SG545: From Passionate Plantsman George Washington to the modern Kitchen Garden of Michelle Obama in All The Presidents’ Gardens with Marta McDowell

Marta, how did you come to be a garden history writer?

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How do you incorporate gardening into your daily life?

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Do your horticulture/landscape history students inspire you, especially with your work as a writer?

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How on earth do you determine whether an image will make it into the book and how do you secure the rights to use these historical images?

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Were there any illustrations or images you wanted to secure but were unable to for various reasons?

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How were the early White House grounds laid out?

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You shared a sweet story of Jefferson’s pet bird – a mockingbird – named Dick. Dick was unquestionably his "favorite" mockingbird and you wrote that Dick’s cage had a special place in Jefferson’s study in the White House.

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Any new homeowner who’s walked into a terrible garden situation can totally relate to the state of the White House garden of James and Dolley Madison in 1811. Can you set the scene for the listeners?

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There are parts of this book that touch on the history of American Gardening in general. One that comes to mind is where you share about the impact of the Shakers.

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I wanted to spend some time chatting with you about one of the most charming presidential gardeners to me – and that’s John Quincy Adams. Can you please share to the listeners the excerpt you wrote about him?

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In your opinion, is garden mastery easier to come by these days with all of the online resources available?

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The 1800’s was an exciting time for the White House garden despite the Civil War. Why is that?

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There was a designer that had come to the White House at this time and that was Andrew Jackson Downing. How did his story end and what would the White House grounds looked like if Downing had been able to design them?

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I was taken with the story about Mary Todd Lincoln and her use of bouquets. Let’s have you read that charming passage on p.99 and then tell us about how bouquets were used as a substitute for formal visits.

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The late 1800’s kicked off with the wedding of Grover Cleveland. This was the beginning of what you call the “gilded gardens”. What are some of the extravagances that especially stood out to you?

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You shared a picture of a campaign button for President McKinley in the Still Growing FB group, and it’s also in your book. He loved carnations, but his wife preferred pansies. Tell us about this first family in terms of the garden.

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Can you highlight some of the big changes that took place in the White House garden once the Roosevelt’s moved into the White House? 

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How did the Cherry Tree get introduced and what is its connection to the White House?

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Here’s a term I didn’t realize that has a connection to the White House – American Beauty. Why is that?

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How did Beatrix Jones Ferrand get under the skin of Colonel Spencer Cosby – the engineer responsible for the White House – and what impact did she have on the White House garden?

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In 1939, the British monarchy were set to come to the White House. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was worried that the White House gardens wouldn’t measure up to British standards. In Eleanor Roosevelt’s classic humor, what did she do?

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In your chapter on the 1940s-1990s, you begin with Harry Truman. Truman loved porches and his passion for it changed the White House.

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When the Kennedy’s arrived, the fashion-forward renovations extended to the White House grounds. How did Rachel Lambert Mellon, also known as Bunny, change the White House grounds?

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Rose garden diplomacy is something that Jimmy Carter employed as a setting for his talks with foreign diplomats. He was also a farmer himself. Please expand a bit more on that, Marta.

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Let’s pretend you and I are going to visit the White House today. What would you be particularly excited to show me in the Obama Presidential Gardens?

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You close the book with some reference sections – one of which is a nice little section on the First Gardeners – The 14 men who have planted for the presidents over the years. What are your thoughts on this group of men?

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There is an embossed flower on the book cover. What is it and is it significant to the White House grounds?

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