Quotes to Celebrate Spring 2025 Inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book

Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book is the gift that keeps on giving.

As the 2025 spring season kicks off I'm opening a book I got in December: Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book. A gift from my partner in life (I helped him pick it out LOL), it's one of the best insights into one of the most complex humans I've ever encountered.

Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.

Quick synopsis for context:

• Jefferson's Garden Book lists all his ideas, purchases, experiments, and recordings of everything related to his love and interest in botany, gardening, and even dipping into agriculture and the complex creation of buildings and landscape.
• The editing was done by an historian named Edwin Morris Betts, who is also credited with Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book and starting the work on The Family Letters of Thomas Jefferson (shoutout to my friend Krista, owner of the Wordsmith, who gifted me this one!).
• All the Betts' books include citations that lead to a deeper dive into the man, his family, and important insights into early American history.

In sum, you get more than the garden accounting itself. You get names, dates, locations, frames of reference, and excerpts of letters (which I love!).

For context of the quotes below: they're not directly from the garden book, but are here because I learned something that had me digging deeper.

RELATED: Click here to learn about Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book in an earlier article.

My copy of Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book

Quote number one: Thomas Jefferson's heartfelt ode to a friendship.

Learned in Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book: Jefferson's best friend, Dabney Carr died in the spring of 1773. Two things to note for context:

1) Jefferson and Carr committed to each other that for whoever died first, the other would take care of their family. In this case, Carr's wife Martha was also Jefferson's sister. Martha and the Carr children moved into Monticello after Dabney's death.

2) Jefferson created a burial ground (family cemetery) as part of Monticello's landscape. Dabney Carr was the first to be buried in it. The book, as it's Jefferson's own words transcribed, details the project.

Notes for Epitaph and Grave of Dabney Carr

[after 16 May 1773]

Inscription on my friend D. Carr’s tomb-stone.

''''

Still shall thy grave with rising flow’rs be dress’d

And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast:

There shall the morn her earliest tears bestow,

There the first roses of the year shall blow:

While angels with their silver wings o’ershade

The ground now sacred by thy reliques made.

On the upper part of the stone inscribe as follows

Here lie the remains
of Dabney Carr

Son of John & Jane Carr of Louisa county who was born 1744.

intermarried with Martha Jefferson

daur. of Peter and Jane Jefferson

1765.

and died at Charlottesville May. 16. 1773.

leaving six small children.

To his Virtue, Good sense, learning and Friendship

this stone is dedicated by Thomas Jefferson

who of all men living loved him most.
''''

Click here to read all the details on the epitaph of Dabney Carr.

February flowers, the start of spring in CW

Quote number two: Thomas Jefferson encourages his daughter.

Learned in Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book: In 1776, Thomas Jefferson actually spent most of the spring at Monticello. His mother died March 31st, and yet, he headed for Philadelphia in May.

And we know what happened in May and June: he was added to a committee of five with the task of writing and submitting a Declaration of Independence. Which was done. For me, this peek into his mindset during the spring of 1776, does give additional understanding to the man behind the words.

This excerpt is to his daughter in the spring of 1787, almost 11 years to the date after the death of his mother. It's full of advice and ideas for Martha- that said, I'm pulling one quote I love but definitely invite you to read the letter in full, by clicking here.

From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, 28 March 1787

To Martha Jefferson

Aix en Provence March. 28. 1787.

I was happy, my dear Patsy, to receive, on my arrival here, your letter informing me of your health and occupations.

(...letter continues)

To your sister and yourself I look to render the evening of my life serene and contented. It’s morning has been clouded by loss after loss till I have nothing left but you. I do not doubt either your affection or dispositions. But great exertions are necessary, and you have little time left to make them. Be industrious then, my dear child. Think nothing unsurmountable by resolution and application, and you will be all that I wish you to be.

February blossoms in CW

RELATED:

Click here to read my review of Colonial Williamsburg's (CW's) Pursuing Happiness, written by Kurt Smith, who portrays Thomas Jefferson at CW and edited by Robert Weathers, who portrays George Wythe at CW.

If you want to share the story of American Independence with the kids in your life? Click here and grab a box filled with it.

Click here to read about Jane Randolph Jefferson, Thomas' mother, on the Monticello website.

Closing words.

Since I've already shared words from history, I'm just closing this post with this thought: spring is a time of renewal and hope, Jefferson knew that. His recordings of spring are filled with notes like "May 22 (1773) first patch of peas come to table. note this spring is remarkably forward."

And yes, this is days after Dabney Carr passes away.

In his life, Jefferson experienced significant loss in the spring of two vital years to our country's founding. So why did I add "celebrate" into the title of this post? Because in my opinion, Jefferson always celebrated spring simply through his love of nature.

The promise of "new" was forever on the mind of Thomas Jefferson. No matter the situation, spring brought life and optimism, even in the darkest moments.

The contrast of events with nature deserve a moment to acknowledge. And to celebrate.

March blossoms in CW

Are you enjoying this free blog? Use my online tip jar and buy me a coffee:

There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.