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Those fierce souls who founded our nation knew the importance of taking care of business. And their business always included raising food for their own family’s table.
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Our country was founded by serious gardeners. Even luminaries such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington maintained gardens, tended orchards, had fields of crops to use and sell, and raised those animals needed to keep meat on the table. Although they, and others of their class kept slaves in those days; they still took a very active hands-on interest in their garden.
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Colonial Williamsburg maintains many gardens, but this remains my favorite. It is a very well maintained colonial vegetable garden tended in the 18th Century style.
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It looks even more lush this December than usual. But that is likely due to our fair weather these last few months. It is a pleasing mix of herbs, flowers and vegetables.
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Fruit trees may be found around the edges. There are vegetables growing from tiny seedling up to ready to harvest cabbages and collards.
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These vegetables are used in the CW kitchens. They are lovingly tended up to the moment they are authentically prepared and gratefully consumed.
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We strolled down Duke of Gloucester Street on Sunday to enjoy the ingenious Christmas wreathes. But as you might guess, I was distracted for quite a while by the garden.
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It was a grey day, completely overcast and damp. A few drops spritzled as we were leaving. But it was warm and comfortable; a great day to enjoy the wreathes and seasonal decorations on every building.
I’ll share a few with you each day for the next few days.
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I’ve not yet made any wreathes myself, this year.
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But there is still time before Christmas Eve, and a dear friend gifted me with a bucket of Magnolia branches later Sunday afternoon. We used some of the Magnolia while decorating for a community luncheon we’re hosting tomorrow.
And yes, there is a vase. I just haven’t photographed it, yet!
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Evergreen Magnolia is one of my favorite native plants. They grow wild here in Virginia, and my friend has a wild seedling grown large in her garden.
You’ll see lots of Magnolia used at Colonial Williamsburg in their holiday decorations. It has wonderful color and holds up for the several weeks of our festivities. One can’t eat it, but it decorates many holiday dinner tables and sideboards. We spread it liberally around our buffet table and the beverage tables for tomorrow’s gathering.
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Which in a round about way brings us back to my neglect of wreathes this season. Our front doors are graced with old ones from ‘the wreath collection’ which hangs in our garage at the moment. They are fine from a distance, with red silk roses and moss on a grapevine base.
And I just may recycle the Magnolia leaves off the buffet table into a stunning garland to hang round the front doors this year. Southern Living Magazine has any number of fine projects featuring Magnolia leaves this December.
If you are a Virginia neighbor, you might have been admiring the December issue right along with me.
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It still all comes down to ‘taking care of business’ for our family and our community.
As modern as our lives might feel at times, our foundation remains in hearth and home; friendship and family; good food and hands-on self sufficiency. It is part of our heritage not just as Virginians or Americans; it is part of our human heritage and a fundamental value around the world.
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May you take time for those things which bring you real joy this holiday season. And may you take care of business such that you assure yourself and your loved ones of a very Happy New Year, too.
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Woodland Gnome 2015
Photos from Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Forest Garden 