Biltmore Rose Gardens!
Last Friday I experienced something truly magical that I can’t quite put it into words. I still have that fizzy, excited feeling when something remarkable happens. In case you haven’t already guessed, we visited the rose gardens at the Biltmore Estate for their annual International Rose Trials‘ reception event.
This was my first time ever seeing this lovely estate in person and it was like stumbling into a fairytale. The long drive leading up to the garden practically had me hanging out the window exclaiming at the lush beauty revealed around every turn.
When we arrived, Jesse dropped me off at the top of the gardens and I made my way down through a tropical-looking vista into the the walled rose gardens, camera in hand and a whole lot of nervous butterflies!
Coming to the Biltmore for such an important occasion was really stepping out of my comfort zone. I’m probably one of the shyest people you will ever meet, but when it comes to roses, I force myself to “get out there” (hence this blog.) Roses make me brave, I guess!
In spite of my nerves, I’m so glad we went because I got the chance to meet some very special people in person with whom I’ve only interacted through Twitter and Instagram. I felt like such a rose groupie! Hope I didn’t make a complete and utter fool of myself but it was worth it. 😉
As I said, I’m still reeling from the whole wonder of it all, so I think I’ll stop chattering about it and just let the photos speak for themselves. To see the results of the trials click HERE. And if you haven’t had the chance yet to visit the Biltmore and their beautiful gardens, take my word for it and put this one on your list of must-sees. You can purchase tickets HERE.
Baronne Prevost
Climber No 1327
Climber No 1429
Flemenco
Litchfield Angel
Lucetta
Mother of Pearl
New Dawn
No 1328
Paul Neyron
Paul Neyron & New Dawn
Phloxy Baby
Pomponella
Rose de Rescht
Traviata
Twilight Zone
Proud Land
Such beautiful pictures of a very special place! It was wonderful to meet you and Jessee in person! Be brave! Roses break down barriers and open doors!
I love that! I will remind myself of that often. 🙂 Thank you again, Teresa!!
So beautiful!! I remember going to the Biltmore once as a child and loving the gardens especially.
Well if you’re ever up this way again let’s meet up!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience – I hope to be in NC to attend this event one day. I’m glad you enjoyed Biltmore, it’s an incredible place. My Mom has a season pass and visits every week. Look into that, my understand is that the season pass is only a few dollars more than the price of a one day admission ticket, so worth it for the locals. I wanted to ask, was there a rose (or two) that really blew you away that you hadn’t met before – any new discoveries? Great photo essay!
Hi Cole! So glad you like the photos! Definitely going to get season passes as there is still so much we haven’t seen. I think I could literally spend weeks there. 😉
Yes there were a few roses that were new to me that really stood out: Look-a-Likes Phloxy Baby (Radler), which you may have seen won for best growth habit, was a real charmer. I’d love to see that one planted in drifts. Another was Proud Land (Morey), which I’m not sure how well it comes across in the photos but the blooms were HUGE. I’m usually not keen on HT’s but Proud Land was a stunner. Finally, Flemenco (Beales) was a strikingly pretty rose, which sadly I didn’t get enough photos of. I think by that point, my head was spinning. 😉
My favorite rose there overall, though, was Pomponella (Kordes). This is one that I have tried unsuccessfully to purchase in the past and seeing it in person really made me wish I had it in my garden!
Very cool! I’m with you in the Hybrid Tea arena, in fact, I don’t own even one. Although I have my eye on one for next year (my wife likes to gift roses and wants a more HT look). Have you grown Jardins de Bagatelle?
Thanks for sharing your top favorites, I just planted my first Pomponella Fairy Tale rose last week! I purchased it from Roses Unlimited in SC. It has always caught my eye, the pictures of the drift of them at Biltmore was totally amazing.
Oh good, another rosarian who doesn’t like hybrid teas! Let’s start a club. 😉
Nope, I’ve never grown JdeB but if you end up growing it, let me know what you think! Personally, if I had to get another HT besides Proud Land, I might try Sedona again. The blooms are pretty amazing on that one.
Congratulations on your Pomponella! I’m jealous!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful trip and beautiful photos! I must admit that due to your dedicated love and constant sharing of roses, I have a much greater appreciation for them myself than ever before! My favorite of all the ones you showed was also the Flaminco! I think roses do make you brave and I for one am very grateful!
Oh my stars! That makes me so happy that you are enjoying roses more, now. Yay! Flemenco is a gorgeous little rose. Would love to get my paws on one…. 😉
Stunning photos as always. Thanks for your lovely tour of the Biltmore rose gardens for those of us unable to attend.
This trip and experience is definitely on my bucket list.:)
I love the Kordes rose Pomponella too. Kordes roses are favorites of mine and grow well in my Zone 8a garden.
You are one lucky girl to live so close to such a magical place!!
Thank you Brenda! I take it as such a compliment that you like the photos since you are such a talented photographer! Do you have a favorite Kordes rose? Actually, in general, do you have any favorites you’d like to share?
I see in a comment that you liked Pomponella best. I was just about task you about it. Is the scent nice?
I cannot find it for sale either but it looks like it is on the books of White Flower farm.
I don’t recall it having a scent…or at least none to get wild about. I do see many nurseries say they carry it but they sell out quickly so if you ever see it up for grabs, get it while you can! (I purchased one from Angel Gardens only to be told months later that they didn’t have it after all.) Haven’t liked the quality I have been getting from WFF in past years but I may give them another shot for this rose!
I have never ordered much online except for the few band roses I have and to be honest with you I am not patient enough for bands! Although I did order bare roots from David Austin this year and was happy with that.
We have this incredible supermarket (!!!) close-ish to my house that has the most incredible selection f plants even patented ones at great prices. It is an oddity I am fully taking advantage of, there I found toad lilies, astrantias,sum and substance hostas, Hot Papaya coneflowers, little little hydrangeas…. I could go on BUT no roses. We can’t have it all!
That’s crazy! What a find! The owner of that market has to be a gardener. 😀
you know I asked myself this many time and then I just went to talk to the garden manager last week. This is a semi-upscale supermarket, nothing too crazy but it is in the ‘right kind of neighborhood’. I always joke that you can tell the clientele is fancy in Utah when you can find jewish food. Because most of Utah is so mormon, but I digress. The manager has been there forever and he will order or try to anything we ask (!). He also has this great supplier that peddles him the superior goods but at very low prices somehow…
Lucky you! I’m still trying to find a decent grocery store around here. I miss having Trader Joes right around the corner! Now, the closest one is 45 minutes away. It’s “forcing” me to eat out more, hahaha…
These are amazing pictures!!! I might just have to plan a trip around the next time this happens, you make it sound like the perfect place to be!
You’d love it!
Stunning! Thanks so much for sharing all your gorgeous photos of such a magical place! 🙂
My pleasure! 😀
A splendid collection, Laurie! Took me 2 cuppas to go through all of them. Did they take you a whole week of taking pictures? Ha! Great work! Also, I know this might be a difficult question but – which one is your favorite?
Haha! So glad you enjoyed them! Hmmm….so hard to pick a favorite but I was really impressed with the display of Pomponella. 🙂
Thanks for the photos. I am interested in the support structures . Litchfield rose looked like it had sturdy canes fanned out behind it. Was that inside or behind it? One white climber appeared to be wrapped around a white cable of some kind. Did you notice which rose it was? I have a mm Alfred Carriere that is a 3 yr old shrub, and I am looking for guidance on supports. Did you like Litchfield rose? Thanks.
Hi Mary, I wanted you to know that I didn’t forget about you! I will be visiting the Biltmore again in about a week or so, and I’ll try to get more detailed photos of those supports you were inquiring about. In a nutshell, they are comprised of wire that is stretched between anchors that are on a type of winching system to tighten the wires as needed. Also, I do not grow Litchfield Angel personally, but it is a very pretty rose and appears to do well in our climate here in WNC.
Hi Mary, not sure if you’ve seen these replies, but as promised I have some photos for you. Visit this post, scroll to the bottom, and there’s lots for you to look at. Hope it helps!