Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27

may wander during the week of
April % to May 3, inclusive, the time
set aside as Historic Garden week by the
Garden Club of Virginia, in the interest of the
restoration Of the gardens at Stratford, the
home Of the Lees Of Virginia and the birthplace
Of Gen. Robert e. Lee.
The old plantation of Stratford consists of
1922 acres It has recently been purchased
by members of the William Alexander Chapter
of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in
Connecticut for $4,000. 1t is about 80 miles
from Richmond and 100 miles from Washington,
down the Potomac River.
Stratford is now more than 200 years old
and in the purchase of it by the Connecticut
Daughters their first step will be to make of
1t not merely Lee shrine, but national
educational memorial center of historical re-
search.
The ancient home of the Lees was built from
"bountiful present from the privy purse of
the Queen of England" It is the only Amer
lean home built in part with funds given by
a British sovereign, and it thus forms lasting
bond of friendship between the United States
and England. 1t was the home of the first
native-born Governor of Virginia, Thomas Lee,
through whose efforts the territory west of the
Ohio was opened up for English settlement.
It was the birthplace of Richard Henry Lee
and Francis Lightfoot Lee, signers of the
Declaration of Independence, and of their pa
triotic brothers and sisters.
For SO years it was the home of Lighthouse
Harry Lee, and it was the birthplace of Robert
E. Lee, his childhood home and the place Of
recreation of his entire youth until his entrance
into West Point. It has been preserved In all
its fine simplicity and robust character by the
Stuart family in their century's holding Of it.
Its gardens, grounds and orchards, which were
renowned throughout the 13 Colonies, and its
ancient groves of English beechnut and English
hickory trees are today worth travelling many
miles to see
Stratford passed from the Lee family many
and To Tan a last
were Mr.. and Mrs. Charles E. Stuart, who on
that date decided the property over to Mrs.
Charles d. Lanier and Miss Ethel Ames who
represented the Connecticut Daughters.
variety and one may visit all of them or
just few. A carefully laid out program has
been prepared by experienced hands, so that
the sojourner at this time may easily find his
way into and around the Old Dominion and
enjoy every step of it.
It is said by early writers that gardens In
Virginia were begun as early as 1914, and that
John Role and Pocahontas experimental with
flowers and shrubs brought from England and
taught their neighbors how to plant beds Of
flowers as they were laid out in that country.
Sir william Berkeley planted famous gar
den at Greenspring in 1912, and it is fact
that English squires and English and Scotch
merchants we're the early gardeners of Virginia.
Carlisle House, one Of the historic places In
Alexandria, was built in 1852. It was used as
headquarters for Gen. Braddock during Eng
lands campaign and is now an American
Legion home. Not far away is Pohick Church,
historic shrine, which IN recent years has
been almost remade, but only for preservation,
for one may Stin sit in the pews occupied by
4he Washingtons and visit the choir from
%hich issued the sacred music heard by our
first President
GUNSTON HALL, on the Potomac was built
by George Mason, IN 1755, and one may
look through two rows Of English box from
the portico, overlooking wide stretches Of
meadow. A leading authority in this country
estimates the beautiful box at Gunston Hall