"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.” Thomas Jefferson

I’ve just returned from a trip to the Blue Ridge mountains.  

The timing was perfect as it is Virginia’s Historic Garden Week and 

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the home of the ultimate gardener (and

 foodie),Thomas Jefferson.

The new director of Monticello has been exercising a new entrepreneurial spirit.  New events are being made available to the public.  For the first time, Monticello participated in Virginia’s Historic Garden Week program. “Meet the Gardeners” was a special tour at Monticello where individuals could meet the four gardners (there’s only FOUR) and take a tour with them. We also had an opportunity to have lunch on the west lawn with the gardeners.  (As an aside, it is my understanding that Monticello is now hosting private events such as weddings on the west lawn- my guess is that this might be a strategy to deal with tougher economic times as well as reduced funding.)  This is the closest picture I have that included the luncheon on the lawn (far right):

What’s notable about this photo is that this is one of the winding paths that Jefferson designed - he was interested in designing a garden that was open and relaxed, not the traditional garden rooms that were formal and rigid.  Five thousand tulips were planted along the winding path.  

The gardens included hundreds of different of varieties of flowers, vegetables and trees. The selection was diverse - it including many plants that were not native to Virginia.  Many selections were experimental.  

I took a tour with Pat who is the vegetable gardener.  Meet Pat, and my mother in law, Jo Ann, on the right.

It is amazing that Pat is responsible for this entire vegetable garden.  Every attempt is made to grow the same type of plants that Jefferson grew - it is an interpretation of the original. The garden is mostly organic.

The small structure is the pavillion that Jefferson built as a garden retreat.  According to the Monticello web site, “it was used by Jefferson as a quiet retreat where he could read in the evening.  It was reputedly blown down in a violent wind storm in the late 1820’s. The pavillion was reconstructed in 1984 based on Jefferson’s notes and archaeological excavations.  It overlooks an eight acre orchard of 300 trees, a vineyard, and Monticello’s berry squares, which are pltos of figs, currants, gooseberries and raspberries.”  

The position of the garden allowed Jefferson to extend the growing season into the winter months and provides the proper environment for vegetables such as the French artichoke. 

This is Pat’s favorite - Sea Kale:  Behind the first plant is a blanching pot.  In spring the shoots are covered with a blanching pot to encourage growth.  When the leaves get six inches high, they are harvested and prepared like asparagus. Two brilliant Australian shepherds are responsible for the garden as well.  

The dogs work at night ensuring that deer do not feast on the veggies.  The dogs are kept in the area by an underground electric fence.  I loved meeting Pat, but I would have loved to meet the dogs. 

The harvest from the gardens is given to the employees of Monticello.  What a wonderful perk.  Some of the harvest is also made available at the Visitor’s Center.

An orchard and a vineyard are below the vegetable garden.

 
 Speaking of vineyards,  my husband and mother in law attended a wine blending class at the King Family Vineyards.  

 

They had an opportunity to taste all the wines and then blend them.  They needed a designated driver - that was me. While they blended, I finished the binding on my last quilt. The poodle girls kept me company - 

We stayed at the Iris Inn.  It was perfect in every way.  The Inn keepers, Heidi and Dave, are fantastic. Heidi is an incredible cook and Dave was a wonderful host. Katie, the border collie, lives at the Iris Inn.  She was delightful.  Hands down, this is the best, pet friendly place we have EVER stayed.  Our room was surrounded by woods, and it was so much fun to finish the quilt on such a lovely day. I remembered to bring the iron but forgot the ironing board - but it wasn’t a problem...

 

When we arrived home, we found azaleas in full bloom, the loropetalum doing beautifully and roses beginning bloom...

 
  


I’m about 80% done with cleaning out flower beds - hope to finish this week...and do a little drawing a painting - and start a new quilt.

  

Comments

[Kym]

Oh. I'm speechless! What beautiful photos. Isn't spring wonderful?