As a photographer, one thing I like to do, when I have the opportunity, is to flirt with the lines between foreground and background. In this case, there were small windows along the underground passages at Monticello that allowed a view into the main gardens. One of htem had blooming flowers outside, providing the perfect contrast of light, dark, foreground, background.
Alleyways like this are commonplace in Charleston, South Carolina. Nestled between buildings, they might hide entryways, driveways, or even entire garden squares. Some are open to public while others remain locked throughout the day.