Monticello Archives - One Hundred Dollars a Month

The Vegetable Garden at Monticello in Spring

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By Mavis Butterfield on April 30, 2015 · 12 Comments

Monticello. It’s my favorite place on earth.

Some people like sitting on a beach or going to Disneyland, but if I could be anywhere in the world 365 days a year, it would be in the vegetable garden at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate.

Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter it wouldn’t matter.

I think I’ve happily handed over the $25 admission fee 6 times over the last 2 years.

I just can’t get enough. With every visit I learn something new.

I’ve even thought about applying for their summer apprentice program. How wild would that be? Maybe once the kids are gone I’ll take the summer off from gardening in my own yard and spend a summer tending the vegetable plot at Monticello. Do you think they’d let me bring my own costume?

I could spend my days wandering the property collecting twigs and making little trellis’ for peas and beans.

I could pick berries.

And plant artichoke plants like this AWESOME woman.

I could collect the vegetable seeds they sell in the gift shop from vegetables grown in the garden.

I could crush grapes into wine.But most of all, I’d get to spend 8 hours a day looking this magnificent view.

A girl can dream, right?

~Mavis

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Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Garden in the Fall

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By Mavis Butterfield on November 13, 2013 · 6 Comments

We had an extra 2 hours to spare yesterday before we had to catch our flight home from Virginia, so we decided to drive to James Madison’s Montpelier estate. I was driving and The Girl was navigating. And somehow, we ended up at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello instead. 😉

I think it was meant to be.

I love, love, love Monticello.

I would pack up and move there tomorrow if I could be on the garden maintenance crew at the estate.

I may not have a degree in horticulture or know all the names of the plants, but I’ve got enthusiasm. And that has to count for something right?

When we visited Monticello this past summer everything was so lush and green, but now {most of} the gardens have been to put to bed and only the super tough vegetables are left.

Things like kale, and cabbage and garlic.

What a gorgeous head of cabbage!

We also spotted the maintenance crew working on the asparagus bed. {I should have asked for a job application} 😉

Can someone please tell me why is it that in late fall, gardens look almost as pretty as they so in the summer time?

Maybe it’s the tiny hints of color {Hello, purple runner beans} or the muted tones of fall foliage, I don’t know, but it’s simple. And pretty. And I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Fall is awesome.

~Mavis

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Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

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By Mavis Butterfield on July 9, 2013 · 5 Comments

During our visit to Washington D.C. last week we rented a car for a day and headed west to Monticello {Thomas Jefferson’s home}. Be. Still. My. Heart. I wanted to see the gardens, and the HH wanted to go for the house. It was perfect.

Monticello was truly an amazing house, which took over 20 years to complete {though he didn’t build it himself}. The house is filled with his innovations and influences, which he was constantly renovating and adding to {like skylights for natural lighting, a “turning machine closet”, and alcove beds build into the walls}. I would have LOVED to have taken oodles of interior photos, but for security reasons we were not allowed {lot’s of items are on display from private collections}.

Because Jefferson died more than $100,000 in debt {that surprised me!}, the house was sold immediately after his death.

Luckily, subsequent purchasers took immaculate care of the house and ground before it was sold to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. {Even with repairs and upkeep, the 2nd and 3rd floors of the house are not open to the public due to fire codes.}

The estate operated as a plantation–growing tobacco, and much later, going to wheat. Throughout his life at Monticello, Jefferson had a pretty amazing vegetable garden {I wonder if he ever took time to weigh his veggies?}.

He grew several varieties of vegetables {a lot of which aren’t available anymore–man, wouldn’t you love to have some of those heirloom seeds?!}. He considered himself a scientist and recorded the details of his plants and their growth impeccably, right down to detailing the daily weather and diagramming his plantings. {I’m seriously starting to think I need to start a gardening journal for my great-great grandkids.}

Jefferson experimented with horticulture and landscaping–and although they have not been able to replicate his plantings exactly, they have tried {using modern day practices} to include some his favorite plants.

Originally, the gardens were surrounded by 10 foot walls to keep deer and pillagers out–only a small part of the fence has been recreated, though.

Jefferson also had a massive orchard, and because the site of his orchard was conducive to avoiding spring frosts, he typically had fruit when his neighbors lost theirs. He was super proud of that fact.

Jefferson also experience with a vineyard–trying to recreate the wines of Europe, convinced that the United States could compete, but the vines he imported from Europe were not very happy with our soil and climate. His records show he was constantly planting and replanting vines.

All in all it was an amazing visit, and I wished we could of stayed longer. Heck, I’d move there in a heartbeat if I could convince my husband, even if the only job was pulling weeds.

Ahhh Virginia, I LOVE YOU.

~Mavis

A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello

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