Collection The Kennedy Rose Garden
It's hard to imagine that it was something as casual as a lunch conversation between a newly elected president and...
White House in Bloom
Today's White House grounds are a site to behold. What started as 85 acres of land chosen by George Washington, was first refined and cultivated by our garden-loving President Thomas Jefferson. These shifting grounds around the Executive Mansion have seen retaining walls, green houses, vegetable gardens, and beautiful flowers. Changes to the landscape came in long intervals and evolved to fit the era and the needs of the residents. As spring turns to summer, take a tour through the White House gardens and grounds.
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Collection White House Easter Egg Roll
Since 1878, American presidents and their families have celebrated Easter Monday by hosting an 'egg roll' party. Held on the South...
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Lady Bird Johnson's Floral Legacy
Few first ladies have been so attuned to the natural beauty inside and outside the White House as First Lady...
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Monuments to the American Revolution in Lafayette Park
In 1853, Clark Mills’ statue of President Andrew Jackson on horseback is in the center of Lafayette Park. The park’s four...
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"A Beautiful Spot Capable of Every Improvement"
On July 16, 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act into law. It granted President George Washington authority to select a “district of te...
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White House Pigeons
As any visitor to Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. will tell you, pigeons are a universal feature of the...
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Reflections: A Secret Garden
Tucked away on the South Lawn, behind a tall hedge of hollies, is the White House Children’s Garden, a sp...
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Hoover Easter Egg Rolls
The annual White House Easter egg roll was a well-established tradition when President Herbert Hoover took office, and the Hoovers...
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Raccoons at the White House
Many people consider raccoons to be pests and nuisances. These nocturnal mammals are often found rummaging through trash cans, dumpsters,...
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A History of White House Flowers and Florists
April showers might bring May flowers, but White House florists keep the executive mansion in bloom year round. Today the...
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Gardening Past at the White House
George Washington in 1792 had set aside 85 acres for the “President’s Square,” presumably to have paddocks, sheepfolds, hay fields, meadows, and th...
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Nash Castro: A Board Member's Role with the Kennedy Rose Garden
I recently had the opportunity to visit with Nash Castro, the last surviving founder of the White House Historical Association,...
