Today, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and, as gardeners, what better way than to remember George and Martha Washington’s gardens at Mount Vernon?
George Washington was not only our first president, but he was also a passionate horticulturist who designed his 18-acre Virginia estate grounds to balance beauty with utility. Martha Washington was an equally accomplished gardener and, as our nation’s first lady, still found time to manage the garden production to feed an average of 600 guests each year.
Their four gardens at Mount Vernon include:
• Upper garden (Pleasure Garden): Originally planted for fruit trees, Washington redesigned this space in 1785 to include ornamental flowers, boxwood-lined paths and a greenhouse. He masterfully bordered the beds with annuals and perennials while still growing vegetables.
• Fruit garden and nursery: A dedicated area for orchards, grapes and raising trees to transplant.
• Lower garden: Installed in 1760 this was a kitchen garden heavily planted with culinary vegetables, root crops and espaliered fruit.
• Botanical garden: An experimental space where Washington tested different seed varieties and plants sent to him from around the world.
There is much to learn from the gardens at Mount Vernon that we can use in our modern day gardens. Your garden can not only be a place to entertain friends and family with thoughtful landscape planting designs, but also include edible plants and herbs to feed them. In addition, it can be a fun place for you to test out new plants and seed varieties.
Once again, if you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, sign up to be a part of our 2027 class. Go to https//link.ucanr.edu/MADERAMG for more information or stop by the 3 Sisters garden at 30277 Ave. 12 in Madera any Tuesday morning. We would love to talk with you, as well as answer any of your gardening questions.
Happy fourth and happy gardening!