Rose Garden, Kennedy Administration

This photograph of the Rose Garden was taken by George F. Mobley in April 1963. The Rose Garden is located on the west side of the South Grounds, just outside the Oval Office. It has gone through several incarnations: a vegetable garden in the first part of the 19th century, a colonial garden in 1902, and then replaced with a rose garden in 1913. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy wanted to expand the garden for official functions and events. His idea became the Rose Garden, designed by horticulturist, gardener, and close friend of the Kennedys, Rachel Lambert Mellon. The garden was installed the following year, becoming a green theater for official ceremonies and a special place for the first familys private enjoyment. This photograph shows the Rose Garden as it appeared during the John F. Kennedy administration, the year after Rachel Lambert Mellon oversaw its installation.