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OCR
SL seszszzas ON HISTORIC GARDENS (OF VIRGINIA directly in front of the house had a walk through the center and large elm trees on either side of the driveway around it. The dwelling, a large rambling frame structure, seemed to have been designed for comfort rather than architectural beauty. It was surrounded with wonderful old trees—elm, maple and walnut. Most conspicuous of all, however, at Carpet Hill, were the beautiful grounds which comprise four acres, including lawns and flower garden, in addition to a large acreage in vegetable garden, orchards and meadow land. On two sides of the lawn was a hedge of purple lilac, which was beautiful and fragrant when covered with its countless spring blossoms, but decorative for two seasons with its compact foliage. ‘he flower garden to the right of the house was outlined with boxwood about thirty inches high. [he borders were filled with hyacinths, pinks, snapdragons, hollyhocks, a wealth of yellow day lilies, and many other old-fashioned flowers. Outside the large circle were beds of lilies of the valley, and two smaller circles of roses. Sweet violets formed a carpet underneath the trees near the garden, and many spring bulbs bloomed under still other trees. Some distance to the left were the orchards and the vegetable garden. ‘he squares for the latter, each of which comprised onethird of an acre, were outlined by flower borders which showed a profusion of bloom. Conspicuous among the flowers were hollyhocks, peonies and Harrison roses. Here, during the War Between the States, the family silver service was buried for safe keeping. Three crops of potatoes were raised over it before any one dared unearth it! The vegetable garden was oblong in shape and had grass walks throughout. In the center was a large summer-house covered with wistaria and trumpet vine, and some of the borders outlining the squares were wide enough to have dwarf pear trees planted among the peonies. Ihe orderly rows of currant and gooseberry bushes were also here, as well as a huge strawberry bed and picturesque grape arbor. The orchard proper was very large and contained [354]
