Thomas Jefferson kept detailed notes of the gardens at Monticello and his boyhood home, Shadwell. Commonly referred to as the “Garden Book,” these records included information about the many varieties of vegetables, fruits, plants, and trees grown as well as details about harvest dates, sowing locations, and even weather conditions. ????
In this live Q&A, Bill Barker, first-person interpreter of Thomas Jefferson, and Peggy Cornett, Monticello’s Curator of Plants, discuss Jefferson’s different approaches to gardening, how his travels impacted his entries, and the enslaved laborers who made the success of the gardens possible.
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. Deep and wide-ranging annotations capture the planning, planting, successes, and failures of Jefferson's ambitious gardens, making this volume an unexpected classic. Edited by Edwin M. Betts with an introduction by Peter J. Hatch.
