First lady's garden - NZ Herald

First lady's garden - NZ Herald

United States presidents - or their wives - have been gardening at the White House for over 200 years. Here is a brief history of cultivation at America's most famous address.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

President Jefferson (1801-1809) hired the first White House gardener, who also was responsible for cultivating a "kitchen" garden. It was not until 1825, however, when John Quincy Adams became president, that the vegetable garden and surrounding grounds began to flourish. Adams established a nursery for tree seedlings and a garden filled with vegetables, herbs and fruit trees, flowers, shrubs and shade trees.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

By the 1840s, a new kitchen garden had been planted southwest of the White House. Receipts for the seeds show that Civil War President Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, enjoyed an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. The garden was removed in 1871, during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, due to construction of West Executive Avenue.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

First lady Eleanor Roosevelt used the White House grounds during World War II to show support for a civilian defence programme for producing homegrown fruits and vegetables.
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Under the first lady's guidance, 10-year-old Diana Hopkins planted a demonstration "victory garden" in a flower bed south of the East Garden in the spring of 1943. Diana lived in the White House with her father, Harry Hopkins, an adviser to President Roosevelt. Diana maintained the garden throughout the summer as an example for the country.

MICHELLE OBAMA

First Lady Michelle Obama, with help from local schoolchildren, planted a new "kitchen" garden last year on the lawn southwest of the White House. The garden is providing fresh, seasonal produce for the first family and White House guests to enjoy. Mrs Obama also is using the garden to educate children about the importance of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a healthier lifestyle.