Yesterday, March 20, marked the first day of spring. On April 9, 1797, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Comte de Volney from Monticello, exulting over the beauty of spring in the mountains of Virginia where he lived. He wrote:
“The soft genial temperature of the season, just above the want of fire, enlivened by the reanimation of birds, flowers, the fields, forests & gardens, has been truly delightful & continues to be so. My peach & cherry trees blossomed on the 9th of March. . . . The fine temperate weather of spring continues here about two months. Indeed my experience of the different parts of America convinces me that these mountains are the Eden of the U.S. for soil, climate, navigation & health.”
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