Oldal 541 [541]
OCR
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. Tradition 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 climbing 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 countries. 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]
