Page 319 [319]
OCR
* O— Se ene aera Ie Historic ‘GARDENS GE EN BEGIN TA ai a — sidewalks bordered with ivy and masses of larkspur, lilies and Canterbury bells. ‘Io the left the same Maltese cross, with ivy and dainty cowslip borders, and masses of all our dearly loved Southern flowers. Ihe many-shaped garden plots are filled with old-fashioned plants. The floral manuals of that period give lists of hollyhocks, peonies, iris, tulips, lilies, nasturtium, columbine, heliotrope, cowslips, pansies, pride of London, etc. Here, too, we find a calycanthus planted by [Thomas Jefterson—a gentle shrub, bringing with its perfume a memory of those olden days of dignified friendships and courteous hospitality. A long, straight bed of roses, edged with ivy, helps out the design. ‘Then we have long circular beds of roses, iris, and peonies with violet borders. In one of these beds is the Mary Washington rose, a small cluster rose nearly white, planted by young Washington, and named for his mother—(could any mother want a sweeter tribute from a son?) A row of hgbushes stands behind the box-hedge, and doubtless the children after lessons would delight in their abundance. ‘Turning at the little schoolhouse, we will come back to the conservatory. A long grassplot, planted in shrubs, has next the wall a mass of lilies of the valley. In front of the quarters are long box borders, planted in squares and circles, open and solid, the outer box border tessellated, and an inner one of ivy. Outside of these are box designs in odd shapes, and other long borders planted in tulips. Iwo box-trees front the conservatory, near which we see also the shrub-magnolia planted by LaFayette—a glorious plant in spring—and in a bed, in all its glory the Nelly Custis rose—of creamy white—said to have been planted and named by George Washington. And so we bid an unwilling farewell to these beautiful gardens of George Washington—so brilliant in the sunshine of our modern days, a design not yet equalled, of an historical interest impossible to approach. Here young Mr. and Mrs. Washington lived their lives of great contrasts—peace and war—isolated from the hurrying world, and yet crowded with earthly interests. Here they lived, and here they died. Lives full of sweetness of youth and [196]
