Attending to My Farm The vegetable and fruit gardens lay just south of Mulberry Row and were surrounded by a ten-foot high wooden (or paling) fence. Designed to keep deer and other foragers out, the boards were placed so near as not to let even a young hare in. On at least one occasion, however, the fence failed -- rivals of Jeffersons grandson broke in and, in the words of the plantation overseer, did a great deal of damage while pelting each other with unripe apples and peaches. Today, a small segment of the fence has been recreated. A Hanging Garden The 1000-foot-long vegetable garden was carved into the protected south side of Monticello Mountain. The terraced beds were supported by a massive stone wall, so that one visitor described it as a hanging garden. The methodical Jefferson divided the garden into twenty-four squares, or growing plots, arranged according to which part of the plant was harvested -- whether fruits (tomatoes, beans), roots (beets, carrots), or leaves (lettuce, cabbage). Ferme Ornee Jefferson also ordered the landscape to create a ferme ornée, or ornamental farm, combining function and beauty. For instance, he discussed planting an arbor of different shades of the scarlet runner bean; arranged adjacent rows of purple, white, and green sprouting broccoli; and planted cherry trees along the long, grass walk of the garden to provide blossoms and shade. In addition to the plantings, Jefferson also designed a pavilion to overlook the gardens and the majestic view from the mountaintop, and constructed a series of four circuitous roads, or Roundabouts, that provided access to his fields and offered scenic carriage rides.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:00:01 +0000