91[Diary entry: 23 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 23d. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 42 at Night. In the Morning it was calm and clear. About 10 oclock the wind, for about an hour, blew pretty fresh and cool from the No. West. It then shifted to the Eastward—died away and grew cloudy and towards Night had all the appearances of falling weather. Planted trees on the South Shrubbery similar to those of yesterday, in the...
92[Diary entry: 24 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 24th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning, 44 at Noon and 42 at Night. About two Inches of Snow fell in the Night. Before daylight, it began to rain, and continued to do so until near Sundown when it ceased, & the horizon became clear to the Westward. Prevented by the weather from preparing my grounds or transplanting trees. Wind Eastwardly in the forenoon & westwardly afterwds.
93[Diary entry: 25 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 25. Mercury at 40 in the Morng. 42 at Noon and 38 at Night. Wind Westwardly and cloudy all day—rather cool—although the ground was not frozen this morning. Laid off part of the Serpentine Road on the South side the grass plat, to day. Prevented going on with it, first by the coming in of Mr. Michael Stone about 10 oclock (who went away before noon)—then by the arrival of Colo. Hooe, Mr....
94[Diary entry: 26 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 26th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning, 38 at Noon and 37 at Night. Wind at No. West all day and at times pretty fresh—more or less cloudy and in the evening lowering. The ground was hard froze this morning. Finished laying out my Serpentine Roads. Dug most of the holes where the trees by the side of them are to stand and planted some of the Maple which were dug yesterday and some of the...
95[Diary entry: 27 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 27th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning 34 at Noon and 37 at Night. Weather clear—Wind fresh from the No. West all day. After Breakfast Mr. Crawford, his wife & Sister went away—they crossed at my Fer⟨ry⟩ to Marlborough. Mr. Bushrod Washington also set off for his fathers passing through Maryland.
96[Diary entry: 28 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 28th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning 36 at Noon and 43 at Night. Wind No. Wt. & westerly all day & cool—ground hard froze—Flying clouds but no appearance of rain. Planted all the Mulberry trees, Maple trees, & Black gums in my Serpentine walks and the Poplars on the right walk—the Sap of which and the Mulberry appeared to be moving. Also planted 4 trees from H. Hole the name unknown but...
97March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 34 in the morning 38 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind at No. West all day, & sometimes pretty fresh; at others very moderate. In general clear with some flying clouds. Planted the remainder of the Poplars & part of the Ash Trees—also a circle of Dogwood with a red bud in the Middle close to the old Cherry tree near the South Garden Ho[use]. Began with my two Tumblers to...
98[Diary entry: 1 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 34 in the morning 38 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind at No. West all day, & sometimes pretty fresh; at others very moderate. In general clear with some flying clouds. Planted the remainder of the Poplars & part of the Ash Trees—also a circle of Dogwood with a red bud in the Middle close to the old Cherry tree near the South Garden Ho[use]. Began with my two Tumblers to...
99[Diary entry: 2 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 2d. Mercury at 35 this Morning—40 at Noon and 39 at Night. Wind at No. West all day, and for the most part of it pretty fresh and cold. Cloudy and towards Sunsetting much the appearance of Snow. Planted the remainder of the Ash Trees—in the Serpentine walks—the remainder of the fringe trees in the Shrubberies—all the black haws—all the large berried thorns with a small berried one in...
100[Diary entry: 3 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 3d. Mercury at 34 in the Morng., 40 at Noon and at Night. Morning calm, warm, and very pleasant—wind afterwards from the Southward & pretty fresh. Sun set in a bank. Planted the remainder of the Locusts—Sassafras—small berried thorn & yellow Willow in the Shrubberies, as also the red buds—a honey locust and service tree by the South Garden House. Likewise took up the clump of Lilacs...
101[Diary entry: 4 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 4th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning. 46 at Noon and the same at Night. Morning thick and heavy, with appearances of rain. Before noon the Sun made some feeble efforts to shine, but was again obscured in the afternoon; & towards Night it began a mizling rain and in the Night there fell more, so as to wet the ground. Planted two more Service trees at the North Garden wall one on each side...
102[Diary entry: 5 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 5th. Mercury at 45 in the Morning at Noon and 54 at Night. Morning cloudy; but clear by 10 Oclock; the wind being at No. West tho’ neither fresh nor cool. About noon the wind shifted to So. West grew quite warm & pleasant. Sun Set in A Bank. Planted all the Holly trees to day—most of them with a good deal of dirt about the Roots—but they were very indifferent trees having stragling...
103[Diary entry: 6 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 6th. Mercury at 48 in the morning, 50 at Noon and 55 at Night. Morning a little lowering & calm—Wind afterwards pretty fresh from the Southward—weather Mild.
104[Diary entry: 7 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Munday 7th. Mercury at 50 in the Morning, 50 at Noon and 48 at Night. Wind Southwardly in the forenoon & until about 3 oclock when it shifted to the No. West blew pretty fresh & turned cold. The morning lowered, and until Noon, sprinkled rain at Intervals. About 12 Oclock the Sun came out very warm & pleasant & continued so until the wind shifted which brot. up Clouds again. Planted all my...
105[Diary entry: 8 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 8th. Mercury at 43 in the Morning, 42 at Noon and 38 at Night. In the Night there fell a good deal of rain which about Sun rise changed to hail & sleet wch. prevailed through the day and loaded the Trees with Ice with the weight of which the Evergreen in my Shrubberies were a good deal bowed. Wind pretty fresh all day at East. The ground was covered about an Inch with the hail &ca.
106[Diary entry: 9 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 9th. Mercury at 38 in the morning, 44 at Noon and 48 Night. A great deal of rain fell last Night and the heaviest Sleet I ever recollect to have seen. The bows of all the trees were incrusted by tubes of Ice, quite round, at least half an Inch think—the weight of Which was so great that my late transplantation in many instances sunk under it either by bending the bodies of the young...
107[Diary entry: 10 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 10th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning, 38 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind fresh from the No. Wt. all day and cold. Ground hard froze in the morning and but little thawed through the day. Sent my Waggon with the Posts for the Oval in my Court Yard to be turned by a Mr. Ellis at the Snuff Mill on Pohick & to proceed from thence to Occoquan for the Scion of the Hemlock to plant in my...
108[Diary entry: 11 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 11th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning, 34 at Noon and 41 at Night. Left Colo. Masons about 12 oclock. Dined with Mr. Martin Cockburn, & came home in the afternoon. Planted the Hemlock Scions which were brought home yesterday, 28 in Number in the Shrubbs—2 poplar trees wch. had been omitted (by an oversight) in my Serpentine Walks before; and 13 Weeping and 13 Yellow Willow trees...
109[Diary entry: 12 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 12th. Mercury at 34 in the morning, 38 at Noon & 44 at Night. Day clear and pleasant until about 5 oclock, when it began to lower, and the Sun set in a bank. Wind Southerly all day. After dark it shifted to the No. Et. blew pretty fresh and grew colder. Went to Abingden to see Mr. John Lewis who lay sick there. Returned in the Afternoon and brot. Betcy Custis home with me. Planted two...
110[Diary entry: 13 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 13th. Mercury at 42 this Morning, 46 at Noon and 48 at Night. Wind very fresh from the So. West, and great appearances of Rain in the forenoon. About Noon the wind ceased, and the Sun came out—after which it again clouded—the wind shifted to the No. Et. and it set in for a serious rain about 5 oclock which was unlucky on acct. of an open Boat load of Flour from my Mill, bound to...
111[Diary entry: 14 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Munday 14th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning, 46 at Noon and 48 at Night. A great deal of rain fell in the Night, which never ceased until after 8 oclock. My Boat with the flour went off about day break but whether the flour received any damage or not I cannot tell. The wind remained at No. East until 9 oclock when it died away and sprung up pretty fresh from the No. West when the Sun came out....
112[Diary entry: 15 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 15th. Mercury at 36 in the morning—38 at Noon and 40 at Night. Ground hard frozen in the Morning—Wind brisk (and cold) all day from the No. West; which made the borders to my Walk, progress slowly. Laid out a walk for the wilderness, intended on the No. of the Serpentine road on the right. Began to open Vistos throw the Pine grove on the Banks of H. Hole. Visited my Plantations at the...
113[Diary entry: 16 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 16th. Mercury at 26 in the morng.—27 at Noon and 33 at Night. Ground very hard froze & air Sharp from the No. West all day which prevented any movement of Earth. About 1 Oclock a Mr. Alexander Donald came here introduced by a letter from Govr. Henry. Alexander Donald was a Richmond merchant who often acted for Robert Morris in business matters. He had been for many years an intimate...
114[Diary entry: 17 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 17th. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night. Ground hard froze—the Creeks quite fast with Ice & the river covered with it to the channel. Wind Southerly all day, but not very fresh. The day, until after the middle of the afternoon, was very clear—it then began to lower, & at Sunset looked very much like rain. No earth could be moved until the afternoon; and even...
115[Diary entry: 18 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 18th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 44 at Night. Wind Southerly all day—very lowering in the forenoon. Soon after 12 Oclock there began a light mixture of Snow & rain, which continued through the day; encreasing as it advanced. I went to my Dogue run Plantation to make choice of the size, & to direct the taking up of Pine trees, for my two wildernesses. Brought 3 waggon...
116[Diary entry: 19 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 19th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 43 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day; and more or less rain mixed in sml. degree with Snow; which with what fell in the Night made the ground so wet that I could plant no trees to day. Many of those planted yesterday yielded to the Wind & Wet, and required propping. Received a Swan, 4 Wild Geese, & two Barrels of Holly Berries (in...
117[Diary entry: 20 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 20th. Mercury at 39 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Morning lowering. About Noon the Sun came out and the Weather looked promising but in the afternoon it clouded & threatned, and sometime after dark began a mixture of Snow and rain. Wind was at East, and So. East all day—sometimes pretty fresh but for the most part of it moderate. Major Jenefir came here to dinner and my...
118[Diary entry: 21 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 21st. Mercury at 40 in the Morning at Noon and 46 at Night. Very little wind all day but foggy and moist which carried away the Snow & hail that fell in the Night rather better than an Inch thick. Staked up the largest of my Trees in the avenues and Wilderness and Shrubberies to day, which from the softness of the ground & impression made on them by the Wind were leaning. Bought 150...
119[Diary entry: 22 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 22d. Mercury at 45 in the Morning, 52 at Noon and 51 at Night. Mizling Morning and very little Wind. About 8 Oclock it sprung up at No. West, & encreasing, blew hard all the remaining part of the day from that point & West. Mrs. Grayson sent me 8 Yew & 4 Aspan trees & Colo. Mason some Cherry Grafts. Planted the intermediate holes round the Walk in the Wilderness on the right and filled...
120[Diary entry: 23 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 23d. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 40 at Night. Wind fresh and cool all day from the No. West. Very clear. Finished Planting the Pine trees in the wilderness on the left and planted 4 of the live Oak Trees (which I had received from Norfolk) in the Shrubberies on the right and left on the grass plat in front of the House. Staked most of the Pines that had been planted.