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Thomas Jefferson's Flower Garden at Monticello
The restoration of the flower gardens at Monticello in 1941, sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia, was the result of Edwin Betts's scholarly research and Hazlehurst Perkins's practical gardening skills. Thomas Jefferson's Flower Garden at Monticello presents the evolution of Jefferson's ornamental gardening efforts with an analysis of the flower gardens as they were planned, planted, and ultimately restored.
No early American gardens were as well-documented as those at Monticello, which became an experimental station, a botanic garden of new and unusual plants from around the world. Betts and Perkins communicate here the nature and sources of Jefferson's intelligent venture into ornamental gardening.
The third edition includes a revised plant list, annotation of the more than 100 species cultivated in the flower garden, and new illustrations.
No early American gardens were as well-documented as those at Monticello, which became an experimental station, a botanic garden of new and unusual plants from around the world. Betts and Perkins communicate here the nature and sources of Jefferson's intelligent venture into ornamental gardening.
The third edition includes a revised plant list, annotation of the more than 100 species cultivated in the flower garden, and new illustrations.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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August 20, 2018This book is impossible to rate: it is excellent on the history of the garden and contains lists of the flowers, shrubs and trees used by Jefferson. It has color photos of poor quality, considering expensive paper. (I have two copies of this book, both third editions, but different printings--the later one has mostly different photos from the first, but they are of even poorer quality.)
This book was published in 1971 and revised by Peter Hatch at some point. What is totally amazing to me is that no subsequent edition, to the best of my knowledge, corrects the egregious omission of the fact that most of the effort required to do the hard labor of planting and maintenance demanded by Jefferson, and described in the first few chapters, was done by enslaved people. While Jefferson and his granddaughters undoubtedly did labor in the gardens, they were not doing the heavy lifting. "Faithful Wormly" who is described only as a gardener, which he certainly was, was also a slave.
There are mentions of the slaves' personal gardens, to be sure, and it is mentioned that they were necessary not only to supplement the slaves' own rations but, sold to the main house, to supplement the master's diet. But this description is entirely without the context of slavery, as if it were somehow normal. It is really more than a little surreal.
So, in short, I can recommend this book as an authoritative source on the history and content of Jefferson's garden, replete with Jefferson letters and quotes, and painstakingly researched. But I cannot recommend it as a book that acknowledges that the labor which created this beautiful place was largely that of people who were unfree.
This book was published in 1971 and revised by Peter Hatch at some point. What is totally amazing to me is that no subsequent edition, to the best of my knowledge, corrects the egregious omission of the fact that most of the effort required to do the hard labor of planting and maintenance demanded by Jefferson, and described in the first few chapters, was done by enslaved people. While Jefferson and his granddaughters undoubtedly did labor in the gardens, they were not doing the heavy lifting. "Faithful Wormly" who is described only as a gardener, which he certainly was, was also a slave.
There are mentions of the slaves' personal gardens, to be sure, and it is mentioned that they were necessary not only to supplement the slaves' own rations but, sold to the main house, to supplement the master's diet. But this description is entirely without the context of slavery, as if it were somehow normal. It is really more than a little surreal.
So, in short, I can recommend this book as an authoritative source on the history and content of Jefferson's garden, replete with Jefferson letters and quotes, and painstakingly researched. But I cannot recommend it as a book that acknowledges that the labor which created this beautiful place was largely that of people who were unfree.
September 30, 2018
The book is a delightful peek into Jefferson's vision of enhancing the beauty of the Monticello grounds through flowering plants, shrubs and trees. After Jefferson passed away, and the home and lands were sold off and the gardens were all but forgotten; thankfully the Garden Club of Virginia reconstructed the gardens per Jefferson's well-documented plans for us to enjoy. The book includes a list of the plants along with tidbits of historical information gleaned from the multitudes of letters Jefferson wrote to family and friends, boasting about the gardens. One can only imagine the delight that he felt walking the paths with sounds of laughter coming from the many children living on the plantation while taking in the fragrance swept in by the winds.
February 3, 2019
Using Jefferson and his family accounts, this exhaustive study of his plans for his gardens at Monticello. Interesting, and I appreciate his great interest in all things botanical. It is good to remember he supervised the work with lots of enslaved labor doing it.
January 4, 2019
Such a dreamy read in the dregs of winter. Can't wait to research and plan my "roundabout beds" and fill them with Jefferson's flowers."
February 4, 2008
Great book for the reference shelf of any Landscape Arch./Designer. Useful info, interesting history. Not as many pictures of illustrations as I would have liked.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews