Hillwood Historic Home and Gardens of Marjorie Merriweather Post

Yesterday, I closed up my shop and took a day trip to D.C. with my mother's garden
club. About 40 women, including my mom, my aunt, my sister and two cousins, took
a large bus up to Washinton, D.C. to see the estate, Hillwood, the home of the late
Marjorie Merriweather Post. It was a beautiful day for this, perfect weather. This home
is in the heart of D.C. on an ample plot of land. The house as you see above was one
of Marjorie's homes, her favorite and the last place she lived. We started of at the
information center with lunch before we went on our garden tour.

Mrs. Merryweather bought Hillwood in 1955 and sits on twenty-five acres
with serene landscape gardens and natural woodlands with the home, greenhouses
and other outside buildings.

  One of her must haves was to have fresh flowers threw out the house at all
times. Above you see the cutting garden.

The gardens around the house were exquisite, beautiful garden sculptures and a
view of the Washington Monument.

The actual front of the house is not the first picture I posted, it is in the later pictures
and faces the monument and Washington from up high on the hill.

Just a few more garden pictures and then we venture inside for more pictures of the
beautiful home.

Inside the house she had pictures of her grandchildren playing in these gardens. You
will notice that I take several pictures of the light fixtures, and the draperies, and the
chairs. It is just in my decorating blood!

Sorry that the pictures are a little dark, no flashes allowed in side. This house is so
beautiful. She was quite the collector!

Mrs. Post had one of the largest collections of Russian imperial Art, French Decorative
art, Faberge Eggs and Sevres Porcelain.

Marjorie Merriweather Post was known for her lavish parties and was quite the
entertainer. She also furnished her home with beautiful fabrics, wallpapers, paintings
and such. She also had a large collection of Cartier custom jewelry that is  on display
here and shown on her in some of her portraits.

Mrs. Post was the heiress to the Post Cereal Company , that she ran and later it become
General Foods. She introduced America to frozen food. She was married four times and
had several daughters, one being the actress Dina Merrill. The last picture is of my clan
that made this great trip. I am on the end to the right next to my mom and sister.