ASHEVILLE – A fragrant accolade has been bestowed upon Asheville as it emerges as a floral haven, securing a notable position in the esteemed list of the world’s finest flower festivals, as per the discernment of the international travel authority, Planet Cruise.
Biltmore Blooms, an enchanting floral extravaganza hosted at the prestigious Biltmore Estate, clinched the distinguished spot of No. 8 globally. This ranking was determined through meticulous analysis encompassing search volume, social media mentions, sentiment, diversity of flower species during peak months, and meteorological factors such as average daily sunlight hours and monthly precipitation.
Topping the list stands the iconic Tulip Festival in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, bedecking the cityscape with a kaleidoscope of vibrant tulips across 85 locations, including public gardens and museums.
Biltmore Blooms garnered an impressive social media sentiment score of 91% in Planet Cruise’s comprehensive study. Noteworthy figures of 590 searches and 6,840 social mentions underscore the festival’s widespread acclaim.
During the zenith of floral splendor in May, a staggering count of 908 flower species graced the estate, accompanied by an average of 9.3 hours of daily sunshine and a monthly rainfall of 93 millimeters, as meticulously recorded by Planet Cruise.
This season, the renowned “Spring at Biltmore” spectacle adorns the estate with a plethora of blooms, featuring a symphony of daffodils, tulips, and a palette of hues including orange, purple, yellow, red, and white bulbs embellishing the Walled Garden.
In homage to the estate’s founder, George Vanderbilt, whose affinity for tulips mirrored his Dutch lineage, the gardens bloom with exuberance. Notably, the Biltmore’s horticulture maestro, Bill Quade, provides regular updates on the ever-evolving blooms through his weekly reports, available on the estate’s official website.
Venturing into the heart of Biltmore House, visitors are greeted with exquisite floral arrangements echoing the theme of “Spring Romance,” with a poignant tribute to the centennial celebration of the springtime nuptials of Cornelia Vanderbilt ― daughter of Biltmore’s illustrious progenitors, George and Edith Vanderbilt ― and John F.A. Cecil in April 1924. Drawing inspiration from the opulence of the 1924 decor, a splendid recreation of a grand wedding bell and floral bouquet graces the Tapestry Gallery, as unveiled by the estate.
In a bid to enrich the visitor experience, Biltmore House tours will unveil a new self-guided audio tour on April 15, offering captivating narratives chronicling the Vanderbilt legacy, initially available in English, with subsequent releases in Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin Chinese later in the spring. Additionally, provisions for American Sign Language and descriptive audio tours cater to the needs of visually impaired guests.
March heralded the debut of Biltmore’s prestigious art exhibition, “Chihuly at Biltmore,” showcasing the masterpieces of the esteemed artist Dale Chihuly. This captivating exhibition, housed at Amherst at Deerpark on the estate, promises a visual feast for art enthusiasts and will remain open through Jan. 5.
Planet Cruise’s Best Places in the World to See the Flowers Bloom in 2024:
- Tulip Festival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Calla Lily Festival, Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei, Taiwan.
- National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, D.C.
- Girona Flower Festival, Girona, Spain.
- Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa, Canada.
- Floralia Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
- The Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France.
- Biltmore Blooms, Asheville.
- Springhill, Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
- Infiorata Flower Carpet Festival, Noto, Italy.
