1900s Garden Scene in Hanover County, Virginia

Frances Benjamin Johnstons photograph captures a serene garden scene in Hanover County, Virginia. This image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, an extensive project documenting the architectural heritage and gardens of the region. The survey aimed to preserve the historical significance of Southern architecture through detailed images, contributing to our understanding of this period.

The photograph reflects the landscape design that was characteristic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gardens were often designed as extensions of the home, with carefully arranged plants and structures that showcased the artistic vision of their owners. This particular garden may have featured native Virginia flora, emphasizing the local environment and the eras appreciation for nature.

Taken during a time when photography was evolving as an artistic medium, this image not only serves as historical documentation but also highlights the cultural values associated with gardening and landscape architecture in the South. The photograph was acquired from the Frances Benjamin Johnston estate in 1953, further solidifying its significance in American visual history.