How iconic is this image? I’m sure you will recognise it…..Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Pavillion at Monticello!
I have dreamed of visiting two of the most important Kitchen Gardens in the world (in my humble opinion) for almost thirty years….those at Jefferson’s Monticello and George Washington’s Mount Vernon. But a trip to the US is rare for us and we’ve just never been able to make a detour to Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware etc…..so this time, as Larry had a couple of meetings, we thought we’d grasp the opportunity. And oh was it was so well worth the wait?!!
Whilst I could prattle on for hours about the features of the house (Jefferson was a genius) and bore you rigid with descriptions of early double glazing to silk curtains, box beds to slip covers, paint colours to ventilation, play of light and exquisite collections to dumbwaiters and clever cupboards (ok so shades of Pride and Prejudice – “Shelves in the closet? Happy thought indeed”!!)….one isn’t allowed to take photographs inside and it was, after all, the Kitchen Garden that was the main object of my fascination!
I’m so glad I’d read ‘A Rich Spot of Earth’ some years ago, as I had some insight into the experimental squares of the Kitchen Garden, which is set into a 1000 foot long terrace with long hazy blue views of the Virginian landscape beyond.
It’s simply laid out like the most fantastical market garden (on a domestic??) scale! And personally I find the simplicity of this style to be absolutely compelling…..
Illustrating the division of family groups of veg so succinctly, as well as the common sense of crop rotation and ease with which it can be achieved….
It’s so very pleasing to the eye as well as being utterly practical……two goals I like to keep in mind.
I just found being there to see it in real life absolutely thrilling!
I’m so lucky Larry doesn’t seem to mind the ages it takes me to photograph every nook and cranny in a garden when I’m beside myself with excitement! Here I am in lovely Cabbages & Roses….perfect for a garden visit! And the hat made another ’round the world trip!
I did put a couple of little videos of the garden onto instagram if you’d like to hop over there to see more…..and from time to time you may find me weaving in a little Jefferson anecdote…..I’ve long enjoyed his suggestion of “sowing a thimbleful of lettuce every Monday morning……” and his quote “no occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden” – Thomas Jefferson.