Oldal 356 [356]
OT (a en ET Te ere)
THs POTOMAC. AND (RAPPAHANNOCK
its original plan, but today is in smooth grass, trees, flowers, and
shrubbery, and is much more charming and picturesque than in the
days of its ancient, formal stiftness.
I will never forget a very large and symmetrical crepe myrtle
tree, standing in the center of a square of this old garden and
every particle covered with its pink, crepy bloom—the sunset red
behind the trees and across the river, and the air musical with the
songs of many birds, for there are thousands of birds at Mount
Airy.
It is an unforgettable experience to have tea on the second
terrace, the sun low behind the tulip poplar trees, and the birds
coming quite close to pick up crumbs—mockings, red_ birds,
thrashers, and robins, while two wood-thrushes sang their musical
song from the woods. The old tulip poplar trees are magnificent
and are believed to antedate the house. The view from the loggia
of the five terraces, the flowers, and the vista, is very lovely.
Ott from the old garden are delightful walks to beguile one to
rustic arbours, seats under trees, vine-covered ‘‘summer-houses,”’
honeysuckle, shrubbery, and open woods.
In the wall at Mount Airy they show you the place where the
old copper-still was placed in colonial times, where roses of the
garden were distilled into rose-water for “‘my lady’s’’ toilet and
bath. And the garden, also, contributed a delicious drink, and
many a distinguished visitor from afar has wondered if the far¬
famed cup which Circe gave to those she sought to beguile, could
have been half so fragrant and delicious as the rose wine that was
made at Mount Airy. It could be made only of damask roses,
and must be made in a blue bowl!
Off to one side of the old garden site, there are picturesque brick
arches draped with Virginia creeper and trumpet vine and backed
by ancient box-trees, that lend a foreign touch; these are the ruins
of the orangery or conservatory.
Flere many a tropical and out-of-season fruit and berry was
raised—pineapples, oranges, lemons, etc. One English visitor,
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