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BRANDON zzz eze] HE garden of gardens in Virginia is that of Lower 6 Rae Brandon, situated on the broad waters of the et Wk 5 a) La y ey: 2 ‘ (kg James River. One can hardly put into words the Re << g® beauty of a garden so saturated with intangible Aes] charm. It has no rare blossoms, nor shrubs (, wz E)} brought from foreign lands, no delicately-planned parterres so loved by our English grandmothers, but just the same old-fashioned flowers we have known from childhood. We meet them again at Brandon in such health and wealth of beauty, and such dignity of surroundings, that it is hard to believe the feeble attempts in our own gardens belong to the same family. ‘The Brandon garden is not merely one enclosure, where we may enter through a gate and, when we have closed it, feel a delightful sense of seclusion. No, it is different from any other garden in Virginia. The masses of blossom, the ample grounds, the greens, the groves, and the wide spread of the peaceful James, are so closely blended with the house, the home and the people, that there is a unique charm of landscape and atmosphere mellowed through eight generations. If you want to let your imagination run hand in hand with poetry and romance; if you want to skip and dance and make merry with childhood, laugh with youth, meditate with the wise, and dream with sweet, placid old age, then go to Lower Brandon, and stroll at sunset down the long grass walk that leads to the river. | Brandon was first called Martin’s Brandon, as it was granted to John Martin, who came over from England with John Smith. John Martin was a member of His Mayjesty’s first Council in Virginia. In 1635 it was granted to John Sadler and Richard Quiney, merchants, and William Barbour, mariner. Richard Quiney mar135] — 4 eX
