
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990                   TAG: 9103270402
SECTION: LAWN & GARDEN                    PAGE: 24   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BILTMORE HOUSE, WILLIAMSBURG SITES OF SPECIAL GARDEN EVENTS

First, the flowering bulbs, along with forsythia, cherry and spirea. Then the azaleas. The dogwoods and redbuds are likely to blossom for a month and tie in the bloom of the tulips with that of the azaleas.

That's the fragrant picture promoted by William Alexander, landscape manager at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., where the "Festival of Flowers" takes place April 14 through May 13.

Biltmore House, a turn-of-the-century 250-room French Renaissance chateau amid the Blue Ridge Mountains will be surrounded by 50,000 Dutch tulips, hundreds of varieties of azaleas and native dogwoods, he says.

Wines produced at the Biltmore Estate Winery will be featured during the festival. Adult admission to the estate, which ranges from $14 to $18.95 for daytime visitors, $21 to $25 for evening hours during the summer, includes a tour and wine tasting.

Colonial Williamsburg hosts garden symposium, "Vintage Plants, Contemporary Gardens," April 1 through 4, in cooperation with the Americal Horticultural Scoiety. It will feature illustrated talks, workshops, a gardeners' clinic, a bird walk, special tours, films and side trips. For more information, write Forums Registrar, Colonial Williamsburg, P.O. Box C, Williamsburg, Va. 23187.

by CNB