Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
As America approaches its 250th birthday, it’s a natural moment to reflect on the ideas that shaped our nation—not just in government and philosophy, but in the soil beneath our feet.
In colonial and early American life, gardens were essential. Families relied on gardens for food, herbs, and medicine. Orchards provided fruit and cider. Flowers, while appreciated, were often secondary to function. Long before gardening was a weekend hobby or a way to beautify our homes, gardening was practical, it was a deeply American act of independence, self-reliance, and stewardship.
Few figures embody that connection more fully than Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson: Gardener, Scientist, Visionary
Thomas Jefferson is remembered as a statesman and author of the Declaration of Independence, but he considered himself first and foremost a farmer and gardener. He once wrote that “cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens,” a belief that guided both his politics and his personal life.
Jefferson approached gardening with the mind of a scientist and the heart of an artist. He meticulously recorded planting dates, weather patterns, successes, and failures. He experimented with vegetables from around the world—introducing many Americans to crops that were unfamiliar at the time—and believed that learning from the land was a lifelong pursuit.
Poplar Forest: A Living Garden Legacy
About four miles from our garden center sits one of Jefferson’s most personal creations: Poplar Forest, his retreat home and plantation. Unlike Monticello, which often bustled with visitors and responsibilities, Poplar Forest was Jefferson’s place of quiet reflection, experimentation, and design.
Here, Jefferson expressed his belief that gardens should balance beauty, order, and usefulness. The grounds surrounding Poplar Forest included ornamental plantings alongside productive gardens—an idea that still resonates today as homeowners blend flowers, herbs, and vegetables into shared spaces.
Standing on those grounds, it’s easy to imagine Jefferson walking the paths, observing plant growth, and thinking deeply about how humans and nature coexist. That legacy lives on in every garden planted with intention.
What Did Thomas Jefferson Actually Grow?
Jefferson’s gardens often were working laboratories. He grew over 330 varieties of vegetables and herbs, many of them uncommon in early America. Some notable examples include:
Vegetables Jefferson Grew
- Peas – One of his favorites. Jefferson even hosted annual “pea tastings” with friends to determine which variety ripened first.
- Tomatoes – Still considered ornamental by many Americans in his time, Jefferson helped legitimize them as a food crop.
- Peppers – Both sweet and hot varieties, used for flavor and preservation.
- Okra – Introduced through global trade and grown as part of his interest in diverse cuisines.
- Asparagus – A staple perennial in his garden beds.
- Artichokes – A challenging crop that reflected his willingness to experiment.
- Lettuce and spinach – Grown in succession plantings to extend the harvest.
Herbs and Useful Plants
- Basil
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Sage
- Chives
Fruits and Trees
Jefferson was deeply interested in fruit trees and orchard management.
- Apples and pears
- Peaches and cherries
- Figs – Grown despite climate challenges, showing his persistence and curiosity.
Jefferson often obtained seeds from France, Italy, and beyond, exchanging plants with fellow gardeners and diplomats. His gardens were global in inspiration but deeply rooted in Virginia “red clay” soil.
From Then to Now: The American Garden Evolves
Over the centuries, American gardening has evolved—from subsistence plots to victory gardens, from formal landscapes to native plant movements and sustainable practices. Yet the core values remain remarkably similar:
- Independence: Growing something yourself
- Curiosity: Trying new plants and methods
- Stewardship: Caring for the land for future generations
- Beauty with purpose: Gardens that nourish both body and soul
As we celebrate 250 years of American history, today’s gardens—whether a single container on a porch or acres of landscape—are part of that ongoing story.
Celebrating the Future, Rooted in the Past
This year, as America marks a quarter-millennium of growth, we invite you to celebrate in the most fitting way possible: by planting something. Grow food. Grow flowers. Experiment. Learn from trial and error. Ask your neighbor what works for them. Grow a deeper connection to the land beneath your feet—and to the history that surrounds us here in Central Virginia.
After all, the story of America has always been written in the soil from which communities grew.
Sources & Further Reading
- Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book, 1766–1824— Jefferson’s personal gardening journal documenting planting dates, varieties, and observations.
- Monticello: Thomas Jefferson’s Vegetable Garden and Orchards— Research compiled by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation detailing the more than 330 varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs grown by Jefferson.
- Poplar Forest: Landscape and Plantation History— Educational materials from Jefferson’s retreat home outlining the integration of ornamental and productive plantings.
- Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation,Andrea Wulf— A widely respected exploration of how early American leaders, including Jefferson, viewed gardening and agriculture.
Cover Photo: https://www.monticello.org/what-is-monticello/grounds-gardens/vegetable-garden
