Oldal 271 [271]
HISTORIC GARDENS OF VIRGINIA
day of Thomas Todd, emigrant. Guarded by an ancient willow
tree, this graveyard contains as many tombstones as any family
seat in Virginia; among these there is one dated 1703.
In 1859, Thomas Tabb, son of Philip and Mary Mason
Wythe-Booth-Tabb, moved to Texas and the property passed out
of his family. In 1880 it was purchased by John Mott, of Long
Island, the father of the present owner, Mr. William Mott. ‘The
children of the latter have been born and brought up at Todds¬
bury, and they all love and appreciate the history and beauties of
the old Colonial dwelling; it is to the kindness of Mrs. Mott that
I am indebted for the sketches of the house and lawn.
The garden was situated on the north side of the house and was
much neglected before the days of the present owners, but there
are descendants of the Tabbs who remember well its glories. It
was surrounded by a brick wall not more than two and a half feet
in height, and on top of this was a wooden railing, with a gate also
of wood of pretty design. There is a similar wall and entrance
in perfect preservation at Hickory Hill, Hanover County, the home
of Mr. Henry Wickham.
The garden, which was a rectangle in form, was divided by a
centre walk and cross walks, making squares for vegetables sur¬
rounded by dwarf box hedges, and with narrow borders for flowers
along the edges. In these borders were grown all of the early and
late flowers of that period, and at the junction of the walks were
planted large and small shrubs, making a diversion to the monot¬
ony of the borders and hedges. Just inside of the gate, and across
the south side of the garden, was a broad walk with flower¬
borders on either hand inside of the box hedges. On the lawn
were set out trees of various kinds, a very fine pecan and a black
ash remaining to show the taste of the early owners.
ANNE SEDDON RUTHERFOORD JOHNSON.
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