SASSAFRAS — On ISIarch 3, 1785, Washington was planting Sassa- 

 fras-trees (Sassafras variifolium) in his shrubberies. Large Sassafras-trees 

 have been blown down at Mount Vernon in recent years and there are 

 only two of these trees shown on the plan; one of these (No. 21) stands 

 next to the White Mulberry and is 50 feet tall with a trunk 2 feet 4 inches 

 in diameter; the other is in the northeast corner of the East Lawn and 

 is No. 137. This tree is 62 feet tall with a trunk 21 inches in diameter. 

 The Sassafras is a common native tree in Virginia and the two Mount 

 Vernon specimens are probably not planted trees. 



REDBUDS— On February 28 and March 3. 1785, Washington was 

 planting Redbud-trees (Cercis canadensis) at Mount Vernon, and the 

 position of fo\ir of these trees is marked on the plan. No. 35 stands in 

 the west border of the Flower Garden and has two stems each 31 feet 

 high and 8 inches in diameter. No. 61, which is on the Serpentine Walk 

 near the entrance to the Flower Garden, is 20 feet tall with a trunk 7 

 inches in diameter; No. 52, which is on the opposite side of the Bowling 

 Green, is 33 feet tall with a trunk 7 inches in diameter. Judging by 

 their size and vigor, these trees could not have been planted in the 

 eighteenth century. No. 121, which stands near the east end of the 

 Mansion, is a shoot from the stump of an old tree which may have been 

 planted by Washington. 



DOGWOODS— On February 22, 1785, ^^'ashington "moved several 

 young trees of Sassafras, Dogwood and Redbud to the shrubbery on No. 

 side of the grass plat." That he appreciated the beauty which can be 

 obtained by contrasting the white flowers of the Dogwood with the rose- 

 colored flowers of the Redbud is sliown by his planting on March 1, 1795, 

 "a circle of Dogwood with a Redbud in the middle close to the old Cherry 

 tree near the south garden house." There are two large Dogwood-trees 

 northwest of the Flower Garden which may have been growing where 

 they now stand before Washington's death, although it is impossible to 

 decide whether they were planted or are natural trees. No. 22 is 28 feet 

 tall with a trunk 10 inches in diameter, and No. 23 is 26 feet tall with a 

 trunk 12 inches in diameter. 



HOLLIES — Washington appreciated the beauty of the native Holly 

 (Ilex opuca), which is often mentioned in his Diary, and there are now 

 thirteen large specimens of this tree standing at Mount Vernon which 

 were probably planted during his lifetime. This Holly grows slowly and 

 trees one hundred years old which have grown naturally under more favor- 

 able conditions are often not larger than the Mount Vernon trees. No. 

 11 is 19 feet tall with a trunk 9 inches in diameter; No. 18-1 is 31 feet 

 taU with a trunk 1 foot 4 inches in diameter; No. 27 is 28 feet tall with 

 a trunk 7 inches in diameter; No. 34 is 38 feet tall with a trunk 1 foot 

 in diameter; No. 49 is 37 feet tall with a trunk 1 foot in diameter: No. (50 

 is 37 feel tall with a trunk 1 foot 1 inch in diameter; No. 86 is 30 feet tall 



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