Stranica 221 [221]
Historic: GARDENS “OF: VIRGINIA
| eee
and in planning their garden did much for future generations—
much that has extended beyond the confines of their evergreen
garden.
This garden is of the sort that can only be found about old
houses where sweet and sacred memories linger like the scent of
the box and the flowers which bloom within it. How cold and
unfriendly modern gardens seem when compared to the old¬
fashioned ones! At Elk Hill, most of the flower inmates can trace
their pedigrees back to the floral emigrants from England and
Holland. [he young plants that replace the dead ones are scions
of the old stock. Strange blossoms, changing every springtime,
would not be in good standing with the venerable day lilies and
periwinkle, or the mock orange and althea, some of whom can
remember the day when the elms and poplars that shade the lawn
were only saplings.
In the following verses, "My Garden,” written by Mrs. Stokes,
we give a charming picture of Elk Hill at blooming time:
“Century-old boxwoods their vigils keep
Like sentinels on guard o’er the flowers sweet,
Lilacs, purple, peonies, pink,
Jonquils, hyacinths, tulips; think
Of the beauty, the fragrance, the charm—
Syringa, spiraea, lilies adorn
My Garden.
“Ah! Roses twined with memories sweet!
With rapture many hearts in ‘membrance beat;
Wars have raged under colors of the rose,
Lancaster and York cost England in throes.
A bier is covered! A bride’s path strewn!
But return to the roses all—abloom
In my Garden.
“As I sit in an arbor, all vine-clad
With yellow star-jasmine, I would I had
The power to picture on every side
Nature’s canvas painted in springtide.
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