It's August at Monticello. We’ve been grateful for a bit more rain than last month, but the heat continues to challenge us in the garden. On the bright side, August means it's peach-picking time. Or, as Jefferson once put it, "We abound in the luxury of the peach." In this episode of “A Rich Spot of Earth”, we talk about Jefferson’s quest to grow almost 40 different peach varieties. We also discuss biennial flowers and some of the interesting herbs cultivated at Monticello. Featuring Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Michael Tricomi, Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens; Debbie Donley, Flower Gardener; and Robert Dowell, Senior Nursery Associate at the Thomas Jefferson Center Historic Plants.

It's July at Monticello, and it’s been exceptionally hot and dry this year. We’ve got some gorgeous flowers in bloom--marigolds, blackberry lilies, globe amaranth, and hibiscus--but keeping things watered is a never-ending task. In this episode of “A Rich Spot of Earth”, we look at how periods of hot, dry weather have affected Monticello, both in Jefferson’s in time and at times in recent years. We also talk about beneficial insects and plants, and about Jefferson’s dream of cultivating olive trees in Virginia. Featuring Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Michael Tricomi, Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens; Debbie Donley, Flower Gardener; and Robert Dowell, Senior Nursery Associate at the Thomas Jefferson Center Historic Plants.

In this episode of "A Rich Spot of Earth" we talk about water: how water was collected and used at Monticello and how to properly water your own plants. We also discuss some of the plants sent back to Jefferson from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and spend a few minutes on the American Chestnut, the severely endangered native tree that is making a comeback thanks to the efforts of the American Chestnut Foundation (www.acf.org)

In this episode of "A Rich Spot of Earth" we talk about vining plants, self-sowing annuals, and trees that flower in the summer. We also tackle a less pleasant topic: weeds and what to do about them.