Headwaters Master Gardeners

 ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ GARDENS:  Madison’s Cabbages to Kennedy’s Roses—How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America

by Marta McDowell

 Published in 2016, this book is the entertaining story of how the presidents and their families have left their imprint upon the eighteen acres which surround the White House.  The book traces the growing capital, the horticultural history, and garden and leisure-time trends.  Presidential administrations—from George Washington, who chose the site but never lived in the White House, through Barack Obama—have seen historic changes as the land has been planted, tweaked, redesigned, and replanted over the past two centuries. The history of the White House roses, their importance to the gardens, and how they have been cultivated and displayed over the two centuries are an example of how tradition and change have determined the gardens’ form.

The text in the book is complemented with fascinating historical plans, illustrations, and photographs.  The most impressive photographs to me were the photographs of the conservation greenhouses that shared the grounds with the White House in the Victorian Period. And my favorite location on the White House grounds was the private Bluestone Terrace under the historic Jackson Magnolia added by Lou Coolidge, President Coolidge’s wife.

The author, Marta McDowell, teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and has also written two books, Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life and Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life.  McDowell was the 2019 recipient of the Garden Club of America’s Sarah Chapman Francis Medal of outstanding literary achievement.

The book is also full of anecdotes about the Presidents and the White House grounds such as:

·        George Washington’s, Jefferson’s, and Madison’s interest in plants

·        John Quincy Adams’s flock of sheep mowing the White House lawn

·        Lincoln’s signature of the Morrill Act of 1862 which funded the land grant colleges such as UGA and resulted ultimately in the Extension Services and Master Gardener programs

·        President Grant’s addition of a grapery greenhouse to cultivate grapes for wine for the White House

·        Jackie Kennedy’s revival of the White House Rose Garden

·        Nellie Taft’s involvement in the effort to bring Japanese Cherry Trees to DC which resulted in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival

Transportation development and the arrival of modern sports also had an impact on the grounds.  Moving from horses and carriages to motor vehicles and a helicopter required transitioning from horse barns to garages and a helicopter landing pad on the grounds. Tennis courts, a swimming pool, a horseshoe pit and a putting green added through the years have also impacted the White House lawn and grounds.

I think you will find this book a fascinating historical and horticultural read.

 Holly Sparrow, Headwaters Master Gardener