If there is one place in this entire world where I could spend the rest of my life playing in the dirt and never run out of things to plant or projects to work on, it would be at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
The grounds are simply beautiful. Even during the winter months there is always something to see.
The herbs are sleepy, the bee’s are gone and the tourists are slim.
And yet I could spend hours just wandering the grounds.
Monticello has a summer intern position. And one of these days, I am going to apply. 
I highly doubt I’d get accepted into the program, and I’d probably spend all my time taking pictures of the garden, but you never know. Stranger things have happened.
Look at that turnip!!!
Horseradish?
Winter peas.
Couldn’t you just sit in there for hours?
Have you been to Monticello? What is your favorite part of the estate?
~Mavis
Mrs. Chow says
My favorite part? The gardens!
Mavis says
So amazing, right?!!
Mrs. Chow says
Yes, and so elegant in an unpretentious way.
Sue says
Ooh, I want some of those terra cotta cloches! I bet I could keep my artichoke plants alive through the winters if I used those. I assume the top comes off so you can pile straw inside for insulation? Or maybe to give the plant a little sun during the day without having to remove/replace the heavy cloche?
Tracy says
I want those terra cotta cloches!…anyone know where they sell them?
Mavis Butterfield says
The Monticello shop sells them. http://www.monticelloshop.org/040389.html
Laura Z says
We go to Charlottesville a few times a year when my husband travels there for work. I NEVER tire of Charlottesville or Monticello. The gardens are my favorite, especially in the height of spring and summer when you can buy the fresh veggies they grow there in the garden gift shop! I’ve had good luck with Monticello’s seeds too… When my daughter was little, she loved the discovery room for kids which is full of hands-on stuff, but I really enjoy the hour tour itself. I learn a little something different with each tour guide. Though not as grand, the other presidential houses nearby are worth a visit, too. My daughter always like to each fried chicken at Michie Tavern for lunch when we are there. It’s a bit of a tourist trap, but fun for kids to eat off tin plates and be served by waitresses in colonial dress. 🙂
Teri says
You’d be such a fun intern Mavis! Hope you get your wish one of these days.
Deborah from FL says
One year when we went to visit my brother’s family near Richmond, we went to Monticello. I was instantly in love. I took the inside tour twice in the same visit. Lol. But alas. I could not walk the grounds for the garden tour. So I sat down to wait for my peeps to return. Being chatty, I struck up on a conversation with a young man in costume, standing nearby. Turns out, garden tours is his thing. So we watched the tour the best we could, and he told me what he would talk about in each area. (Kinda like a personal tour without walking.) It was great!! Naturally I had to buy a book in the gift shop about the gardens. Actually my very patient tolerant brother bought it for me, cuz I didn’t have enough money on me. 🙂
Love love love Monticello!
Bernice says
Love Montuchello, but the view is the best..standing on top of the hill and just overlooking the massive garden….Love it. Also just a short way up hill is the Carter Mountain Apple orchards..and the view there is super…like being on top of the world but not too high up…
Lea says
Ohhh – I’m definitely jealous! My favorite place in the world! I haven’t been for years but I could spend hours and hours and hours there.
My favorite is the gardens too – and yes, I’m in the category that wants those terra cotta cloches too. Though winters in MN might be a bit harsh to winter-over anything….I can dream, right?
Lea
Connie says
I have never been but would love to go and am pretty sure I would want to live in that garden !