Festival of Flowers, Biltmore's Yearly Springtime Celebration, Begins April 2, 2011

ASHEVILLE, N.C., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 100,000 tulips will bloom across Biltmore in April, setting the stage for a most welcome mountain springtime.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110308/CL59598 )

Biltmore's Festival of Flowers celebrates its 26th year from April 2 to May 15, 2011. The estate-wide event celebrates the beauty of George Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre property and its original design by Frederick Law Olmsted, father of American landscape architecture.  Biltmore's gardens, Olmsted's final and most grand project, are in their 121st year, and continue to mature and become more beautiful as time passes.

A meadow of white, purple, pink, yellow and red tulips will welcome guests at the estate's entrance. Tulips in the Walled Garden will shine in hues of purple, orange, yellow and white. Mid-festival will feature lavender shades of alyssum, orange snapdragons, poppies, dianthus and digitalis for a rainbow-colored finish in the Walled Garden.

George and Edith Vanderbilts' world travels inspire the festival's theme this year, with references of their journeys amid floral displays and other decorative elements throughout Biltmore House and the estate.  Potted plants arranged in the shape of a compass will surround the center fountain in the Winter Garden in Biltmore House.

Additional Festival of Flowers activities will include live music daily in the Conservatory and Winter Garden; an "Ask a Gardener" station featuring Biltmore's horticulture experts answering guest questions; and an art show at Deerpark. Daily seminars will be held in A Gardener's Place in the Conservatory: "Culinary Herbs and Edible Flowers," 1 p.m.; "A Pot for Every Plant," 2 p.m.; and "Celebrate Spring with Wreaths," 3 p.m.

Festival of Flowers coincides with the estate's annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, April 24, on the front lawn of Biltmore House. Hunts will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.  Enjoy children's music and stories, magic shows, games and take photos with the Easter Rabbit. Activities at Antler Hill Village will include music at the Barn, on the Village Green and a Grape Stomp at the Winery from 2 to 5 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.biltmore.com.

About Biltmore

Located in Asheville, N.C., Biltmore was the vision of George W. Vanderbilt.  Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, America's largest home is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, exhibiting the Vanderbilt family's original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. Biltmore estate encompasses more than 8,000 acres including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Today, Biltmore includes Antler Hill Village, which features the award-winning Winery and Antler Hill Farm; the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate; Equestrian Center; numerous restaurants; event and meeting venues; Biltmore For Your Home, the company's licensed products division; and Biltmore Inspirations, Biltmore's home party business. To learn more about Biltmore, go to www.biltmore.com or call 877-BILTMORE.

SOURCE The Biltmore Company