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At home he planted trees, at least 13 of which still survive; and he spent a lifetime experimenting to revitalize the depleted red clay of his home. 

People said that George Washington’s favorite gift was a “cutting” to start a new plant.

In the solarium on the grounds, Martha grew lemons from which she made her famous lemon slush.  In Versailles, Louis 16^th, made an orange slush for himself, but this was America and the Washington’s served it to all.

“I can truly say I had rather be at home at Mount Vernon with a friend or two about me, than to be attended at the seat of government by the officers of State and the representatives of every power in Europe,” George Washington wrote.

Still, Washington biographer, James Thomas Flexner, made this assessment. “Among the legacies of the Revolution to the new nation, the most widely recognized and admired was a man:  George Washington.  He had no rivals.

“When the war ended, not a single officer was really powerful in the army who had not been elevated and trained by the Commander in Chief—and who was not loyal to him.” [iv]

“In the civilian sphere no individual had national stature comparable with Washington’s.  The General had more than any political figure served as the nation’s chief executive.  Yet, no continuation of leadership figured in his happy imaginings.” [v]

George Washington clearly had the hand of Providence over him. Earlier, during the French and Indian War, Washington was in a battle where every mounted officer except him was killed. 

Of this battle he wrote, “By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation for I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions at every side of me.” [vi]

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