Old House

Home of John and Abigail Adams.I like this house a lot because it is simple yet beautiful in style. I really like the angle of this picture because it shows the gardens. Gardens were a big part of the house for the Adams and for pretty much all of the Founding Fathers. Gardens became an art form and a way of expressing the personality of the inhabitants of the house. In The Refinement of America, Bushman writes, "From 1750 on, a garden became requisite for every mansion."

Gardens became an extension of the parlor where people could walk and converse in a beautiful outdoor setting. Bushman goes on to say that beside entertaining guests, "the plantings functioned just as pictures, ceramics, or books did --that is, as subjects for conversation." Gardens were more of an artwork during this time period than just for providing a nice place to walk around. I don't think gardens are like this anymore even though I wish that gardens were focused on a little more. It would be nice if people worked a little harder to make their yards look nice. My parents front yard, for example, needs a lot of work. There are really old bushes surrounding the yard. I used to love these bushes but now they are becoming old fashioned and crowding the yard. Maybe some day we will get rid of them.