Monticello

Monticello....... the dream house of Thomas Jefferson. It sits on a hilltop overlooking Charlottesville and the 2,000 remaining acres of the Jefferson family's original 5,000 acre plantation.

This is the man..... a man who was a visionary, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia and the 3rd President of the United States. On of his most quoted statements is "I can not live without books"....... sounds like a daughter, a daughter in law and a son in law of mine.......

The orchards, fields and gardens reflect Jefferson's love of the landscape design. Jefferson's most enduring horticultural achievement at Monticello is his gardens. He had more then 330 varieties of more then 70 species of vegetables. He was one of the first to plant wine grapes here in the "New World."

James Monroe's house that he called Highlands House. It is now called Ash Lawn-Highland..... This was a good tour and gave us a insight on the simpler life of Monroe, a good friend of Jefferson and the 5th President of the United States.

The man......... James Monroe