The Potomac and Rappahannock 



its original plan, but today is in smooth grass, trees, flowers, and 

 shrubbery, and is much more charming and picturesque than in the 

 days of its ancient, formal stiffness. 



I will never forget a very large and symmetrical crepe myrtle 

 tree, standing in the center of a square of this old garden and 

 every particle covered with its pink, crepy bloom — the sunset red 

 behind the trees and across the river, and the air musical with the 

 songs of many birds, for there are thousands of birds at Mount 

 Airy. 



It is an unforgettable experience to have tea on the second 

 terrace, the sun low behind the tulip poplar trees, and the birds 

 coming quite close to pick up crumbs — mockings, red birds, 

 thrashers, and robins, while two wood-thrushes sang their musical 

 song from the woods. The old tulip poplar trees are magnificent 

 and are believed to antedate the house. The view from the loggia 

 of the five terraces, the flowers, and the vista, is very lovely. 

 Off from the old garden are delightful walks to beguile one to 

 rustic arbours, seats under trees, vine-covered "summer-houses," 

 honeysuckle, shrubbery, and open woods. 



In the wall at Mount Airy they show you the place where the 

 old copper-still was placed in colonial times, where roses of the 

 garden were distilled into rose-water for "my lady's" toilet and 

 bath. And the garden, also, contributed a delicious drink, and 

 many a distinguished visitor from afar has wondered if the far- 

 famed cup which Circe gave to those she sought to beguile, could 

 have been half so fragrant and delicious as the rose wine that was 

 made at Mount Airy. It could be made only of damask roses, 

 and must be made In a blue bowl! 



Off to one side of the old garden site, there are picturesque brick 

 arches draped with Virginia creeper and trumpet vine and backed 

 by ancient box-trees, that lend a foreign touch; these are the ruins 

 of the orangery or conservatory. 



Here many a tropical and out-of-season fruit and berry was 

 raised — pineapples, oranges, lemons, etc. One English visitor, 



[223] 



