Richmond and Vicinity 



May") separating this lawn from the flower garden. To the east 

 were the rosebushes, with a famous old microphylla known far and 

 wide, the flowering shrubs, pyrus japonica, calycanthus, crepe 

 myrtle, bridal wreath and mock orange, lilac and snowball, then 

 the bowknots of flowers as they came in season — tulips, hyacinths, 

 lilies of the valley, pinks, heartsease (the name pansy was not the 

 name in those days for these old favorites), ageratum, verbenas, 

 geraniums, heliotrope, mignonette, etc. — flowers, old-fashioned, 

 simple, true, like everything else here. 



In the centre of each knot, stood a stately evergreen, the box- 

 edged grass walks radiating from it; each flower border, too, having 

 a narrow grass walk around it, bordered each side by the box. 



The rare cactus, lemon trees, cape jessamine, japonicas or 

 camelias of such waxen beauty, from the greenhouses, were massed 

 around the porches of the house in summer; but in the garden itself 

 there were no forced flowers or shrubs — none not indigenous to the 

 place, and consequently everything grew luxuriantly. Then another 

 hedge, six feet high, four feet wide — but this was of althea — often 

 said in old Virginia to be the "Rose of Sharon." Beyond this hedge 

 were the vegetable plots, grass walks running across, gravel walks 

 running lengthwise, bordered with currants, gooseberries and rasp- 

 berries, with stately apple and damson trees marching along. To 

 the east wall of the garden grew the ravishing fig bushes — the 

 delight of all, young and old. As Main Street was neared, a part 

 of the garden was latticed off for the stable, yards, etc., while the 

 fruit trees and vegetables held sway on one side full to the street. 

 If to live in the memory of our friends is not to die, then the 

 gracious owners of this home live on — for their personality, their 

 delightful hospitality, the dignified simple luxury of their home 

 and garden, will never be forgotten by any who knew them. 



Inter folias fructus. 

 Mary Mason Anderson Williams. 



[89] 



