ThegardenstellushowWashingtonusedhisland.Hegrewcrops.Heplantedexoticflowers.Heshowedoffhiswealthandpower.Whatelsecanwelearnbystudyingtheland?Let’slookatthebowling green.

Abowlinggreenisanareaofcloselycutgrass.TheoneatMountVernonlookslikeahugefrontlawn.Inthe18thcentury,landwasvaluable.Mostpeopleusedtheirlandforapurpose,like farming.

Washingtondidn’tneedtoplantmorecrops,however.Hecouldsetsomelandasidejustforshow.Again,natureactsasaprimarysource.Ittellsusaboutaperson,aplace,andatime.Thebowlinggreentellsussomethingelse.Whokeptthelawnsoneat?Therewerenolawnmowersatthattime.Enslavedpeopledraggedrollersacrossthelawn.Thentheyusedabladetocutthe grass.