It is 2015! This year marks 5 years since the house project began. There are only minor things left to do to finish the house, and time to think about projects beyond the house, such as the west yard landscaping.
The grass is now in and the planted trees and shrubs are doing well but I want to design a garden in the west yard that is a little more formal, with benches, paths and beds. I have some ideas but needed inspiration. I wanted to see some gardens that are similar to what I have in mind. This wasn't the main reason for our trip over the Christmas holidays but it was a fun research project while we were there, even though its winter.
We visited Thomas Jefferson's plantation, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Seeing this house has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. I mean that literally. I remember building Monticello in Lego over 40 years ago when my fascination with the house began.
This is the garden side and is what they call the nickel side, because its on the American nickel. Monticello is the only house in the western hemisphere that is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The wings on either side connect underground to the little brick structures at the ends. The one on the right is Jefferson's first house that he lived in on the site while the main house was built, and the one on the right became his office. He spent 40 years designing, building, partially tearing down, and rebuilding the house until he got it just right.
The wings are called dependencies, because they contain the kitchen, wine cellar, storage, carriage house, the necessaries (outhouses) and various other functions that the house depends on to run.
We got tickets ahead of time for a "behind the scenes" tour. We were taken upstairs and into the dome room, which is normally off limits to the public. This is the only interior space that we were allowed to take photos.
The main entry to the house on the east side
We also toured Jefferson's getaway retreat, Poplar Forest, near Vicksburg, Virginia. This house was historically unknown because Jefferson didn't want people to find him when he was there. It's 90 minutes from Monticello by car today but it took Jefferson 3 days to get there by carriage. The house had several owners over its history, was changed a lot and had fallen into disrepair when restoration started 3 decades ago. They stripped it down to the frame and bare brick (sounds familiar) and have been reconstructing every detail exactly to Jefferson's plans.
Poplar Forest, constructed while Jefferson was President, 1809-1817
After Poplar Forest, we headed back to Charlottesville and ate at the Michie Tavern. It is about a mile from Monticello and has been in operation since Jefferson's time. He no doubt ate there too.
Another neighbor to Monticello is this little plantation, Ashlawn Highland, home of James Monroe, 5th President of the United States.
And we visited Montpelier, plantation of James Madison, 4th President of the United States.
Montpelier from the side
Reconstructed framing of the slave quarters at Montpelier
Then, off to DC
We were there only overnight, but we made the best of it. we walked the mall after dark and visited the Lincoln Memorial.
Next morning, the Jefferson Memorial...
...David and Thomas Jefferson...
...and the Holocaust Museum, before heading south to Mount Vernon...
...home of George Washington
We also toured the Virginia State Capitol, also designed by Jefferson...
...and Colonial Williamsburg.
A trip of a lifetime, and I took almost 800 photographs! But what I want to talk about here is the west garden at the River.
Below are some photos of formal gardens we toured. Many have privet hedges, and that's a little too much for the little yard at the house, but what really caught my eye was the ones with simple geometry and pathways. I think making a path like a cross that connects the four corners in the grass, place the birdbath in the center, and plant the remaining triangles with shrubs and flowers, with a couple of spots for benches. Maybe even some vegetables.
Williamsburg
Williamsburg
Williamsburg
Montpelier
Mount Vernon. This one is a good model to follow
Mount Vernon
This garden above in Williamsburg really caught my eye and is maybe the closest to what I envision for the house.
Richmond Botanical Garden
Richmond Botanical Garden
A gate or pergola would be good. I plan on building one at the steps to the street as well.
Dad likes grass, so this might be the model. This is the front yard of Monroe's house, and before the trees matured, he could see Monticello in the distance.
It's fun to plan!
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