(ASHEVILLE) -- Officials hope for a blossoming springtime economy in Western North Carolina as the Biltmore House prepares for more than 100,000 tulips to bloom in April. Biltmore's Festival of Flowers celebrates its 26th year from April 2 to May 15, 2011.

Visitors traditionally travel from all over the world to see the beauty of George Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre property in the spring. Biltmore's gardens are in their 121st year.

"A meadow of white, purple, pink, yellow and red tulips will welcome guests at the estate's entrance," said a statement released by the Asheville estate attraction.  "Tulips in the Walled Garden will shine in hues of purple, orange, yellow and white. Mid-festival will feature lavender shades of alyssum, orange snapdragons, poppies, dianthus and digitalis for a rainbow-colored finish in the Walled Garden."

More information about this year's Festival of Flowers is available at: http://www.biltmore.com/