Historic Gardens of Virginia 



directly in front of the house had a walk through the center and 

 large elm trees on either side of the driveway around it. 



The dwelling, a large rambling frame structure, seemed to have 

 been designed for comfort rather than architectural beauty. It 

 was surrounded with wonderful old trees — elm, maple and walnut. 

 Most conspicuous of all, however, at Carpet Hill, were the beau- 

 tiful grounds which comprise four acres, including lawns and flower 

 garden, in addition to a large acreage in vegetable garden, orchards 

 and meadow land. On two sides of the lawn was a hedge of purple 

 lilac, which was beautiful and fragrant when covered with its count- 

 less spring blossoms, but decorative for two seasons with its com- 

 pact foliage. The flower garden to the right of the house was out- 

 lined with boxwood about thirty inches high. The borders were 

 filled with hyacinths, pinks, snapdragons, hollyhocks, a wealth of 

 yellow day lilies, and many other old-fashioned flowers. Outside 

 the large circle were beds of lilies of the valley, and two smaller 

 circles of roses. Sweet violets formed a carpet underneath the 

 trees near the garden, and many spring bulbs bloomed under still 

 other trees. 



Some distance to the left were the orchards and the vegetable 

 garden. The squares for the latter, each of which comprised one- 

 third of an acre, were outlined by flower borders which showed a 

 profusion of bloom. Conspicuous among the flowers were holly- 

 hocks, peonies and Harrison roses. Here, during the War Between 

 the States, the family silver service was buried for safe keeping. 

 Three crops of potatoes were raised over it before any one dared 

 unearth it! 



The vegetable garden was oblong in shape and had grass walks 

 throughout. In the center was a large summer-house covered with 

 wistaria and trumpet vine, and some of the borders outlining the 

 squares were wide enough to have dwarf pear trees planted among 

 the peonies. The orderly rows of currant and gooseberry bushes 

 were also here, as well as a huge strawberry bed and picturesque 

 grape arbor. The orchard proper was very large and contained 



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