What Was George Washington's Favorite Plant?

Dean Norton, Director of Horticulture at Mount Vernon, muses on what may have been George Washington's favorite plant.
#AskMountVernon
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[@dustinmasterson411]

There is something about the weeping willow that is calming and peaceful.

[@oftenwrong.]

I love Mount Vernon! I try to watch every video! And comment on most! Thank you Mount Vernon

[@theparrotrescuer3042]

Great question young man.

[@raginigupta6687]

Thanks for answering my son’s question so thoroughly! He asked another one and we hope he gets an equally great answer! The other question was about GW’s favorite book.

[@kaiyasgramme]

That’s also a great question. I hope they answer him as well. I too want to know what was Washington’s favorite book.

[@wfellow1]

Weeping willows as they mature have a great shade "umbrella" and are not effected by the sun moving shade as much as most other trees. I would imagine being in Virginia in the hot summers that they have, rest under a weeping willow and a chance to get out of the sun would be a welcome thing. An extra added benefit of weeping willows is that unlike trees that produce fruits or nuts you can enjoy being under their shade canopy without too many yellow jackets getting after rotting or fallen fruit or squirrels or other animals foraging for nuts or the worry of nuts or fruit falling off the branches of the trees and hitting a gentleman and perhaps his female companion enjoying the shade.

[@SandyzSerious]

Thank you.

[@JENDALL714]

Is it just a rumor that Washington also grew hemp?

[@mountvernon]

It's true! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4OykJKljKp0kNE

[@patriciawilson605]

So sad that over200 years ago. That America had slavery. But thanks be to GOD that was done away with by civil war. We now can go forward to help stop slavery of human trafficking that is happening today. Can’t hang In the past but need to help others as JESSUS said to do today🚺😔🙏

[@janetlynch5804]

His favorite plant had to have been tobacco, because it was a money maker at slaves expense. Truth be told. He was motivated...I have to give him that. Anything for profit.

[@janetlynch5804]

Yet, he wasn't at Mt. Vernon most of the time...for over 8 yrs. he was gone, and I imagine that the slaves dreaded him in the coming home..., while having to put on a pretty face, because he was so driven to do things (like a manic depressive, or a driven maniac,) that he not only concluded their (the poor ole black slaves) sad fate, he sadly perpetuated it. And some people, as in the Corporate world today...still are just as fascist and mean as hell. too. America should never be a Corpacacy, unless we want to be controlled, and I doubt that very much. I for one Do Not. Geogie Porgy Pudding Pie should not be honored so much. Although he may have felt guilt...and maybe wanting to do the right thing...during his time...he simply couldn't do it...especially when he directly witnessed the inhumanity, and as living witness to it, and knowing those poor ole black folks (reason why? He knew them personally!) It Is surely easy to accept and understand your wrongs later in life, and especially, in your later days, because you understand that you will surely die, which is no darned excuse.

[@oftenwrong.]

Well America was a product of the time. Slavery was a part of it. No one defends it. It was 243 years ago. America is not perfect and it never will be. A lot of the worlds country’s have had slavery at one time.

[@swivelhips586]

@@oftenwrong. Agreed Indeed. Every race at some point in history has had slaves and every race has had members enslaved. There were black slave owners in the colonies and through the American Civil War. In fact two "Union" States were slave states. Slavery is not unique to The United States or the western world. I do know the first "race" to outlaw slavery was the white/caucasian race. Furthermore, it wasn't "Americans" who began the slave trade to the "Colonies" in the 1600's, it was the English or British, for it was their colonies and for their financial benefit.