Richmond and Vicinity 



On the west is a group of gnarled and twisted box trees, pre- 

 sumably as old as the house. The paling-fence, on the same side, 

 is bordered with masses of red lilies and purple iris. Looking 

 farther to the west, one sees the family burying-ground where 

 many generations of Berkeleys rest from their labors. 



Less than a mile from Airwell, and plainly visible from the 

 garden, is another old home of the Berkeleys, Edgewood, which 

 stands in a grove of magnificent oaks and poplars. Here may 

 be found some large single red roses with wide yellow centers, 

 which are known in the neighborhood as "Offley roses." 



These roses and their local name come from Offley, another 

 house that once stood not far away on a part of this same Nelson 

 grant. There the widow of General Nelson took refuge from 

 Yorktown during the Revolution and made her home for some 

 years thereafter, and there she doubtless gave tender care to the 

 very roses from which these come. 



With this in mind, one naturally feels that their parent rose 

 in all probability was brought from Yorktown by their mistress, 

 and cherished by her as a reminder of the fine old home she had 

 left down by the York. 



Many thoughts of bygone owners and their pleasure in these 

 old gardens haunt us as we wander through them, and that is the 

 reason they are so treasured by their descendants. 



Lucy Landon Noland. 



[107] 



