Oldal 58 [58]
CAoO—
Pre PAME Ss. ‘KREVER) PLANTATION DELT
— _ — =
ball, known to our grandmothers as guelder rose. [here are open¬
ings at intervals, on both sides, leading into various kinds of rose
gardens, and perennial borders, also large squares of iris, lilies, and
every variety of spring bulb.
The narrow walks, which lead in and out of the small gardens,
are edged with little yellow primroses or cowslips and sweet violets,
both white and blue. There are evidences still left of great hedges
of fig and dogwood; but the latter being short-lived, it is hard to
determine just when and how they were planted. Ihe enormous
grove on the land front of the house is as rich with magnificent trees
as the river front. Tulip poplars, oaks, lindens, ash, sycamores,
junipers and a pecan tree that is said to be one of the finest in
the world.
My first visit to Brandon is a beautiful memory. It was in
May, 1902. We had been on a pilgrimage to Jamestown and
stopped at Brandon just after a thunderstorm. It was in the late
afternoon, and a great burst of golden sunlight had just come out
of the grey clouds and touched every glistening raindrop on every
blade of grass, while the dripping foliage was made golden against
the solemn black trunks of the trees.
There seemed to be hundreds of wood robins, mocking birds and
cardinals singing their fullest notes for that last bit of day. I
followed many of the little cowslip paths that led me into masses
of roses in full bloom; Marechal Neil, damask, and every variety
of tea rose, each holding the raindrops. Enormous wild grape¬
vines festooned some of the trees, and they, too, were in full bloom,
all filling the air with a wonderful fragrance, added to that dell¬
cious scent of box, so essential to old gardens. Many of the borders
were heavily shaded, and in these columbines, forget-me-nots and
bleeding heart were blooming.
The charm of that garden will live always; and one who is
fortunate enough to visit Brandon in May will feel an awakening
of all the poetic in his soul. Almost unconsciously he will repeat
the old childhood’s rhyme:
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