All the Presidents' Gardens: Garden historian Marta McDowell's new book

From the moment a spade broke ground for the new presidential mansion, the eighteen acres that surround the White House have been a backdrop to history. Wars, territorial expansion, economic booms and busts, the growth of agriculture and industry, the changing tides of taste and fashion—all have been mirrored in the lawns, trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds that serve as the nation’s “First Garden.”

Eleanor Roosevelt with a basket of snapdragons, kneeling in front of the tulip bed by the South Portico for Children's Health Day in 1934

In her new book, All the Presidents' Gardens, garden historian Marta McDowell traces how the White House grounds have grown with America, from Madison's cabbages to Kennedy's roses. McDowell shares stories of Lincoln's goats, Ike's putting green, Amy Carter's tree house, and much more, as well as the plants whose favor has come and gone over the years and the gardeners who have been responsible for it all.

Tidal basin cherry trees, as envisioned by First Lady Helen Taft

Through partnerships with Dumbarton House and the Chicago Botanic Garden, we recently presented programs in both Washington, DC and Chicago, in which McDowell traced the evolution of the White House grounds — from George Washington’s obsession with collecting trees to Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden.

Left: Harriet Lane's depiction of the White House Conservatory, as it appeared in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Monthly." Right: Henry Pfister watering cinerarias in the White House greenhouses.

All the Presidents' Gardens, published by Timber Press, is available from Amazon. Fully illustrated with new and historical photographs and art. Refreshingly non-partisan and just in time for election year!