The Upper James 



wild cherry, very handsome holly trees and formerly (before their 

 destruction by lightning) two magnificent spruces. 



To the east of the house is the garden. In its far corner a giant 

 elm rears its stately head and near by were laid the remains of 

 Tarlton Fleming, the first owner. As years passed by, the Flem- 

 ings built a larger house more centrally situated to their possessions 

 and disposed of the Rock Castle portion. It was at this time that 

 Mrs. Fleming, accompanied by some faithful slaves, drove down at 

 night and had the body of her husband removed to an enclosed 

 burying ground at Mannsville, their new home. Colonel David 

 Bullock, whose handsome house and grounds are now the site of 

 the Commonwealth Club of Richmond, was the next owner of 

 Rock Castle, and used it as a fishing and shooting box. In spring 

 and autumn many of Virginia's notables were his guests. After the 

 death of Colonel Bullock the place changed hands several times, 

 the Binfords of Richmond holding it longest and then, in the 

 forties, it was purchased by Governor John Rutherfoord, familiarly 

 known as "Colonel John," as a summer home. His only son, John 

 Coles Rutherfoord, was so delighted with it that, deserting Rich- 

 mond, the place of his birth, he made Rock Castle his permanent 

 home and added a new front to the dwelling. He had traveled 

 extensively in Europe and was a keen observer of architecture and 

 of landscape gardening. The latter had not at that time been 

 much cultivated in Virginia and it was under his supervision that 

 the Rock Castle garden was laid out and many trees and shrubs 

 planted in the grounds. 



The garden was very large, with squares for vegetables divided 

 by broad walks, and every sort of small fruit, of berries, of herbs 

 and spices that could be grown in our climate were planted, as well 

 as flowers. As you entered under an arbor covered with roses, 

 honeysuckle and star jessamine, a broad walk opened before you, 

 bordered on either hand with blooming shrubs and flowers. Inside 

 of the old-fashioned white picket fence, and extending on either 

 hand, were other broad walks with borders of shrubs and flowers, 



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