ThegardenstellushowWashingtonusedhisland.Hegrewcrops.Heplantedexoticflowers.Heshowedoffhiswealthandpower.Whatelsecanwelearnbystudyingtheland?Let’slookatWashington’sbowling green.

Abowlinggreenisanareaofcloselymowedgrass.TheoneatMountVernonlookslikeahugefrontlawn.Thatmaynotseemlikeabigdeal.Yet,inthe18th century,landwasexpensiveandprecious.Mostpeopleusedtheirlandforotherpurposes,like farming.

Washington,however,chosetokeep
atidylawnratherthancultivateitwithcrops.Itshowedvisitorsthathehadmorethanenoughlandandmoney.Hecouldevensetasidesomelandjustforshow.Thisisanotherexampleofnatureactingasaprimarysource.Ittellsusaboutaperson,aplace,andaperiodin time.

Nowlookmoreclosely.Remember,inWashington’stime,therewerenolawn mowers.Whokeptthelawnsoneat?ItfelltoWashington’senslavedlaborerstodragaheavyrolleracrossthegrassandthenuseabladetocutitbyhand.Thisrequiredalotofphysical labor.