Existing comment:
Formal Gardens:
The gardens were divided into three terraces, each with a pair of parterres or formal geometric patterns. Below them were kitchen gardens, an 18th century practice, culminating at a spring. Construction of the terraces or "falls" began in the late 1790's. Grassed ramps reflected the preference of American informality over European steps. When viewed from the cupola of the mansion, the terracing creates an optical illusion of leveling the parterres to a single continuous garden. |