Monday, September 17, 2012

A Day In The Country


I took all your suggestions to heart and we left our garden buzzing with bees and full of weeds and fled south to Charlottsville again.

This time we explored Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, plantsman extraordinaire.

Dogs are allowed on the property so the Lab came with.  I wondered if we would ever reach the top of the mountain, our pace was tree by tree, sniff by sniff, step by step.
 

 We paused a moment  in our climb by the family graveyard, still in use today, sniff, sniff. And then there we were at the top, surrounded by hedgerows of fig trees, acres of orchards, vineyards, vegetable gardens, herbs, flowers and purple mountain majesty.






And was I secretly delighted  to see Mr. Jefferson's vegetable garden looking as shabby as my own?


You know it.

We packed a picnic and brought a bag of dog treats.  We may have snacked on a fig, some grapes and a raspberry or two from the estate, unless this information would get us in trouble in which case we ate only our picnic.


We fell in love with a snail plant.

And of course the impeccable symmetry that is Monticello.

 
We were reluctant to leave but we had friends waiting a few miles away with their own garden, a dinner with  vegetables and pork from their CSA share and stories to tell.

We'll be back. It's my kind of town.

xo jane

13 comments:

  1. I want to visit and go on the house tour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We skipped the house tour in favor of Nika's company. Next time the dog stays at home.

      Delete
  2. I agree with Jen, I want to visit too. Hope you had a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've always wanted to visit. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Was there many years ago. It's amazing. I think everyone's garden is ready for it's fall makeover-we've had 40 degree nights already( eeek), and the sunflowers are almost all picked over from the bluebirds. I take pieces out a little at a time, thinking it will keep winter at bay a little longer, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's always interesting and fun there. glad Miss Nika got to go, too. Next time a wee stop at Carter's Orchards for an apple or two, perhaps? Or a little in the Capital City. I know where dinner is available there, too. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is there an invitation in there somewhere? We will travel for food.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Monticello has long been on my wish list for places to visit. Your pictures are wonderful. I am always happy to hear of places that are pet friendly. I am glad you stole away.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like the fig tree in the old graveyard. I keep going back and looking at your photograph. So pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks like fun. My kinda place too. x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your photos and Monticello is one of my favorite historical places in the US. Lucky you three :))

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an amazing place! I love the graveyard pic.

    ReplyDelete