Part 12

The fair little glimpse of a section of the garden at Ingleside breathes of spring perfume and color, with that indescribable sense of peace pervading especially a little enclosed garden where good taste and harmony prevail. So great is the impression of seclusion produced by the attractive picture that the farmer's cottage in the near background seems almost disconnected from this inviting spot. The four white standard Wistarias are remarkable enough to demand special attention. The beds are early filled with the Tulips of both periods, blooming in company with the Wistaria. Annuals follow, and the place is kept in long bloom under the careful supervision of the owner.

At The Blind, Havre de Grace, on the Chesapeake, is a charming and typically Southern garden with ancient Box hedges for a background, and filled with the bloom of many old-fashioned hardy plants and shrubs. The property of two hundred acres is partly under cultivation and partly covered with Holly and ancient trees. Around the gray stone mansion in springtime the place is like a fairy-land, with hundreds of blossoming shrubs and fruit trees. Originally the land belonged to the Stumpp family, who acquired it by grant from one of the early English governors. It is now in the possession of a New Yorker, who keeps it as a shooting-preserve and stock-farm.

VIII

VIRGINIA

Virginia was the first of the States to adopt a luxurious mode of living. Its early men and women, so recently English, were not many of them of the strictly Puritan type, but rather the ease and pleasure loving class, and shortly their fertile plantations, developed by countless slaves, yielded rich results, and Virginia, followed soon by the neighboring States, became famous for homes and gardens on an extensive scale.

One of the earliest and best of these estates was Mount Vernon, so well preserved and yet so familiar as not to need an introduction or even a space in this book. Brandon, Westover, Shirley, Berkeley, Castle Hill, and others on the River James, as well as some of the splendid places in the "hill country," have been renovated in recent years and should be considered among the treasures of America.

Mr. William du Pont is the fortunate present owner of Montpelier, the home of President Madison, in Orange County, and situated between Charlottesville and Richmond. This splendid garden was planned by Mr. Madison soon after 1794. To quote Mr. Capen: "On the plan of our House of Representatives, it is made in a series of horseshoe terraces leading down to a flat rectangular stretch of ground. The walk from the entrance to the garden passes first under a charming rustic arbor, and then through a dense Box hedge in which some of the bushes have grown so high that their branches form an arch overhead ... and when one emerges from the arch of Box he finds spread before him in panorama the entire garden ... the Box-edged aisle down its centre and every bed in flower.... It must have been a rare garden, for trees and shrubs sent to Mr. Madison by admirers from all over the world were jealously guarded and nurtured."

At Rose Hill the terraced garden, with its distant view of hills and valley, is among the best-known places of this section. Here the flowers, most carefully tended, bloom considerably during the period from April to October, which is unusually prolonged for a Southern garden. Flowering plants and clipped evergreens border the broad, grassy terraces and an air of simple stateliness pervades this charming Virginia garden.

Delightful indeed is the spacious formal garden at Meadowbrook Manor, on the James River. So cleverly arranged is the combination of trees and flowers that the latter do not suffer from near association with the trees--many of which are evergreens combining with the Box border to gladden the winter garden with summer green, and giving the livable, homey sense to this lovely enclosure in summer-time. In the old days the property was known as Sequin and belonged to relatives of Sir Thomas Gates of the same name. Upon this land in 1619 were operated the first iron-works in the country.

Characteristic of the gardens of the older period is the lovely view of the garden on the Valentine place overgrown and ripe as only a garden can be that has lived through the years; unpretentious, yet richer in that mellowed growth than the most costly planting of modern date.

In Virginia, mountains cover a part of the State, and the temperature necessarily varies according to locality. The climate, at least of Albemarle County, brings out the Crocuses in February or early March; winter Jessamine in early February, sometimes January; Daffodils in mid-March; Lily-of-the-Valley and Cottage Tulip early in April; German Iris in mid-April. Roses and Sweet William appear in early May; Delphinium in late May; Hollyhocks in early June; Phlox, July 1. And thus before midsummer's heat many of the best hardy perennials have come and gone. While summer bloom in the highlands is not necessarily destroyed by hot weather, unless unusual drought occurs, yet the autumn garden is apt to be a more refreshing sight with its fresh crop of Roses, the late Chrysanthemum, Cosmos, and indefatigable Zinnia. Of course to the south, and where altitude is lacking, the somewhat higher temperature will more or less alter these garden dates.

FOOTNOTES:

"Country Homes of Famous Americans."

SOUTH CAROLINA

There are few new gardens in South Carolina, but an untold number of old ones deserving to be revived. Around Charleston, especially, old-time mansions, quaint walls, and gateways abound that are an inspiration to lovers of graceful antiquities. To restore an abandoned garden must be indeed a joy to one with enough imagination to recreate flower places fitted to the surroundings.

The illustrations in this chapter give some idea of the richness of the early gardens laid out by the wealthy owners of many generations past. Magnolia-on-the-Ashley, considered by some as one of the world's most beautiful sights, especially in springtime, is the most famous place in the State. It is owned by Colonel Drayton Hastie, who inherited it from his grandfather, the Reverend Mr. Drayton, an Episcopalian minister, in whose family it had remained since the latter part of the seventeenth century. In the days of the Reverend Mr. Drayton it was discovered that the garden had been laid out over land containing extremely valuable phosphate deposits, but neither he nor his descendants would have the place disturbed for the sake of an increased fortune, and the garden continues as it was, the delight in early spring of visitors from all over the world. To quote one who resides near by: "The garden first came into notice about a hundred years ago. In spite of all the cultivation, it still suggests the heart of the forest, with the old Oak and gray moss and wild flowers mingling with Cherokee Roses, Jessamine, etc. These Magnolia gardens are not only wonderfully beautiful, but, I believe, quite unique. The great show is not Magnolias, or even the Camellias, although they are lovely--but the Azaleas, which grow in such profusion and variety of shades that one loses all sense of individual plant and flowers and perceives only glowing, gleaming masses of color veiled by festoons of gray moss, giving one a delicious feeling of unreality, almost enchantment. In Owen Wister's 'Lady Baltimore' there is a beautiful description of Magnolia. The coloring on the post-cards is not in the least exaggerated." Live Oaks over two centuries old draped with gray moss suspended from the branches! This wonderful growth is not an uncommon sight in the Southern States.

Columbia, the capital, has the famous Preston garden, and for many generations this beautiful property remained in the families of the Hamptons and Prestons. By a marriage a century ago the Hampton estate came into the possession of the Prestons, and for many years the stately garden with its aged Box and shade trees, its choice shrubs and plants, has been an object of veneration to garden lovers. A descendant writes: "There is no interest of importance attached to the past history of the Preston place, except that it has sheltered quite well known persons in its day, Henry Clay, Thackeray, and Miss Martineau among others, for its owner had acquaintances among prominent people in this country as well as abroad, and delighted in showing them hospitality when they happened in his neighborhood." After the war it shared the fate of almost all the other Southern estates that could no longer be maintained as in former years, and finally became a woman's college, and once more receives the needed care.

In the low coastal country, including Charleston, spring opens in February with Camellias, Daffodils, and bulbs. German Iris appears at Charleston soon after March 15, Phlox in June. Delphinium and Hollyhock and some others do not thrive in this section. The flowers that are carried over for autumn bloom are hardy Chrysanthemum, with Cosmos, Salvia, Marigolds, and Zinnias, and a few others able under care to resist the summer heat. Frost may come by November 15, but in winter thin ice forms only about three times, with the thermometer at twenty-five degrees. White Camellias sometimes begin to blossom at Christmas time. Such is the climate of this level. In the higher regions of the State climatic conditions are somewhat different and the summer heat is not as extreme.

GEORGIA AND FLORIDA

Summer gardens, on account of the climate, are not attempted in the States of the far South; but as popular winter and spring resorts the grounds at these seasons about the villas and hotels are adorned with Palms, Roses, and other plants adapted to the climate. Charming spring gardens in formal designs are found in Georgia, where, because of its somewhat cooler climate and better soil, there are a greater number of private estates than in Florida. The former State doubtless suffered more than any other in the Civil War and, consequently, enforced neglect of the old gardens brought ruin to most of them. At present some of the finest places in Georgia are delightfully located outside of the larger towns, and many gardens, some new and others renewed after a half-century of oblivion, adorn the home grounds of those who are so fortunate as to reside here at the most favored seasons.

The illustrations of the gardens at Green Court are fair samples of the extensive planting in many places. Spring bulbs begin to open in this lovely spot by the middle of February, Camellias often come in January, German Iris appears the middle of March, Delphiniums in April.

In Georgia the summer heat finishes most of the bloom, and few would venture with autumn flowers. "The Roses, however, when well tended, rest during summer to bloom gloriously again in October and until the time of light frost, which comes in December." The interior of the larger garden at Green Court, surrounded with its splendid outer court, is more spacious than the glimpse through the gateway would suggest. The charm of this enclosure, like Southern hospitality, is a combination of bountifulness and grateful simplicity. Green Court deserves to stand as a representative garden of its State.

With an almost similar climate the adjoining State of Alabama has its gardens also, but, unfortunately, photographs are not now available.

Palms of every description are the characteristic plants of Florida. The State is generally flat and open, but in the north the country is more wooded, often wild and swampy, with picturesque winding little rivers meandering to the coasts.

The conditions in the populous districts of Louisiana and Texas are so similar to Florida, where gardens are concerned, that it is unnecessary to use further space in describing plant life in these States.

TENNESSEE AND MISSOURI

From Tennessee the following description of its garden life is agreeably presented: "Here in the South interest in this subject is always increasing. We have many old and beautiful gardens full of sentiment. The mistress of the place is always head gardener, and in no instance does she relinquish her position to another. I am filled with enthusiasm in garden matters, and would preach the gospel of the garden to all women."

Daffodils appear in February, Lilies-of-the-Valley and Cottage Tulips in mid-April, German Iris soon after. The droughts of midsummer may injure but not necessarily destroy the flowers. The winter thermometer occasionally falls to twenty degrees above zero in the cooler districts, and such plants as Snapdragon and Campanula medium are more safely wintered in a slat-frame. But winter once over the tender annuals can be put out as early as April 25. These conditions apply almost equally to the neighboring States of Kentucky and North Carolina, having as well their records for old-time gardens.