Sorry, No Flower Carpet in 2012!

Jewel-tone colors of stained glass are the inspiration for this year’s Flower Carpet event at Biltmore on the South Terrace of Biltmore House. Biltmore’s third annual Flower Carpet – made up of more than 100,000 plants – takes its shape and color from a set of 1880s stained glass windows created by innovative artist and interior designer John La Farge. These windows, part of George Vanderbilt’s vast art collection, are now on display at Biltmore’s new Antler Hill Village.

Unlike traditional stained glass artists whose works were flat and conservative, La Farge incorporated three-dimensional elements and layers of complex plating to provide depth. This revolutionary style allowed for the rounded and faceted glass to form sparkle-like jewels. Biltmore’s Travis Murray, crew leader of the Walled Garden, created the magnificent design for this year’s Flower Carpet.

Plant selections have been chosen to glow in shades of red, orange, blue, yellow and grey throughout the 14,400 square-foot design. These include Iresine Purple Lady; Marigold Janie Tangerine; Coleus Dark Star fading into Angelonia’s from dark purple, lavender to white; Marigold Janie Bright Yellow; Zinnia Profusion White; Euphorbia Diamond Frost and Zinnia Angustifolia Star White; Begonia Prelude Rose and Harmony Scarlet.

Another great summer outing is the Biltmore Concert Series. See more of the Biltmore Gardens.

For more information & tickets, go to the Biltmore Estate Web site.