Page 429 [429]
Historic: GARDENS (OF -VIRGINIA
— —= —_——————E—_—>————__y—xqx—x===E ezaz ——_—__—— SE 8 eT Nemi small. - aes =————= zett
Hill is still called " larletons Wood, for it was here that his
men encamped while waiting for their leader.
How long the old garden at Castle Hill has been in existence
it would be difficult to say, but probably somewhere between the
granting of the land in 1727 and the completion of the present
house in 1765. It has no intricate plan, no winding walks. It is
simply a great square, bounded on the north side by a high brick
wall against which stand fig bushes, and enclosed on the other three .
sides by a Colonial arrowhead picket-fence. The garden lies in
four deep terraces.
At the top stands one of the great box-hedges, for which Castle
Hill is famous. The highest terrace, where one enters the garden
through an arch in the hedge, and down a flight of old brick steps
sunk deep in the bank, is devoted entirely to flowers. here are
the old garden shrubs and flowers, some so old that their names
are now almost forgotten. [he borders are a tangle of lovely
color, and the air is filled with a penetrating sweetness that goes
to one’s head like wine.
Leaving the upper terrace by more old steps, deep set in the
terrace side, a broad turf walk leads down to the second and
down more steps to the third level, and so to the lowest ter¬
race of all. The great square beds on each side of the walk are
bordered by fruit trees, and grass paths lead everywhere around
the terraces. Beginning on the second level, a grape arbor stretches
over the broad turf walk, and as one passes down from terrace to
terrace, one sees the orderly rows of vegetables stretching away
on either side, for the Castle Hill garden is not only beautiful and
full of old world charm, but it is noted throughout the countryside
as the best vegetable garden.
No changes have been made since it was first laid out by
Dr. Thomas Walker, of Indian fame. In Colonial days, he was
Major and Quartermaster-General of the Colonial forces in Vir¬
ginia, Member of the House of Burgesses, and the Committee
of Safety. In this garden have walked many famous men—Wash¬
| 266 |