2 
The Gardens at Mount Vernon 
Continued from page one. 
double rocket larkspur (Delphinium Ajac- 
is), Wasp double larkspur (Delphinium 
elatum), everlasting or Lady peas (Lathy- 
rus latifolius), and sweet Painted Lady 
peas (lathyrus odoratus variety). These 
and other herbaceous ornamentals known 
to have been grown in the 18th century 
Virginia gardens compose all the present 
planting list. 
The Botanical Garden 
To the east of the garden, between 
the garden wall and the spinning house, 
is the ‘Botanical Garden’. This was the 
nursery area and first designated and used 
as such by General Washington in the 
spring of 1785. It was frequently referr- 
ed to as his ‘little garden’. This space 
was continuously used for the growing 
of seedlings or small stock of special 
interest, acquired from time to time 
in small quantities. The area, located 
in close proximity to the Mansion, was 
undoubtely supervised by General Wash- 
ington, and in his absence by the manag- 
er, aS evidenced by the dairies and writ- 
ings. 
The Mount Vernon kitchen’ garden, 
south of the ‘Bolling Green’, is symetrical 
in outline with the flower garden to the 
north, but it is terraced in two levels, both 
below the level of the flower garden and 
the ‘Bolling Green’. 
Immediately inside the gate is a box 
bordered walk extending the width of the 
first terrace. Sections of these hedges were 
wintered killed fifty years ago, but have 
made a splendid recovery from the orig- 
inal roots. These walk bordereds are 
believed to be of the same age as those in 
the flower gardn. 
The Kitchen Garden 
Anothr octagonal garden house is loc- 
ated at the apex of the elliptical walls at 
the west end of the kitchn garden. An 
octagonal house in the northeast corner 
balances the one at the southeast corner 
of the flower garden. 
The kitchen garden was in turn cult- 
jvated and neglected through the nine- 
teenth century and there is little surviv- 
ing evidence of General Washington’s 
plantig plan. The garden was restored 
in 1936 as a typical kitchen garden; it con- 
tains the features and plants mentioned 
in the published writings and in the gard- 
ener’s weekly reports. Typical hot bed 
frams, dipping wells, and a bee house are 
presented in this garden. The vegetable 
beds are laid out in small squares or rect- 
angles and are bordered with culinary 
and aromatic herbs. The paths between 
the beds are maintained with turf. Fruit 
trees are espaliered against the walls 
and horizontal espalier fruit trees are 
planted along the principal paths. The 
stock of some of the fruits grown today is 
descended from that grown during Gen- 
eral Washington’s lifetime. All of the 
material grown in the kitchen garden 
is documented by General Washington’s 
writings or the weekly reports of his gard- 
eners. Following is a list of this mater- 
jal: 
The Vegetables Grown 
Asparagus,Beans (bush, pole and limes) 
Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauli- 
flower Swiss Chard, Cucumbers, Egg 
Plant, Kale, Lettuce, both head and loose 
leaf ,Onion and Onion Asparagus, Parsnip, 
Peas, Peppers, bird and hot, Potatoes, 
Sweet Potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Ruta 
Bagas, Spinach, Winter and Summer 
Squash, Tomatoes and Turnips. 
The herb garden was more extensive 
than present’ gardens. 
Artichokes, Sanctum and Sweet Basil, 
Catmint, Chives, Germander, Horse-rad- 
ish, Hyssop, Lavender, Lavender Cotton, 
Lemon Balm, Marjoram, both Sweet and 
Knotted, Mint, Nasturtium, Parsley, Pen- 
nyroyal, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Winter 
Savory, Swiss Chard, Tarragon, common 
and French Thyme. 
Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Figs, Grapes, 
Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Quince, 
and Strawberries. 
By Robert B. Fisher, Horticulturist 
at Mount Vernon and in collaboration 
with Mr. Charles C. Wall, Resident Super- 
intendent of the Association and by court- 
esy of The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Associ- 
ation. 
Partial List of Original Plant Material Now 
Being Grown in the Mount Vernon Gardens 
Following is a partial listing of 18th 
century plant material which is currently 
grown in the garden: 
HolJyhock (Althea rosea) 
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) 
Bastard Tower Mustard (Arabis alpina) 
Garden Daisy (Bellis perennis) 
Tassel-Flower (Cacalia coccinea) 
Marigold (Calendula officinalis) 
Canterbury Bell (Campanula medium) 
Coekscomb (Celosia cristata) red and 
yellow. 
Cockscomb (C. plumosa) Feathered 
Basket Flower (Centaurea americana) 
Blue Bottle (Centaurea cyanus) 
Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium Tomentos- 
um) 
Honeywort (Cerinthe major) 
Wallflower (Cheiranthus  allion) 
Wallflower (C. cheirii) 
Perennial Wallflower (C. linifolius) 
Corn Marigold. (Chrysanthemum leu- 
canthemum) 
Spider Flower (Cleome serrulata) 
Spider Flower. (Cleome_ spinosa). 
Collinsia bicolor 
Perennial Tickweed. (Coreopsis gr. fl.). 
Daphne Cneorum 
Thorn Apple (Datura meteloides) 
Larkspur (Delphinum elatum) 
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) 
Sweet Wivelsfield (D_ .carthusianorum) 
Clove Gilliflower (Dianthus plumarius) 
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) 
Poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla) 
Snow-on-the-Mountain (E. marginata) 
Fuchsia. ( F. magellanica). 
Herb-Bonnet (Guem coccinea) 
Bachelor Buttons (Gomphrena globosa) 
Garden Sunflower. (Helianthus annus). 
Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum) 
Turnsole or MHeliotrope (Heliotropium 
peruvianum) 
Day Lily (Hemercalliss fluva) 
Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) 
Sciatica Cress (Iberis gibraltica) 
Shrubby Sciatica Cress (I. sempervirens) 
Balsam (Impatiens balsamea) 
Lantana (Lantana camarra) 
Everlasting Pea (Lathryrus latifolius) 
Lavater (Lavatera splendens) 
Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum) 
Perennial Flax (Linum perenne) 
Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora) 
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 
Blue Cardinal Flower (L. siphilitica) 
Honesty (Lunaria biennis) 
Maltese-Cross (Lychnis chalcedonica) 
Dusty Miller (Lychnis coronaria) 
Ragged Robin. (L. Flos-Cuculi). 
Stock Gilliflower (Mathiola incanis) 
Four O’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) 
For-get-me-nots (Myosotis alpestris) 
Tobacco (Nicotiana affinis) 
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) 
Peony 
Scented Geranium (Pelargonium biennis) 
Purple Basil (Purilla frutescens) 
Spring Phlox (Phlox ovata) 
Perennial Phlox. (Phlox paniculata). 
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) 
Greek Valerian (Polemonium repans) 
Caster Bean (Ricinus communis) 
Perwinkle (Vinca rosea) 
Atamasco Lily (Zephyranthes Atamasco) 
Zephranthes candida 
FERDINAND 
FRENCH MARIGOLD FERDINAND. 
The Harmony types of the French Mari- 
golds make excellent cutflowers, as well as 
attractive groups in the 
border. . 
Ferdinand is 2 feet 
high, single flowers, 
and in the same group 
with Flash, Naughty 
Marietta, Red Head 
and Josephine. These 
vary from 1-3 feet in 
height and _ therefore 
» are not suitable in mix- 
_ tures. 
All the French Mar- 
igolds do best if the 
seed is sown where the 
plants are to grow. and not too rich a soil. 
Packet 15¢; 1/4 Oz. 35¢, Postpaid. 
SOME SOUTH RHODESIAN FLOWERS 
The following fresh seeds have just been 
feceived. All are tender and suitable for 
outdoor planting only in the far South or 
southern California. They are all beautiful. 
All packets are 25¢ each. 
Chironia transvaalensis. 
Clerodendrum macrocoides. Glory Bower. 
Crinum zeylanicum. Five Seeds 30¢. 
Aneilma aequintiale. 
Astroculaena malvyaceae. 
Erythrina humeana. 
” tomentosa. Rhodesian kaffir Boom. 
Hypoxis species. Star Grass. 
Gladiolus psittacinus. 
Moraea zambesiaca. 
Sopubia leprosa. 
Tulbaghia sp. 
We will be pleased to hear from any of 
our readers who have grown any of the above 
flowers. 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY 
Dimondale, Michigan, U.S.A. 
