Thank you, Mr. Jefferson

Besides the debt all Americans owe to Thomas Jefferson for crafting the Declaration of Independence, gardeners, plant and flower lovers owe him a particular debt. An ardent gardener, plant collector and record keeper, he fostered our fledgling country's interest in everything that grows, from the specimens collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition to the importation of specimen plants from abroad. Celebrate this Independence Day holiday with a look at what Jefferson nurtured in his own gardens. You might discover that some of your favorites were also his. The photo above, courtesy of the Monticello website, shows the flower garden originally tended by Jefferson's daughters and granddaughters.