Jefferson's Garden

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Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, third president of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia also liked to dig around in the dirt.

In his garden at Monticello, Jefferson had 170 different types of fruit, 330 different vegetables, countless flowers and a grove of meticulously selected trees. What’s more he kept careful and detailed notes of what was planted.

Peter Hatch is Director of Grounds and Gardens at Monticello, he is also the author of many books and articles on maintaining Jefferson’s gardens. Mr. Hatch joins the Connection to talk about Jefferson’s gardening legacy, what the former president’s botanical inclinations tell us about the man and about life in America at the turn of another century.

Guests:

Peter J. Hatch, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello and author of “The Gardens of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello” and “The Fruits and Fruit Trees of Monticello.”