Lexington, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Jackson's Garden
Photographed By Robert H. Moore, II, January 24, 2009
1. Jackson's Garden Marker
This backyard kitchen garden provided the household with a variety of flowers, fruit and vegetables. Major Jackson reported in an 1860 letter that the garden included, “lima beans, snap beans, carrots, parsnips, salsify, onions, cabbage, turnips, beets, potatoes, and some inferior muskmelons.”
By using a cold frame or hotbed to protect tender plants from frost, Major Jackson could extend the growing season. This practice helped insure a diet of fresh produce for much of the year. Jackson, who was known to be ‘as methodical as a multiplication table,” followed a detailed planting calendar and owned an 1858 edition of Robert Buist’s Family Kitchen Gardener, a popular gardening manual.
While Jackson enjoyed working in the garden with his own hands, the success of the garden depended upon the labor of three of the Jackson’s slaves: Hetty and her sons, Cyrius and George.
“I went down to your henhouse yesterday evening… and, looking into the nests, found nine fresh eggs….”
Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Jackson, Feb. 23, 1861 [from] Memoirs of “Stonewall” Jackson by His Widow, p. 138
“I never was fond of lettuce until I tried this. I regard it as the largest, tenderest and finest flavored that I have ever tasted.”
Thomas J. Jackson to Laura Jackson Arnold, June4, 1860.
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“His garden was a source of very great pleasure to him: he worked in it a great deal with his own hands, and cultivated it in quite a scientific way…. So successful was he as a gardener that he raised more vegetables than his family could consume.”
Mary Anna Jackson {from} Memoirs of “Stonewall” Jackson by his Widow, p. 108.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 4, 1863.
Location. 37° 47.107′ N, 79° 26.476′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Virginia. Marker is on East Washington Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 East Washington Street, Lexington VA 24450, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lt. Gen. Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson 1824-1863 (here, next to this marker); The Stonewall Jackson House (here, next to this marker); Rockaway (here, next to this marker); Dr. Ephraim McDowell (within shouting distance of this marker); Gen. George S. Patton (within shouting distance of this marker); Gen. John Lejeune (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Padget (within shouting distance of this marker); Little Sorrel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.
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Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 21, 2012
2. Jackson's Garden Marker
In the center are illustrations of Barred Plymouth Rock chickens and Silesia lettuce.
In the upper right is a photo detail of the Stonewall Jackson House by Michael Miley, from the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia. Next to it is a photo of the Back of the Stonewall Jackson House, from the Stonewall Jackson Foundation, Lexington, Virginia.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Photographed By Robert H. Moore, II, January 24, 2009
3. Jackson's Garden Marker
The third of three markers at the entrance of the Stonewall Jackson House, this marker is located by itself on the right.
Photographed By Robert H. Moore, II, January 24, 2009
4. The Stonewall Jackson House
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 21, 2012
5. Jackson's Garden
Photographed By Mike Stroud, circa July 1980
6. Jackson's Garden
Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,313 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 26, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 21, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on January 26, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. 5. submitted on August 21, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on January 27, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
