Mount Vernon Gardens

George Washington and staff had quite the showplace of gardens. Today i had the privilege of touring the upper gardens and the kitchen gardens. We also saw the ancient tulip poplar which has been in place since the 1700's. 

The very chubby Chucky the woodchuck is in charge of tasting the kitchen garden produce, no doubt for quality control. 

Artichokes were Martha's favorite vegetable. 

The formal parterre

The same kinds of annuals seen in 1789

A luscious grapefruit tree

The mansion, no longer white. 

Chucky, upper left

Cistern and kitchen garden