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OCR
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 farfamed 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, [223 |
