Historic Gardens of Virginia 



lilac bushes on either side of the terraces; the most beloved flower 

 of spring. In many colonial dooryards, it was the only shrub, 

 known both to lettered and unlettered folk as Laylock and spelt 

 Laylock. 



In the original Oak Hill gardens were, no doubt, scores of old- 

 time favorites — flower-de-luce, peonies, daffodils, merry phlox, and 

 as a background, the green of massive oaks, which revealed Presi- 

 dent Monroe's love of trees. 



Although the Oak Hill garden does not now bear comparison 

 for elaborateness with other gardens in historic Loudoun and Fau- 

 quier, it has been the care of various flower-loving women from 

 time to time. With its changes in ownership the garden has never 

 lost its distinction. 



During many years of her occupancy of Oak Hill, it was the 

 pleasure of Mrs. Henry Fairfax to see that the garden preserved 

 its beauty, and she welcomed into It with gracious hospitality many 

 discriminating guests. 



Describing the garden Mrs. Fairfax says, "The Oak Hill 

 garden is very simple but sweet and satisfactory with a profusion 

 of bloom from early flowering bulbs and shrubs to the cosmos and 

 chrysanthemum of late autumn. It slopes to the south and the west 

 and comprises about one acre enclosed on three sides by a privet 

 hedge. The fourth or north side is bound by a wire fence almost 

 covered and concealed by rose vines. This gives the appearance of 

 a continuation of the garden as a part of the lawn. 



"The entrance gate is in the center of the garden and has a 

 rose-covered arch above it with box bushes on each side. At this 

 gate one looks through three rose-covered arches — one on each 

 terrace — down a turfed path to a white marble sundial beyond 

 which range the lovely Bull Run hills or mountains. Within the 

 gate, one finds on either side a border of roses along the fence. 

 A three-foot path runs with the first terrace east and west for one 

 hundred feet. Below this are t^^o more terraces about thirty feet 

 wide which extends east and west. That on the east is flanked by a 



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