Historic Gardens of Virginia 



has never been completely restored, though many old shrubs were 

 left to define certain spots — japonica, althea, lilac, and syringa. 

 Not In any special or ordered form, but scattered about the lawn 

 and garden are roses — new and old. Boxwood and roses — that is 

 what one remembers from a June visit to Upper Brandon today. 

 An old poem, written about the two Brandons, gives an idea of 

 what this garden was many years ago: 

 A oarden full of roses — 



Red, yellow, white and pink, 

 And many other posies 



Grow near the river's brink. 

 Along the walks are cowslips 



Of many colors bright, 

 Some red as a young maid's lips, 



Some full of yellow light ; 

 The daffodils and jonquils. 



The box and the snowballs 

 The hyacinth the air fills 



With perfume which enthralls ; 

 There are some dear old flowers 



In this quaint garden spot, 

 And rose leaves fall in showers 

 Whene'er the wind blows hot. 



Like many another stately Virginia home. Upper Brandon had 

 Its part to play in history. During the War Between the States 

 four of its stalwart sons crossed its fair threshold to battle for 

 their State and country. One of these now sleeps forever on the 

 field of Malvern Hill. 



Federal troops made their home from time to time in the old 

 house during this period. Today all that is left to recall those 

 stirring days are the sabre cuts In the old balustrade and the liberal 

 sprinkling of bullet holes In the paneled walls. 



After the death of William Byrd Harrison, Upper Brandon 

 became the property of George Harrison Byrd, whose son, 

 Francis Otway Byrd, now makes it his home. 



F. Otway Byrd. 



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