Page 541 [541]
ADI - — on
HISTORIC GARDENS OF VIRGINIA
—- —— öl ltek —
beautiful animal lost its life. his so grieved their young mistress,
that she begged to have the fence pulled down and let them return
to their mountains.
An unique feature of the garden is a red-brick serpentine wall,
extending around three sides of it. ‘There is said to be only one
other of its kind in the State, and that is the one at the University
of Virginia, another English idea brought here, as if the flowers
needed the protection of a brick wall to keep oft cold winds. Tradi¬
tion says that after a time our great-grandfather realized the folly
of so much brick wall and said the place was to be called “Folly.”
In this old garden roses have always flourished. Beginning
with the burr rose or pink microphylla, which grew in a huge bush,
the cinnamon rose, the hundred-leaf rose, the seven sisters (a climb¬
ing rose), the Persian yellow, the red Giant of Battles, the Pink
daily, the Hermosa, and the Souvenir de Malmaison. On one side
of the front porch, and trained up on the banisters, grew a white
microphylla; on the other side a Maiden’s Blush rose; and on
the corner of the house climbing to the very eaves was a vigorous
single pink cluster rose, called by us the Kentucky rose. We must
not forget the pink damask rose, so deliciously sweet that its petals
are used for pot-pourri or sprinkled in the linen closet. It is from
this rose that the attar of rose perfume is made in Eastern coun¬
tries. These old-time roses are now supplemented by the ramblers,
which luxuriantly cover the pergola with their profusion of bloom.
The lilac and snow-ball bushes—especially one white llac—
have grown so large, they can no longer be called anything but trees,
which are about fifteen feet high. Once the glory of the garden
was a Persian lilac; when in bloom it was a feathery mass of rosy
lavender blossoms with the most fascinating fragrance, a sight
never to be forgotten! The flower border follows the graceful
curves of the serpentine wall, making charming, wavy masses and
sweeps of colour the entire extent of the wall. Driving up to the
front gate, hollyhocks, peeping over the wall, greet one in every
variety of colour. Later on in the season golden-glow extends a
[330]