Colonial Revival Garden (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:

Colonial Revival Garden
Mount Vernon's lower garden provided vegetables, fruits, and herbs to feed the Washingtons and their guests. Kitchen gardens were considered the most consequential part of gardening in the 18th century as they contributed to health and survival. Produce was taken to the kitchen to be served fresh in season and preserved in large quantities for use throughout the year.

This garden represents an important chapter in American landscape history. Its reconstruction in 1938 exemplified the Colonial Revival garden featuring geometric planting beds, grass paths, brick-walled dipping cisterns (used to gather water), and expaliered fruit trees (shaped lot against the walls).