Stranica 125 [125]
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HISTORLC GARDENS OOP Varian Ta
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Carrington. He married first, Margaret, the widow of Colonel
Charles Pickett and daughter of Dr. John Adams. His second
wife was Susan Grymes Braxton, the third in descent from Carter
Braxton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. His land on
the east sloped down to that historic spot known as Bloody Run,
where Bacon, in 1676, had such a fierce battle with the Indians
that the little stream at the foot of the hill literally ran with blood.
Just as the stirring days of Revolutionary history hang around
those other homes, so memories of 1861-65 come crowding over
one as we recall how the sick, the wounded and dying of the Con¬
federate army were nursed and tenderly cared for by the inmates
of this house, one poor fellow being buried in the garden while
Richmond was under fire.
In the “Diary of a Southern Refugee,” Mrs. McGuire speaks
of this house ‘as a picture of comfort and hospitality, the wealth
being used at this troublous time for the comfort of others.’’ So
freely was this wealth used that Mrs. Carrington found herself
after the war not only widowed, but like so many gentlewomen of
the South, obliged to part with some of her land. Year by year
portions of the grounds were sold. ‘The first to go was the vege¬
table garden in the rear of the house. A white paling fence,
hidden by a hedge of bridal wreath and single and double holly¬
hocks, enclosed this part of the garden, where, in large square
beds, many varieties of vegetables were planted, and strawberries
and raspberries grew in abundance: and what garden of that time
could fail to have its sage and rue, sweet marjoram and silver
thyme? Grape vines covered the long arbor which separated the |
vegetable garden from the orchard, with its cherry and pear trees,
mulberry, apricot, apple, and peach. At the extreme end of the
ground was the old carriage house and stable, which was standing
long after the house had gone. In a brick courtyard the servants’
quarters and old smokehouse stood.
Ruskin has said that “Flowers only flourish rightly in the garden
of some one who loves them.” If this is true, there were many
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