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Gaze at the gardens and enjoy the art, for a cause

May 15, 2009 12:35 am

BY RICHARD AMRHINE

It was a pleasant day Tuesday to visit Mount Pleasant farm, one of the stops on next week's Art and Garden Walk in and around Bowling Green.

The tour has been organized as a fundraiser by Citizens for Caroline Historic Preservation, whose first project is the restoration of the 1900 Pauley jail on the Caroline Courthouse grounds.

For such a cause, taking in six beautiful local gardens for a mere $10 ticket is a delightful opportunity. Tour-takers will also be treated to the work of area artists, which will be on display and for sale during the event next Friday and Saturday. The artists will contribute a portion of their proceeds to the jail project.

Mount Pleasant is the 1806 home of Lois Abernathy and her husband, Robert Marshall, and if you enjoy beauty, serenity and history, a stop here is certainly worthwhile. It's a 25-acre property along State Route 2, at 12020 Fredericksburg Turnpike, a few miles north of Bowling Green. You can buy a ticket there the day of the tour.

GARDEN'S BEGINNINGS

The couple acquired the property 10 years ago, and while they've done extensive work on the house over that time, there's nothing better, as far as Abernathy is concerned, than working the soil and growing the garden.

"I hope I'm never finished," she said of her gardening. "I would be happy if I take my last breath out here planting flowers. Of course, I hope that's a long way off."

Before moving to Caroline, the couple lived in Richmond's Ginter Park neighborhood. Abernathy got her Mount Pleasant garden off to a strong start by transplanting some 600 plants from the Ginter Park property.

When they arrived at Mount Pleasant there were but a few azalea bushes; today there are more than 10,000 bulbs and plants blooming at different times throughout the growing season.

What helps set this garden apart are the "rooms," as Abernathy refers to them, garden islands here and there on the acres surrounding the house. They're planted amid the expansive grassy areas, against the woods, under trees, surrounding the gazebos--many with seating to enjoy a book or simply to relax and take in nature.

Abernathy planned ahead in establishing the garden areas.

"I spread out newspapers over various areas, then piled on manure and left it alone for a year," she said. "What we had then was the most beautiful soil, completely free of weeds."

PLETHORA OF PLANTS

Peonies, especially 'Red Charm,' are Abernathy's favorites, and she has planted hundreds of peony plants in the garden spots. They are complemented by helleborus and numerous other plants such as columbine and larkspur, which she calls her "self-seeders."

Planting bulbs has been an ongoing effort from the beginning, and now more than 8,000 jonquils grace the property. There are tons of day lilies, too.

One plant making a statement right now is dame's rocket, with its delicate purple flowers. Abernathy said they were part of a bucket of wildflower seeds tossed onto the ground.

There are several sentimental spots in the garden. Both of Abernathy's daughters were married beneath huge cedar trees there, and her son's wedding reception was held there as well.

To mark each occasion, Abernathy created three "wedding rings," circular wire frames used for wreathes that were attached to tree stumps, then entwined with ivy that has enveloped the frames over time.

"I don't like to have all the stumps pulled out. I like to work them into the garden," she said.

Many stumps were created in 2003 courtesy of Hurricane Isabel, which felled at least 75 trees on the property.

HISTORIC HOME

The house was originally situated on a 700-acre plantation that was bordered on the south and west by the Mattaponi River. It was also adjacent to the buggy trail that was the original route between Fredericksburg and Richmond via Bowling Green. When Route 2 was built, the old road became the driveway that leads to the rear of the house.

Abernathy has filled many containers with plants such as geraniums and petunias along the driveway to greet visitors. The couple had local stone trucked in for the driveway.

Everywhere, the farm reflects the work Abernathy and Marshall put into it. The extensive fencing, which the couple built, contains pastures that hold 22 head of black Angus cattle, a few of which are about to calve.

On one series of fence posts Marshall built and placed small birdhouses, and all are occupied this spring. Bird feeders are hanging here and there.

What about the extensive mowing? Abernathy does it all herself. "I don't even let Rob on my mower," she said. "I find it therapeutic."

Richard Amrhine: 540/374-5406
Email: ramrhine@freelancestar.com