parties, Biltmore white wines pair perfectly with outdoor entertaining.

Whether you’re grilling for a group or simply soaking up some sunshine while sipping white wine, Winery Manager Rick DeBlasio shared some basic tips on serving and appreciating wine outdoors in spring:

“Just follow the ‘20-Minute Rule’,” said Rick. “Remove white wine from the refrigerator 20–30 minutes prior to serving so the flavor profile has a chance to expand. During warmer weather, it’s also a good idea to return open wine bottles to a container of ice and water between refills, especially if you’re entertaining outside.”

Wine & Garden Pairings

Biltmore’s beautiful gardens and natural settings have distinct “personalities” that we’ve playfully paired with our wines (with bonus food suggestions from our winemakers). This spring, we encourage you to pack a picnic and get to know our white wines in the great outdoors. Choose the one that best suits your mood, or try them all!

• Temple of Diana: this elegant site overlooking Biltmore House offers a classic setting to uncork any of our outstanding sparkling wines
– Winemaker’s suggestion: sweeten the occasion with Pas de Deux sparkling and fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, or cheesecake

• Shrub Garden: puts us in mind of our Biltmore Riesling, as its sweeter, fragrant style is reminiscent of early-blooming spring shrubs
–Winemaker’s suggestion: spicy Asian noodles make a surprisingly savory companion to our Riesling

•  Walled Garden: the perfect partner for this grand garden is our Biltmore Chardonnay Sur Lies, which is slightly sweeter than a traditional Chardonnay. The term sur lies refers to the wine having been aged “on the lees” or sediment, a process that adds layers of complexity and richness to the taste.

– Winemaker’s suggestion: pack a picnic of last night’s leftover grilled chicken and vegetables to savor with our Chardonnay Sur Lies inside the sun-warmed stone walls that surround this garden

• Spring Garden: a natural setting that’s easily overlooked, this garden is like Biltmore Sauvignon Blanc, which is less well-known than other sweeter white wines

– Winemaker’s suggestion: a simple snack of fresh goat cheese on pita wedges is all you need to complement our Sauvignon Blanc in the Spring Garden

• Azalea Garden: an informal feel and bright colors make this a top spot to sip our 2013 spring wine—a Rosé of Pinot Grigio
– Winemaker’s suggestion: although this varietal is typically white, we crafted it with a pink hue to capture the essence of spring. Get a sweet and sour deli dish to go and enjoy it paired with our Rosé of Pinot Grigio—surrounded by a forest of glorious azaleas!

The Biltmore Floral Team created a pair of stunning floral arrangements to brighten up our For Your Home  booth at a recent wedding show. The talented team members crafted the arrangements to feature greenery from Biltmore’s historic gardens as well as gorgeous flowers.

The results were so beautiful that we asked Biltmore Floral Design Manager Cathy Barnhardt to share her expert “how-to” tips and suggestions for bringing the outdoors indoors with a similar arrangement for your own home.

Bring the outdoors in

“First of all,” Cathy said, “these arrangements showcase a great mix of ‘florist flowers’ as well as greens cut straight from our gardens.”

To highlight the feeling and the fragrance of spring, Cathy and her team chose blue delphinium, deliciously-scented white stock, some lovely cream ‘Virginia’ roses, and a handful of tulips. The greenery was all gathered from the gardens at Biltmore.

“If you have access to a garden or wooded area, this is a great way to bring the outdoors into your arrangements and your home, and it makes it even more personal that you provided the greenery yourself rather than choosing it from a flower shop.”

“To really highlight the outdoor feeling,” said Cathy, “we used long tendrils of ivy, snips of rosemary from the herb garden, a few fern fronds, and even some pieces of red twig dogwood. This mix of textures helps us create an arrangement that is both elegant and richly textured, much like the feel of a cottage garden.”

Ready to try it at home?

“The most helpful trick in this kind of arrangement is to remember how things grow naturally in the garden,” Cathy explained. “Place your flowers in groups or clusters rather than scattering them throughout the arrangement. That will give it style, but it will still feel organic and natural.”

 Behind the scenes

“One of the most fun ‘perks’ my team enjoys,” Cathy told us, “is having cutting privileges in the historic gardens and natural areas around Biltmore. Any time of year, we can find something interesting to include in our arrangements that comes directly from the estate and reflects both the current season and elements of the original landscape design.”

“When I was in graduate school in Johnson City, TN, I was in the woods and saw a plant that I didn’t recognize,” Jim said. “I brought it home and tried to grow it.”  After some research, he realized that it was a terrestrial orchid. From that moment, he fell in love with orchids and began amassing a personal collection that at one point grew to 200 plants!

After retiring from sculpting in 2006, Jim felt it was time to cultivate another orchid collection. A Biltmore fan since his initial visit in 1970, he called our horticultural department and asked to volunteer. The phone call transformed into a part-time job caring for the orchids.  “I believe that if you follow your bliss, it will lead to bliss,” says Jim. “That’s what I’ve done. I have a wonderful orchid collection—it just belongs to Biltmore!”

Jim cares for 300 orchids in the production house and 100 orchids in the Conservatory. He also rotates the Conservatory’s plants so that guests always see a stunning collection of orchid blooms during their visit.  A typical day includes repotting plants that have outgrown their home. “I spend time with each plant, tending to its needs,” says Jim.

Weekly chores include fertilizing and watering. “The rule of thumb among orchid enthusiasts is to fertilize weekly—weakly. The philosophy is that when orchids are in the wild, they only get a smattering of nutrients from their surroundings,” says Jim. “Then I water once every week until they’re soaked.”

Jim’s main objective is to grow and care for the collection, but he also has future dreams of cultivating a Biltmore orchid fine enough to win an American Orchid Society Award.  “I would love to see a Biltmore orchid win an award,” says Jim. “When an orchid receives an American Orchid Society Award, it retains its genus and species name, but the society adds a clonal name to the plant. The clonal name is given by the grower, so my hope is that one day we have an orchid named by Biltmore.”

Preparing a new rose bed

Raising great roses starts with great soil. The better the soil is, the healthier the plants will be. February and March (and even April, depending on your location) are good months to get new garden beds ready.

According to Zimmerman, the “life” of a soil is found in its microorganisms. Some microorganisms break up fallen debris like trees and leaves, others break it down even further, and some then help the plants take up the nutrients from the broken down material. Nutrients like fertilizer that you add to the soil get taken up, as well.

When preparing a new garden bed, Zimmerman follows these steps: compost.

• First, till or break up the existing soil of the bed until it’s loosened.
• Spread about 3–5 inches of compost across the bed and work it into the soil. (Many types of compost are suitable, such as compost you make yourself, last year’s leaf pile, horse manure, or mushroom compost.)
• Add compost a few months before you plant roses so it can “stew” for a while. You won’t need to keep turning it—just let nature do its job.

TIP: If the area you are preparing has been part of a lawn or has never been worked at all, consider introducing some of those microorganisms in the form of a drench.

Our new Biltmore Naturals Product Line contains some great products to enhance general preparation and planning for roses and others plantings. These products will really get your soil life going and when you do plant your new bed in spring, you’ll have given your new roses a great head start!

Find Biltmore Naturals, including our Rose Care Kit, by clicking here.

Preparing a site for the new rose

“Do I need to dig a 2 x 2 foot hole when planting roses?”

That’s one of the questions that Paul Zimmerman hears all the time.

“If you prepare the entire bed, you only need dig a hole big enough to fit the rose into. In the beginning, I followed the ‘2 x 2 foot hole’ rule, but after nearly 20 years of planting roses, I’ve stopped worrying about it because I can’t see any difference. By taking the time to prepare the entire bed and then following a regular regime of mulching and amending the soil, you will never have to dig a 2 x 2-foot hole to plant a rose again. Your back will thank you!

The most reliable indicator to know when to prune roses

For gardeners who live in an area with a true winter, pruning roses can be tricky due to the freeze/thaw cycles experienced during the coldest season. Prune too early, and a sudden warm spell may stimulate new growth that could be harmed in the next freeze. Prune too late and you run the risk of cutting off the spring flowering.

To prune roses at the right time for your region, books and articles often advise you to find out when your area receives its last frost of winter, count back a certain number of days, and prune then.

“There’s nothing wrong with this method except that lately it seems there is no ‘normal’ when it comes to weather,” said Lucas Jack, Biltmore’s rosarian. Last year, our roses reached peak spring flowering at least three weeks early.”

The most reliable indicator? Forsythia

No scientific instruments, no estimated frost date, and there isn’t even an app for it– just nature sensing the elements and doing what it does best, with perfect timing.

The forsythia knows when winter is coming to a close and spring is just around the corner. If it’s a long winter, forsythia blooms later. During a short winter, it blooms sooner. Keep an eye on the forsythia and when its cheerful yellow blooms begin to appear, get ready to prune your roses.

]]> http://blog.biltmore.com/rose-ready/feed/ 2 http://blog.biltmore.com/garden-patio/ http://blog.biltmore.com/garden-patio/#comments Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:32:07 +0000 Holly Clark http://blog.biltmore.com/?p=2117 Inspired by Biltmore

Pineapples have been used as a symbol of hospitality since the 18th century. In colonial America, ship captains returning from tropical trade routes brought the exotic fruit (virtually unknown in North America) back with them to share with family and guests. The iconic pineapple shape began to show up in architectural trim and on signs denoting welcome.

A Meaningful Gift

A beautiful Tiffany silver coffee pot with an exquisitely detailed pineapple adorning the lid (above, right) was given to George and Edith Vanderbilt as a wedding present in 1898 by Mrs. Anna Roosevelt Cowles, Theodore Roosevelt’s  sister and trusted advisor, who was a frequent visitor to Biltmore.

“This was not only a very personal gift,” said Leslie Klingner, Biltmore’s Curator of Interpretation, “but also a symbolic one considering the Vanderbilts were legendary hosts who treasured their guests.”

Unique Stone has captured all the grandeur of the symbol with their Hospitality Pineapple. This beautiful accent is perfect for your garden and lends a warm note of welcome to your visitors.

For The Birds

Birds flock to Biltmore for a sip or a dip in an elegant birdbath like this one in our Walled Garden, which inspired Unique Stone to create a Gilded Age Birdbath like the ones the Vanderbilts installed for their feathered friends.

Garden Guardian

Inspired by the lifelike tortoise sculptural fountains set in the rampe douce in front of the Biltmore House (above, right), this sturdy fellow (below, right) is perfectly sized to be right at home in modern gardens. The concrete statue is made in North Carolina and subtly finished to give it an aged and weathered appearance.

To purchase the Unique Stone Rampe Douce Tortoise, click here.

Unique Stone

Our partner Unique Stone creates beautiful cast stone garden planters, statues, benches, and decorative elements by taking inspiration from the magnificent décor found throughout Biltmore. Each piece is hand-finished for an aged patina as timeless as the estate itself.

The staff at Unique Stone is continually inspired by the work of those early craftsmen that shaped Biltmore House into the National Historic Landmark it is today. By creating such beautiful and detailed outdoor elements, Unique Stone honors the vision of legendary architects Richard Morris Hunt, Frederick Law Olmsted, and many others.

The Biltmore Garden Collection by Unique Stone allows you to bring the old-world charm of Biltmore to life in your own yard, garden, and patio.

To view other products, visit the Biltmore Garden Collection from Unique Stone.

 Looking for a gorgeous new hydrangea to highlight your outdoor space? Look no further than the exclusive L.A. Dreamin’ Hydrangea from Michigan Evergreen Nursery, one of our outstanding horticultural partners.

 L.A. Dreamin’ redefines old conceptions about mophead hydrangeas which feature large, dome-shaped groups of flowers in a single color.

• Summer through fall, L.A. Dreamin’ will delight gardeners and onlookers with three gorgeous shades of blooms in deep pink, deep blue, and a lovely mauve combination of the two.
• Huge blooms are set off against shiny, bright green foliage that is nearly translucent when backlit by sunlight.
• Unlike typical ‘mophead’ hydrangeas, L.A. Dreamin’ blooms without any winter protection on both old and new wood. As a result, it reliably unveils its unique tri-color show each summer on a compact plant that is the perfect size for creating a focal point in any landscape.

Special Growing Tip: Kevin Byrne with Michigan Evergreen offers this helpful advice:

“The most important tip is to make sure these hydrangeas get adequate water until they are well established. As far as fertilizer, I would recommend The Biltmore Naturals line of organic fertilizer, or a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote.”

L.A. Dreamin’ Hydrangea Specifics

• Hardy to Zone 5
• Height 24”–30”
• Width 30”–36”
• Bloom time: June through hard frost

 General Planting and Care

According to Biltmore’s Horticultural Director Parker Andes, all hydrangeas tend to prefer loose, fertile soil. Unlike most hydrangeas, however, L.A. Dreamin’ blooms under a wide range of soil pH conditions with no extra effort required.

“As far as planting goes, you can plant a container of L.A. Dreamin’ most anytime from early spring through early fall in Zone 7 (our area) or further south,” Parker said. “The optimum planting time is spring, which is April to May here. Spring is earlier the further south you go.”

Parker adds that if you plant in summer, be prepared to water more regularly.

He says the ideal location for planting is one with full morning sun and some afternoon shade. This will help the individual inflorescences last longer and keep the plant from wilting in the heat of the day though L.A. Dreamin’ is said to hold up better in the heat than some of the older Hydrangea mophead cultivars.

“As a general rule,” explained Parker, “you do not need to prune L.A. Dreamin’. It will set some flower buds in late summer/fall for the following spring and is what a horticulturist would call a ‘remontant’ bloomer. That means that it will also set buds that mature and bloom in the same growing season, so you see blooms throughout the summer.”

If your L.A. Dreamin’ specimen begins to outgrow the space in which it’s planted, Parker suggests pruning right after the first flush of flowers in late spring or early summer.

 Try L.A. Dreamin’ In Your Garden

Ask about L.A. Dreamin’ at a garden center near you or online at Jung’s Seed or Garden Crossings.

Meet Michigan Evergreen Nursery

This family-owned and operated wholesale nursery began in 1988. Today it consists of 280 acres of field and container production, with a focus on providing quality nursery stock and outstanding customer service. We appreciate their expert growing skills and the information they provided on the gorgeous new L.A. Dreamin’ Hydrangea they developed.

Learn more about our partner Michigan Evergreen Nursery.

Want to surprise your favorite gardener with a sweet spring gift? Consider easy-to-grow dahlias in a gorgeous array of colors like the new Biltmore ‘Valentine’ mix from Netherland Bulb Company. Dahlias offer glorious blooms sure to delight the novice gardener as well as the seasoned professional.

This dahlia mixture contains several different varieties and is called ‘Valentine’ in honor of the red and white colors you can expect from the mature flowers. The mix is perfect for the adventurous gardener—just plant in the spring and be surprised all over again in summer when the colorful blooms began to open up in your garden.

As one expert said, “Never have so many gardeners received so much for so little work, as when they grow dahlias.”

Ask your local garden center for Biltmore ‘Valentine’ dahlia mix and other Netherland Bulb Company products.

Hooked on dahlias

Dahlias come in a wide array of sizes, colors, and textures and are one of the most rewarding summer flowers of all. They’re really easy to grow and generally provide spectacular results whether you leave them in the garden or use them as cut flowers in arrangements.

If you’re already a dahlia fan, you know just how wonderful they are. If you’re not as familiar with these summery showstoppers, here is the information you need to get started (and prepare to be ‘hooked!’).

 Dahlia details

Dahlias are native to Mexico, but there’s about as much resemblance between the original native varieties and the modern Dutch hybrids as there is between a toy car and a brand new model in the showroom.

When planting dahlia ‘bulbs,’ be aware that the bulbs are actually tubers. They look a lot like peony roots—or sort of like a bunch of carrots. The plants grow quickly and always produce lush, green foliage. Some dahlias grow quite tall, as well, and may need to be staked for support—especially those varieties that produce large, heavy flower heads.

Thanks to our licensee Netherland Bulb Company for providing interesting information on dahlias—plus a wonderful mix of cheerful colors sure to make everyone smile!