flowersinGeorgeWashington's garden
It’ssummer.I’mstandinginGeorgeWashington’sgarden.It’sathishouseinVirginia.It’saplacecalledMountVernon.Thegardentodayislikeitwaswhenhelivedhere.Researchersrestored it.
Theylearnedaboutthepastbystudying primary sources. Thesearethingsthatwerecreatedatthetimetheyarestudying.Inthiscase,naturewastheirprimary source.
TheGeneral’sGarden
Writingcantellusalotaboutthepast,butnoteverything.Washington’sgardendiaryisagoodartifacttostartwith.Fromthediaryweknowthattherewerefour gardens.
Theuppergardenwasfilledwithflowersandtrees.Washingtonentertainedhisguests here.
Washingtonaddedvegetablestoeachplantingbedintheupper garden.
Boxwoodbusheswerecutintofancyshapesintheupper garden.
Thelowergardenwasjustforfood.Onlyfruitsandvegetablesgrew here.
Anothergardenwasalaboratory.Washingtontesteddifferentplantsthere.HewantedtoseehowwelltheycouldgrowinVirginia’s soil.
Thefourthgardenwasafruitgarden.Hewantedtohaveavineyard.Butgrapesdidnotgrowwellonhis land.
Washingtondidnottendtothesegardensalone.Enslavedpeopletendedthelandforhim.Theywereabletoreadandwrite.Theykeptlistsandmadedrawingsofwhatwasplanted.Today,researcherslookatthesesources.Theyalsolookatthesoil itself.
Foodcropsgrewinthelower garden.
UPPERGARDEN
LABORATORYGARDEN
LOWERGARDEN
FRUITGARDEN
mapofMount Vernon
adrawingofalpinesquill wildflowers
Inaletterfrom1798,afriendsentWashingtonafewscarletalpinestrawberry seeds.
