Historic Gardens of Virginia 



the spring and where later on they made their nests. The trees on 

 the terraces are one of the chief beauties of the place. There are 

 splendid oaks, and old hemlocks, yews that came from a far country, 

 maples, holly and mimosa. 



The garden proper was behind the house and was enclosed by 

 a white paling fence over which grew jasmines and climbing roses 

 in great profusion, filling the air with their sweetness in the season 

 of bloom. 



Like the gardens of that day, there were vegetable squares 

 edged with flowers, broad grass walks hedged by box and old- 

 fashioned perennials of every kind, where jonquils, tulips, violets 

 and hyacinths welcomed the spring, and peonies, roses and sweet- 

 scented lilies held sway later on. There were masses of shrubbery 

 and tall growing box, as well as jasmines and lilacs. Further on 

 were the grape arbors, currant and gooseberry bushes. 



It would be hard to say when Mirador was at its loveliest — 

 whether in the June sunshine when the air was filled with the odor 

 of all the blooming things and the shadows on the lawn were cool 

 and beguiling, or in winter, when the first snows had fallen and 

 turned the hemlocks, ivy and yews into a dream garden and the 

 moon shone down on this peaceful valley with the mountains all 

 white in the distance. 



The old "Post Road" leading from Richmond and Washington 

 to Staunton wound its way through this mountainous country in 

 front of the Mirador lawn, and many noted travelers have stopped 

 to rest a while at the old "Long House Tavern," just a short 

 distance east of the place, before continuing their journey over 

 the tortuous rocky road which led across the Blue Ridge Moun- 

 tains and on into the Valley of Virginia. 



Mirador, at the death of Colonel Bowen passed to his daughter, 

 Mary, who had married Colonel O. R. Funsten, of Clarke County, 

 and it was held by the Funsten family until 1890, when it was sold 

 to C. D. Langhorne, and is now the home of his granddaughter, 

 xMrs. Ronald Tree. Bessie Carter Funsten. 



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