Spring 2017 Virginia AT trip near Mount Rogers NRA, view of Burkes Garden from the AT at Chestnut Knob on the west edge of Burkes Garden. Burkes Garden is the highest valley in Virginia caused by more rapid erosion of the underlying limestone than the harder surrounding mountain rocks. Legend has Burkes Garden named after a Pre-Revolutionary War survey crew member who buried potato skin scraps which grew into a potato patch when he returned a year later. The AT passes Burkes Garden along the eastern escarpment on Garden Mountain.