Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-02
Glorious Gardens.


During the period from April % to
May 10 many District of Columbia cars,
laden with happily anticipatory pas
sengers, are heading south into ada
cent Virginia. These people are avail
ing themselves of an annual opportunity,
becoming yearly better known and more
highly appreciated, of seeing famous
and beautiful gardens, the majority OF
which are closed to the public at all
other periods.
Historic Garden Week" is the title
given this event by the Garden Club
of Virginia, which is the sponsor thereof
and which arranges with owners of the
many historic mansions and plantations
in every section of the Old Dominion
for the public to get these instructive
and inspiring views. A nominal charge
is made to each visitor, proceeds OF
which are worthily and wisely applied.
This year, for example, the Garden Club
is cooperating with the Kenmore Asso-
citation, pledged to the restoration of
Betty Washingtons home in Fredericks-
burg, and has assumed as its part Of
the program the re-establishment Of the
pre- Revolutionary garden of that vener-
able mansion. In addition to all these
ancient paintings, the best in modern
Virginia gardening will also be thrown
open to the travellers.
In some cases descendants Of the
original builders still occupy the manor
houses; in others the occupants are re-
cent purchasers who cherish and main
tain their homes with the same senti-
ment that actuated the pioneers. The
roster of the names of the old places
now being inspected is an impressive
one. Some of them like Monticello,
Gunston Hall, Montpelier, Westover,
Carter Hall, Appomattox Manor and
Oatlands have a nationwide reputa-
ton and number of veritable ma
tional shrines. Included in the list are
quaint nameS-names with an Old
World flavor or reminiscent Of some
event or characteristic of the long ago.
Examples taken at random include En-
niscorthy, Violet Banks, Shoal Bay,
Brandon, Folly Farm, Morven, Rokeby,
Horse Shoe, Federal Hill. Sabine Hall,
Reveille, Frascati, Saratoga. In addi-
ton to the gardens of these manor
houses, those of taverns, schools and
other institutions are Hospitality avail
able for inspection.
One who has been fortunate enough
to walk through. and to see and to
smell the fragrance Of even one of these
ancient tracts can realize the treat in
store for those who, embarking on two
or three day tour, viii view dozen or
two. Growing within the warm red brick
walls CT the clipped box or yew hedges
are flowers which Queen Elizabeth ad-
mired and which are the descendants of
plants whose seeds were brought to the
New World by courtiers of the Virgin
| Queen. Shakespeare loved these Eng
fish flowers and his works abound in
illusions to them. The gardens of the
Southern Colonies, with their milder
temperatures, played prominent part
in the lives Of their owners. In many
instances the size Of the mansion house
was necessarily limited because of lack
of means, but in gardening the early
settlers could go as far as their taste
and their energies permitted. The old
garden was the resort of members OF
the whole household from infancy to
old age. Some have disappeared
claimed either by wilderness or by
arabic lands. In others the glory sur
wives and has even been enhanced by
modern wealth and modern methods
Fortunate are those privileged to &c
among them today and to catch some
thing of the inspiration granted to Their
happy planners.
| -----S-a1A~s---