Historic Gardens of Virginia 



sidewalks bordered with ivy and masses of larkspur, lilies and 

 Canterbury bells. To the left the same Maltese cross, with ivy 

 and dainty cowslip borders, and masses of all our dearly loved 

 Southern flowers. The many-shaped garden plots are filled with 

 old-fashioned plants. The floral manuals of that period give lists 

 of hollyhocks, peonies, iris, tulips, lilies, nasturtium, columbine, 

 heliotrope, cowslips, pansies, pride of London, etc. Here, too, we 

 find a calycanthus planted by Thomas Jefferson — a gentle shrub, 

 bringing with its perfume a memory of those olden days of dignified 

 friendships and courteous hospitality. A long, straight bed of roses, 

 edged with ivy, helps out the design. Then we have long circular 

 beds of roses, iris, and peonies with violet borders. In one of these 

 beds is the Mary Washington rose, a small cluster rose nearly white, 

 planted by young Washington, and named for his mother — (could 

 any mother want a sweeter tribute from a son?) A row of fig- 

 bushes stands behind the box-hedge, and doubtless the children after 

 lessons would delight in their abundance. Turning at the little 

 schoolhouse, we will come back to the conservatory. A long grass- 

 plot, planted in shrubs, has next the wall a mass of lilies of the 

 valley. In front of the quarters are long box borders, planted in 

 squares and circles, open and solid, the outer box border tessellated, 

 and an inner one of ivy. Outside of these are box designs in odd 

 shapes, and other long borders planted in tulips. Two box-trees 

 front the conservatory, near which we see also the shrub-magnolia 

 planted by LaFayette — a glorious plant in spring — and in a bed, in 

 all its glory the Nelly Custis rose — of creamy white — said to have 

 been planted and named by George Washington. 



And so we bid an unwilling farewell to these beautiful gardens 

 of George Washington — so brilliant in the sunshine of our modern 

 days, a design not yet equalled, of an historical interest impossible 

 to approach. Here young Mr. and Mrs. Washington lived their 

 lives of great contrasts — peace and war — isolated from the hurry- 

 ing world, and yet crowded with earthly interests. Here they 

 lived, and here they died. Lives full of sweetness of youth and 



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