As director of gardens and grounds for the thomas jefferson foundation, hatch was the advocate and the interpreter explaining the significance of jeffersons approach to flowers and vegetables for monticello visitors. Monticello was a botanic laboratory of ornamental and useful plants from around the world. There is an annotated list of the flowers and woody ornamentals, such as roses and shrubs, grown by jefferson. Notes includes bibliographical reference pages 663666 and index. Jul 01, 2010 at monticello, jeffersons methods endure. A gorgeous volume showcasing thomas jefferson s amazing vegetable garden, its uniquely american characteristics, and its legacy were thomas jefferson to walk the grounds of monticello today, he would no doubt feel fully at home in the 1,000foot terraced vegetable garden where the very vegetables and herbs he favored are thriving. Thomas jeffersons garden was a vast, beautiful science experiment involving over 300 varieties of 90 different plants. Jefferson maintained meticulous records of all his biological observations. Thomas jeffersons garden book documents his varied approaches to gardening, whether as landscape architect, pleasure gardener, or horticultural scientist. Includes fun and interesting facts about jefferson and his plantation, and introduces members of jefferson s family and the enslaved community through their daily activities and work. For over 50 years, jefferson kept a record of his garden at monticello, listing the dates when seeds were planted, when leaves appeared, and when their fruits came to table as well as his annual. Learn more about the vegetable garden at purchase historic heirloom seeds at thomas jefferson grew. The gardens of monticello were gardens first designed by thomas jefferson for his plantation monticello near charlottesville, virginia.
Monticellos curator of plants, peggy cornett, and monticello guide bill bergen introduce this wonderful resource. The thomas jefferson garden book check out thomas jeffersons garden book and discover sixty years of notes, letters, instructions, and requests that the man himself recorded. I was very keen on restoring jefferson s vegetable garden, he recalls. Thomas jeffersons revolutionary garden at monticello. Seloh was the primary plantation of thomas jefferson, the third president of the united states, who began designing monticello after inheriting land from his father at age 26. Nov 25, 2016 during hatchs tenure as garden steward, he nurtured a number of 19thcentury varietals, but his latest perennial is a new book, a rich spot of earth. Thomas jeffersons revolutionary garden at monticello yale university press, appeared in book stores in april, 2012.
The areas included a flower garden, a fruit orchard, and a vegetable garden. For 35 years peter hatch looked after a fascinating parcel of american history. In the garden book, jefferson kept records of his gardens at monticello and shadwell. On april 16, 1766, in one of the earliest observations in his garden book, thomas jefferson noted a bluish colored, funnelformed flower in the low grounds in bloom. The vegetable garden at monticello thomas jeffersons. Within this volume, jefferson recorded notes about the varieties of vegetables and fruits he experimented with and planted, sowing locations, harvest dates, and weather conditions. Thomas jeffersons revolutionary garden at monticello by peter j. The volume contains information about the varieties of vegetables, fruits.
The first is the extensive work on the south wing, including the cooks room and two other slave dwellingsone of which, based on evidence from thomas jeffersons grandson thomas randolph, is believed to be the room of jeffersons longtime. The above photo taken after a heavy may rainstorm shows only a portion of the garden. And he noted details of his garden purchases and plans in his garden diary, printed as thomas jeffersons garden book in 1944. Thomas jefferson s garden book is a compilation of jefferson s own horticultural diary, along with many of his letters, drawings, and memoranda relating to his gardens at monticello and poplar forest. Like the founding father, monticellos mountaintop team doesnt rest on its laurels. During hatchs tenure as garden steward, he nurtured a number of 19thcentury varietals, but his latest perennial is a new book, a rich spot of earth. Joe and patti visit jeffersons charlottesville home, monticello, to speak with the undisputed authority on thomas jeffersons gardening practices, peter hatch. The records in jeffersons garden book have enabled an accurate restoration and it may now be a better example of. In his day jefferson not only planned but also worked in the gardens at monticello, aided by his family members. Here is jefferson with mudsplattered boots laying out garden beds and carefully setting seeds with dirty hands. Hatch yale university press 2012 635 is a comprehensive volume that distills the brilliance of thomas jeffersons ability to delay shortterm gratification for an immensely rewarding longterm payoff. Thomas jeffersons monticello part 1 the garden posted on september 12, 2017 by christy i didnt think i had a bucket list until i realized i hadnt yet been to monticello. Sep 12, 2017 jeffersons extensive recordkeeping allowed historians and archeologists to recreate the garden and structures surrounding it with precision.
There are many such deaths from drought, insects and disease recorded in jeffersons garden book between 1766 and 1824. Thomas jeffersons monticello virginia bluebells at. Mar 30, 2016 for over 50 years, jefferson kept a record of his garden at monticello, listing the dates when seeds were planted, when leaves appeared, and when their fruits came to table as well as his annual. Jefferson grew 330 vegetable varieties in monticello s 1,000footlong garden terrace.
Hatch is the author of the gardens of monticello, the editor of thomas jeffersons flower garden at monticello university press of virginia, and has written numerous articles, and lectured in thirtyseven states, on jefferson and the history of garden plants. Jefferson kept records about vegetables, fruits, flowers, and trees at his gardens at monticello and shadwell. Our farm and garden collection has what you need to go from seed to table. Of course, the greatest evidence of jeffersons horticultural passion thrives in the restored gardens at monticello, admired the world over. Of course, the greatest evidence of jefferson s horticultural passion thrives in the restored gardens at monticello, admired the world over. Use of the images permission to reproduce images of manuscripts andor publish transcriptions of collections must be obtained in writing from the massachusetts historical society. Your purchase supports monticello and its mission of education and preservation. Garden book for the years 17661824, with relevant extracts from jeffersons other writings. Hes just published a new book about jeffersons garden and its history, titled a rich spot of earth. Thomas jeffersons garden book is a compilation of jeffersons own horticultural diary, along with many of his letters, drawings, and. Located just outside charlottesville, virginia, in the piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres 20 km 2, with. Thomas jefferson s revolutionary garden at monticello by peter j. The thomas jefferson garden book mother earth news. It represents a culmination of my interest in jefferson and my taking care of the garden, says hatch.
Interview with peter hatch about monticellos historic gardens. Includes fun and interesting facts about jefferson and his plantation, and introduces members of jeffersons family and the enslaved community through their daily activities and work. Thomas jefferson s garden book contains detailed information about crops planted in the kitchen gardens at monticello. The eighteenth century was a time of extensive migration in virginia as settlers in. The talk features a powerpoint with rare 19th century.
Thomas jeffersons garden book 17661824 usa national. Two inprogress jobs are set to open in spring 2018. Though a product of jeffersons personal genius, monticello can also be seen as a time capsule representation of a lateeighteenth century english garden. A tour of thomas jeffersons monticello garden hgtv. Thomas jeffersons revolutionary garden at monticello, calls him americas first foodie. The published transcription of jefferson s garden book can be ordered online, the garden and farm books of thomas jefferson, robert c.
We have an extensive selection of heirloom seeds and plants. Mar 05, 20 learn more about the vegetable garden at monticello. Jefferson was often the detached scientist in the kalendar as he. Things in the garden were quite different in december 1977, when monticello s recently retired director of horticulture, peter hatch, arrived on the scene. Discover unique furniture, home decor, garden, seeds, plants, books, and more.
A list of general facts about the monticello vegetable garden. In his garden book, the horticultural diary which he kept from 1766 until 1824, jefferson noted such observations as how the gardens were sown, the extent of frost damage to his and other. He is the director of gardens and grounds for the monticello estate. Garden book uniform series memoirs of the american philosophical society. Hatch yale university press 2012 635 is a comprehensive volume that distills the brilliance of thomas jefferson s ability to delay shortterm gratification for an immensely rewarding longterm payoff. Monticello s curator of plants, peggy cornett, and monticello guide bill bergen introduce this wonderful resource. Compiled and annotated by the late edwin morris betts, this classic volume captures the planning and planting, successes and failures of jeffersons ambitious and experimental gardens. The records in jefferson s garden book have enabled an accurate restoration and it may now be a better example of its type than any surviving english gardens.
Wood, stone, and living plants were all considered viable options. Thomas jefferson was a revolutionary gardener and monticello is renowned for the beauty and function of its gardens. On march 30, 1766, jefferson wrote, purple hyacinths begin to bloom at shadwell, initiating a 50year journal of his gardening hopes, observations, successes and failures. Thomas jeffersons revolutionary garden at monticello yale university press. Back then, he found a garden devoted to growing cut flowers for arrangements in the house. Garden heirloom seeds jeffersons garden monticello.
Today we highlight another springtime favorite here at monticello. An illustrated brochure developed for younger visitors to monticello. The first section of the book explores how monticellos 1,000 foot long vegetable garden was restored in the early1980s with archaeological research and jeffersons own garden journal, featuring 60 years of detailed notes. Jefferson grew 330 vegetable varieties in monticellos 1,000footlong garden terrace. Add style to your outside space with our outdoor benches, bird houses, and garden and outdoor. Ehrenpreis will discuss her detective work as a curator, and what shes discovered about thomas jeffersons attempts to create the ideal space, equipment, and organizational system for writing. The vegetable garden today the restoration is both a snapshot of the typical garden of the day and an expression of jefferson s ambitious planting schemes. Thomas jeffersons monticello thomas jeffersons garden book. You can browse his garden book at the website of the massachusetts historical society. He kept a weather memorandum book, in which he recorded precipitation, wind, temperature. Compiled and annotated by the late edwin morris betts, this classic volume captures the planning and planting, successes and failures of jefferson s ambitious and experimental gardens. You can find an excerpt of the book, also a slideshow of our trip to the garden, and links to some jefferson family recipes. Peter hatch, director of gardens and grounds at monticello.
Hatchs latest book on the monticello vegetable garden of jeffersons retirement years, a rich spot of earth. Play for jefferson, the vegetable garden was a kind of laboratory where he could experiment with imported squashes and broccoli from italy, beans and salsify collected by the lewis and clark expedition, figs from france, and peppers from mexico. Thomas jeffersons garden book is a compilation of jeffersons own horticultural diary, along with many of his letters, drawings, and memoranda relating to his gardens at monticello and poplar forest. The 1,000foot kitchen garden at monticello, is legendary for the variety and scale of its vegetable production. The gardens of thomas jeffersons monticello paperback 1992. Thomas jeffersons garden book is a compilation of jefferson s own horticultural diary, along with many of his letters, drawings, and memoranda relating to his gardens at monticello and poplar forest. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. In addition to its architecture, monticello is renowned for its extensive gardens, which jefferson, an avid horticulturist, designed, tended and painstakingly monitored. Thomas jefferson s revolutionary garden at monticello presents a rarely seen side of the man. This was the same year construction began at the plantation. Things in the garden were quite different in december 1977, when monticellos recently retired director of horticulture, peter hatch, arrived on the scene. On march 30, 1766, jefferson wrote, purple hyacinths begin to bloom at shadwell, initiating a 50year journal. Stone was utilized for fencing the earliest vegetable garden.
Thomas jefferson employed several methods for creating fences at monticello. Hatch has taken much direction over the past few decades from jeffersons 66page garden book kalendar sic, a candid diary of jeffersons garden victories and failures from 1766 to 1824. Eastern timea fundraising benefit for the nonprofit historic preservation group, the mosby heritage area association here in the northern virginia piedmont. Thomas jeffersons garden book contains detailed information about crops planted in the kitchen gardens at monticello. Jeffersons earliest documented mention of the word monticello was in a garden book notation in 1769, when he began planting fruit trees on the southeastern slope of the mountain. Jefferson s earliest documented mention of the word monticello was in a garden book notation in 1769, when he began planting fruit trees on the southeastern slope of the mountain. At least three hallmarks of thomas jeffersons character and interests date to his time in piedmont, monticello, and the poplar forest. Late fall planting for a beautiful spring at monticello. Thomas jefferson and gardening encyclopedia virginia.
Hatch guides us from the asparagus and artichokes first planted in 1770 through the horticultural experiments of jeffersons retirement years 18091826. Sep 03, 2012 the first section of the book explores how monticellos 1,000 foot long vegetable garden was restored in the early1980s with archaeological research and jeffersons own garden journal, featuring 60 years of detailed notes. Peter hatch, the director of gardens and grounds at monticello and the author of a rich spot of earth. Though a product of jefferson s personal genius, monticello can also be seen as a time capsule representation of a lateeighteenth century english garden. Mar 31, 2017 like the founding father, monticellos mountaintop team doesnt rest on its laurels. Monticello book room watercolor after the british burned the washington in 1814, thomas jefferson offered to sell his books to congress to rebuild the library of congress.
Jefferson s detailed historical accounts of his 5,000 acres provide much information about the everchanging contents of the gardens. Stains in the clay soil show where grapevine posts, fruit trees, and buildings once stood. Those interested in monticellos post1826 history may want to consi. Thomas jeffersons monticello janet davis explores colour. His scholarly study of early american pomology, the fruits and fruit trees of monticello, thomas jefferson and the origins of american. May 10, 2012 thomas jefferson s garden was a vast, beautiful science experiment involving over 300 varieties of 90 different plants. Thomas jefferson s garden book documents his varied approaches to gardening, whether as landscape architect, pleasure gardener, or horticultural scientist. In addition to providing valuable tasting notes, he documented where plants were located and the dates they were sowed, transplanted, and served.
Thomas jeffersons revolutionary garden at monticello presents a rarely seen side of the man. Jeffersons vegetable garden still grows at monticello. The published transcription of jeffersons garden book can be ordered online, the garden and farm books of thomas jefferson, robert c. Jeffersons vegetable garden still grows at monticello the. Hatch guides us from the asparagus and artichokes first planted in 1770 through the horticultural experiments of.