Many people think of the White House as a museum that never changes. However, after learning some of its history, they quickly discover that it is like any other house, always in the process of being redecorated and re-landscaped.
When George Washington took office in 1789, he began work designing a presidential residence with the help of Pierre L’Enfant, a French architect. The proposed site on Pennsylvania Avenue was nothing but fields and swamp land. When L’Enfant presented his finished design to Washington, Washington was dissatisfied with its grand, European-style of architecture, and the project was put on hold.
In 1792, Washington and Jefferson collaborated on finding a new design for the President’s House by holding a contest for architects to submit design ideas. James Hoban’s design was chosen; and in 1793, construction finally began.
It wasn’t until 1800 that the President’s House was completed, and second president John Quincy Adams was the first president to reside there. The exterior sandstone walls were covered in a lime whitewash, and everyone quickly nicknamed it the “White House.” However, it wasn’t until 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt was president, that its name was officially changed from the “President’s House” to the “White House.”
Along with directing construction of the White House, George Washington also envisioned a large botanical garden, so he purchased land nearby for that purpose.
President John Adams in 1800 ordered construction of the first flower garden and vegetable garden on White House property. Succeeding presidents added trees, shrubs and even a greenhouse. The greenhouse was later removed to create the West Wing garden, now called the Rose Garden.
Franklin D. Roosevelt hired Frederick Olmstead, designer of New York City’s Central Park, to prepare a plan for the White House grounds that is still followed today.
On our country’s centennial birthday in 1876, Rutherford Hayes began the tradition of planting commemorative trees on the grounds. Ronald Reagan planted a willow oak, George W. Bush a cutleaf silver maple and a littleleaf linden, and Barack Obama, a littleleaf linden.
Today, beautifully manicured gardens and parks surround the White House. The White House grounds include the South Lawn, North Lawn, Rose Garden, Jacqueline Kennedy Garden and Children’s Garden. Outside the White House grounds, there is a seven-acre park, Lafayette Square, named in honor of Frenchman Marquis de Lafayette who fought with American soldiers during the American Revolution. Another park is President’s Park South, usually called The Ellipse, which covers 52 acres and is located on the south side of the White House.
A staff of 20 National Park Service employees maintain the White House grounds and plan the seasonal displays. Dale Haney, current superintendent of White House grounds, was first employed 40 years ago as a gardener. He has lived the American dream by working his way up to the top position of superintendent.
The South Lawn is seen from the South Portico of the White House and has a large expanse of grass, groves of trees and a fountain. The annual Easter Egg Roll is held on the South Lawn and is the largest public event held at the White House. Hundreds turn out to watch children use spoons to roll Easter eggs down the grassy race course to the finish line.
The North Lawn, adjacent to the front of the White House, has the same design of lawn, trees and a fountain as the South Lawn. The South and North Lawns’ flowerbeds bordering the fountains are changed three times a year. In spring, thousands of tulips and grape hyacinths are in bloom. In summer, geraniums, marigold lilies, salvias, lantanas, foxgloves, hollyhocks and petunias bloom. In fall, chrysanthemums, salvias and asters are on display.
Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, first invited the public to tour the White House Gardens in 1972. The tradition has been continued, with tours offered on the second weekend in October and the third weekend in April. The public is admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson, our third president, began the practice of inviting the public to tour the inside of the White House. Today, a limited number of tickets are issued to view certain public areas. Requests must be submitted through your state’s congressman three weeks to six months in advance so that a security check can be done. When you are cleared, tickets are emailed to you.
Time passes and presidents come and go, but the White House and its lovely gardens and parks will always remain as a symbol of our great country.
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Through the years, first ladies have also had a hand in designing the White House gardens.
In 1902, Edith Roosevelt designed a colonial garden where the Rose Garden is today. Her garden was replaced in 1912 by a rose garden designed by Woodrow Wilson’s first wife, Ellen. It was redesigned in 1961 by Jacqueline Kennedy. Today, the Rose Garden is the best-known White House garden because it is adjacent to the Oval Office and is often seen on television when presidents are making special press announcements or during special ceremonies.
The Rose Garden has a large rectangular area of lawn and flower beds outlined with hedges of low-growing boxwood. Flowering crab apple trees, magnolia trees, roses, annuals and 3,000 tulips fill the beds in spring. In fall, chrysanthemums add bright color. Some of the roses in the garden are Queen Elizabeth, Pascal, Pat Nixon, King’s Ransom and Nevada Rose.
Lady Bird Johnson renamed the East Garden the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden in 1965 because its renovation had been started by Jacqueline Kennedy. It was designed to be a formal garden based upon an 18th century American garden. A brick path leads through the garden to the White House, with flower beds lining the walkway. Low hedges of boxwood and American holly border the beds. Flowering bulbs create brilliant color in spring, and shade is provided by littleleaf lindens and saucer magnolia trees. The garden has a grassy center with holly hedges on the north and south sides.
The East Colonnade on the north side of the garden is lined with a row of linden trees. Flower beds in this area are filled with tulips, pansies, and grape hyacinths. Rosemary, thyme, and chives grow under eight American holly trees, and White House chefs can be seen clipping herbs to use in dishes prepared for the first family.
In 1969, President and Mrs. Johnson donated funds to create the Children’s Garden. This is a secluded nook where a president’s children or grandchildren can play without being seen by the public. An apple tree makes the perfect climbing tree, and a goldfish pond surrounded by flagstones keeps children entertained for hours. Clumps of Spanish bluebells grow here and there, and a pathway through the garden includes stepping-stones with hand and footprints of past presidents’ children and grandchildren.
Like our own gardens, the White House gardens are in constant change with the seasons.
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All our local garden clubs are strong supporters of our Marines and Army personnel stationed here. We will be placing a Blue Star Marker plaque at the civic center in the fall honoring our military. I will be writing an article about the event when it happens.
Karen Bowen is a master gardener and member of Yuma Garden Club. This column is sponsored by the Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma. For more information, go to gardeningfun.vpweb.com.
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