Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Italian Garden at Biltmore

Part of my Birthday Trip was spent at one of our favorite places,  Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 6, 2013.  That place never disappoints no matter what time of year we go there.  This time we went with 3 goals in mind:  See the Waterlilies and Lily Pads,  See the Sunflowers,  and See the Roses... We accomplished all three goals!

Today,  I'll share with you SOME (I took many many more) photos from the Italian Garden.  WOW---the Waterlilies and all of the different Lily Pads were AWESOME... Hope you enjoy my photos today.

Above is a photo from the Garden when I was looking into the water --and captured a great reflection of the Biltmore House.... You'll love this one IF you like reflections as much as I do.  Below are more photos.  Be sure to click on them to see enlargements.

















Here is another reflection showing the Biltmore House.





Love these unique pads.








Love the shadow in this photo.


+++++++++++++++++
These last five go together --and are in sequence....  Amazing Waterlily!!!


1. The Bud


2. The Bud--showing the HUGE leaves.


3. The Blossom;   Gorgeous,  isn't it???? (Note the middle!)


4. Another Blossom;  The middle opens up too--which you cannot see well from this angle.


5. This is what a group of them looks like.... I love those huge leaves!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the beauty at the Italian Garden at Biltmore today.  You can only imagine how many photos George and I took there!!!!!! ha

There's one more photo today on My Photo Blog (click HERE)---so jump on over there and check it out also!!!!!

Have a marvelous Wednesday --and don't forget to take time to enjoy the flowers.

Hugs,

55 comments:

Ms. A said...

These are fantastic and the reflections... WOW!

Twilight Man said...

What a beautiful place and it looked like the Gardens of Eden! I could see a nice mix of Lily and lotus blooms which are very pretty with the neat leaf pads. What a lucky birthday girl you are.
I have asked George about pampering you with a trip to Malaysia.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Wow! What an amazing garden. Your photographs are all stunning. I even loved the droplets of water in those very large Lily leaves and the reflections were also wonderful. What a wonderful birthday treat

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i've never asked but i guess you guys have a season pass or own stock in the Biltmore considering how often you go there for a visit?

we have only been once ... i would love to go again. what an amazing house & gardens. we were there in November. need to see it in bloom. when is best? ( :

DeniseinVA said...

So gorgeous Betsy. We passed the sign today and I told Gregg about your trips there. We decided to come back one day and make it our one destination. Not sure where we will be ending up today. Sometimes what we put on our destination list isn't always the place we end up, lol.

Hootin Anni said...

Wow....everything today is just mind-blowing beautiful Betsy!! And those 'unique' lily pads are just that...so very unique.

Unknown said...

Hi Betsy,
These pictures are stunning!
Can tell that you had a lovely time there . Enjoy your Wednesday too!

Ercotravels said...

Wow, unique series of the pretty and colorful water flowers.
Great post.

MadSnapper said...

the purples ones are my favorites and that first shot is so clear you could flip it and it would look like a photo of the building.

linda m said...

Wow, those are some amazing photos. What beautiful water lilies! Thanks for sharing.

Small Kucing said...

Yup, Betsy. TM is right. Do come here for a trip

Small Kucing said...

My first time seeing such deep red ...usually its pink

Connie said...

These are gorgeous, Betsy! They look so delicate. I love the colors of them too.

Glenda said...

I have never been to Biltmore, but have seen some breathtaking photos, especially at Christmastime. Your shots are beautiful, and I also love the reflections. Thanks for sharing!

MJ said...

Gosh, I really didn't know that lily pads could come up in so many shapes and sizes! And the colors of those lilies... That purple one is just gorgeous. So pretty... they all are.. WOW

Marcia said...

water gardens are so neat. Loved all the lily pads and especially the huge one that someone could almost sit upon. Thanks for sharing Betsy

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Wow! These are just gorgeous...all of them. I kept thinking, "Oh, this one is my favorite!" And then I would come to the next one and say it again. I think some of these might be your next canvas prints. :)

The Furry Gnome said...

Looks like a lovely place; we love visiting gardens. We were going to stop there on our trip in the spring, but that turned into the day of our 100 mile detour from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ginny Hartzler said...

These are STUNNING! so amazing it is hard to pick favorites. i LOVE the two Biltmore building reflections! And those big pads with edges that look like huge trays! The lilies themselvs are fabulous. I love them ALL! The blue one (3) looks a bit like a passion plant!

Arkansas Patti said...

The water garden is just beautiful. I use to think I would want one. Then I learned how hard they are to maintain. Now I still want one but I would want a maintenance guy to tend it.

Unknown said...

Such a gorgeous garden and your captures are all breathtaking, Betsy!! Such beautiful flowers and colors and the Biltmore reflections are marvelous! What a wonderful birthday!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Amazing photos! I adore waterlilies. They used to have a water lily garden in downtown Roanoke, but got rid of it. I miss them.

I Am Woody said...

Just gorgeous! You certainly hit at the right time for the blooms in the Italian Garden!!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Amazing photos! I adore waterlilies. They used to have a water lily garden in downtown Roanoke, but got rid of it. I miss them.

happyone said...

Oh my they are pretty. I didn't realize they came in so many different shapes and colors.

Nellie said...

The flowers are absolutely beautiful!
Hugs, Nellie

imac said...

Great showing and a good day for you too Betsy.

Debbie Taillieu said...

All I can say is WOW!! So pretty! I really like that pad too that looks like a serving tray!

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Gorgeous! Thanks, Betsy, for the reminder to stop and see and smell the flowers. I needed that today!

Grandma Bonnie said...

That is such a beautiful water garden! I love all the different types of lilies pads. I am so glad you had a great birthday trip.

Big Dude said...

Great shots of what has to be a beautiful garden.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

You are my personal Biltmore guide!

Jo said...

I love it when you take us to Biltmore Gardens! And the reflections in your photos are stunning. I too, love the strange looking pads. I'm glad you had such a wonderful birthday, Betsy. You deserve the best! (((Hugs))) Jo

Linda G. said...

The water lilies are gorgeous! Very nice close-up pictures of the blossoms.

Neal said...

Third picture from top is my favorite. All are beautiful but that one is special

Helen said...

love those lilies. I haven't seen them in a long time.

Carletta said...

Love that reflection in the first shot! Magical!
I haven't seen those huge lily pads since visiting Hawaii years ago.
Lovely shots Betsy!

Rose said...

Oh, Betsy, I love water lilies and just today we saw some...I posted a pic on Time Stand Still. For some reason, water lilies just fascinate me.

There was some, without blooms, that the leaves were only about big as a silver dollar. But I could not get close to get a good photo.

Ruth Hiebert said...

BEAUTIFUL! The reflections are amazing and you know how much I love seeing them.

Sally Wessely said...

A lily pond never ceases to fascinate me. Loved these.

Joy said...

Hope I can be there too and gaze upon the beauty of the flowers:)

Anonymous said...

Wow wow wow - what beautiful shots! And such a great way to spend your birthday.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!!
Love a Lily Pad garden or display. Someone said the centers look like shower heads and they do. Aren't those huge round--with edges--pads unique. thanks for the tour. MB

Fun60 said...

Those flowers are gorgeous and such a range of varieties and colours. A real treat to see them. Thanks for sharing.

Dee said...

Dear Betsy, what a gifted photographer you are so recognize the shadows and the reflections and aim your camera so that you get these wonderful images. Thank you for sharing them and also for sharing your enthusiasm for Biltmore and for nature. Peace.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Beautiful water lilies! I love those pads in the water, they look like trays or lids of some kind. The reflections are wonderful, too. I've already stopped and looked at the flowers today, I'll be going back out again to see them and shoot some more photos with the new camera I purchased yesterday when the sun isn't so bright. I love my flowers!

Linda P said...

The different water lilies are lovely and the leaves and pads are fascinating especially those growing out of the water. I would be taking lots of photos, too, if I were there.

Sharon said...

We were just talking about how it has been too long since we've been to Biltmore. That may be our first post-move trip! Always love these unique gardens.

Chatty Crone said...

Your photographs are all stunning. I love lily pads. I heard an interesting story about them and how fast they multiply! Any way happy birthday again and your photos are awesome. sandie

Andrea said...

They are all beautiful but that one with variegated leaves look so special. And the basin-like Amazonian variety is fabulous too!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, It's a toss-up over which I like best, the pad that is variegated or the pad that has that up-turned lip. Both pads are unique and beautiful. Have a great Friday tomorrow and a happy weekend!

Betty Manousos said...

wow! what a spectacular!!

these are terrific shots!
thanks for brightening my day!

Pat Tillett said...

Wow! One beautiful scene (and photo) after another. So nice!

Serenity Cove said...

Betsy, those are just beautiful. Love the reflections.
I'm in the Canadian Rockies right now. I don't know if you have ever been here but it is amazing! Just another place to add to your list:)

Jeevan said...

Awesome photos on the lovely lilies... love the unique pads and pretty buds and following blossom!