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The Gardens of Monticello
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11276 |
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Section : |
LIFE
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| Issue
Date : |
9 / 1993 |
1,511 Words |
| Author
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Varda Avnisan
Varda Avnisan writes stories and children's books. |
Standing on top of a hill some nine hundred feet above sea level, and commanding a magnificent view of the Virginia countryside, Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's stately home near Charlottesville, has inspired visitors for over two hundred years. Unfolding vistas of grass- and tree-covered hills mixed with numerous gardens stretch out on all sides, touching the valley below. In the far distance, the Blue Ridge Mountains jut into the sky, meeting the clouds.
Whether it is the flower gardens, the vegetable gardens, the orchard, or the grove, the Jefferson gardens are as prominent as the house itself. They are as diverse as the man who designed and planted them and reflect the natural curiosity of Jefferson, who said, "There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me."
This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jefferson's birth, and along with celebrations of his political and architectural achievements come celebrations of his horticultural achievements. The legacy is reflected in the restored gardens of Monticello.
"The gardens were an experimental laboratory in what Jefferson called 'the workhouse of nature.' He approached natural history as a science through horticulture," explains Jack Huegel, our guide and an avid gardener himself.
Jefferson meticulously recorded in his Garden Book every possible detail of the happenings in his garden, from the growing seasons to the blooming times of each of the plants. Through the years, Jefferson cultivated over 250 vegetable and 170 fruit varieties. Much of the information for the restoration of the gardens came from his book, together with the architectural plans he left behind.
When Jefferson came to Monticello, he subdivided the plantation into five parts, each of which was separately managed. The 950 acres around the house were reserved for his farm and gardens, which he planted in such a way as to unify the grounds.
FLOWER BEDS
He set about his landscaping at the four corners of the house where he designed oval flower beds. Originally he planned to place a single type of seed in each bed, but realized that this was going to be too limiting. Two beds were planted with seeds brought back from the Lewis and Clark expedition.
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