DC By the Book

Excerpt: On the drive through the city, Mama talked about Tudor Place. The land was purchased in 1805, she told me, and the mansion completed in 1816. The first owner had been the stepgranddaughter of George Washington. The same family had owned Tudor Place for six generations. "Mama," I teased, "you sound like their Web site." "She laughed as she parked the car. "I printed it out." She patter her folder. "I knew you'd have LOTS of questions." We passed through the gate and--just like that--the city disappeared. No traffic, no sirens, no honking horns. My first thought: Reuben had to see this. A garden laid out so perfect. Careful as a Nemo drawing by Reuben. The teeny hedges were clipped like poodles and lined up just so, making fancy designs. The hedges seemed to cross over each other like the neat way Reuben looped his shoelaces. I could picture old-time rich people strolling around. Checking out the time by the sundial. This was the famous knot garden. Mama and I moseyed down white gravel paths. We sniffed the boxwood, fingered the holly, and caught the trickle-trickle of the lion fountain. We sat in the teahouse for a while, like old-time rich people, and took in the huge, plush lawn.