The Potomac and Rappahannock 



Virginia, Mrs. Thomas Jones, "Virginia cones, acorns and seeds 

 would be most acceptable." Robert Beverley, the historian, writ- 

 ing about 1700, tells how easily and abundantly both fruits and 

 flowers were grown in Virginia. He writes, con amore, of the 

 tulip, "the perfection of flavor" and "all sorts of herbs," 

 and "the charming colors of the humming birds revelling among 

 the blossoms," etc. This Virginia historian of the long ago shows 

 the same knowledge and love of flowers that his many-times grand- 

 son. Captain James Bradshaw Beverley, does in the following 

 sketch of the old garden at Avenel — a garden designed more than 

 a hundred years ago by James Bradshaw Beverley and his wife, 

 Jane Peter of Georgetown, the grandparents of Captain Beverley. 



The garden of Avenel was formed by two flower-knots, which 

 are shown in the diagram. To quote from Captain Beverley, "the 

 flower-knots which were at Avenel were copied by my grandparents, 

 if I remember aright, the one on the right from 'Tudor Place' and 

 that on the left from 'Blandfield.' " In drawing them, I have not 

 attempted mathematical precision, as no instruments were available; 

 to have done so would have been difficult. And no drawing could 

 convey to you the beauty, the wooing welcome, the dolce far n'lente 

 of it all. 



Nothing but old-timey flowers ! None of our grand new roses, 

 not one. Nothing but old-timey flowers. And it has often struck 

 me that our new productions, while each by itself, posing for its 

 portrait, as it were, is indeed a prince of beauty, do not add much 

 to the looks of a crowd. Have you ever seen, at a cemetery, a 

 floral tribute composed only of wild flowers, which had been selected 

 with taste and arranged with a sense of harmony? The florist's 

 best effort meets its peer. 



No drawing, I said — of course not — not even Paul deLongpre's 

 brush could have done those flower-knots justice. And yet "the 

 Sunburst" and "Mrs. Charles Russell" were not there. Only the 

 old Damask, the Hundred-Leaf, the Hermosa and the Daily, the 

 Harrisonian, the Champigny and Grevel. Then came the Giant 



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