All the Presidents' Gardens

March 7, 2016
The land surrounding the White House is “one of the oldest continually cultivated patches on the North American continent,” explains McDowell (Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life) in her delightful dig through White House gardens. She plots their history from the Washington administration to the Obamas, skipping the presidents and first ladies who made few changes. Her descriptions of the grounds and evolving garden tastes are complemented with a colorful array of illustrations. McDowell fills the book with juicy tidbits: the last cow to graze on the White House lawn (1912) was named Pauline Wayne; Herbert Hoover wanted “the help” to seem invisible, so they hid behind hedges when he passed by. In between stories of glass conservatories and golf greens, McDowell digresses interestingly to cemeteries and extension services; however, her factual style too often descends to the cutesy, which is overkill in an already lighthearted treatment of the subject. Color illus.

February 1, 2016

Horticulturist, landscape historian, and author (Emily Dickinson's Gardens) McDowell's entertaining look at the gardens at America's premier residence illustrates the nation's horticultural aspirations, trends, and history. Organized chronologically, the book touches on the first families and gardeners who were significantly involved in the gardens--from their initial inception through Michelle Obama's reintroduction of food gardening. Some families have been hands-on garden enthusiasts, while others merely requested projects to accommodate societal shifts (e.g., automobiles) or outdoor hobbies (e.g., swimming). A thorough researcher, McDowell unearths little-known stories and vivid details to illuminate important personalities and provide insight into our gardening past. Often injecting wit, she explains how the White House has dealt with typical garden pests (raccoons who fish in water gardens) as well as atypical problems (e.g., helicopter winds or hosting 1,000 guests at a time). Resplendent with historical images, the work also includes plant lists and short bios of key White House gardeners. Extensive suggestions for further reading and information on sources and citations are helpful. VERDICT This informative gem of a book is for those whose interest was piqued by Andrea Wulf's Founding Gardeners and readers fascinated by either gardening or presidential history.--Bonnie Poquette, Milwaukee

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2016
This volume covers the White House history via the gardens, the presidents, the First Ladies, the gardeners, and the many people who influenced the changes that have occurred over the last 200-plus years. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, while in England, visited many gardens together and brought ideas to the White House gardens as well as their own. History is often best learned from stories, and there are plenty of anecdotes here. Almost all presidents or their First Ladies put their individual stamps on the grounds. The Rose Garden became an extra room for sensitive discussions when Jimmy Carter was in residence. Though raising vegetables for the table diminished over the years since James Madison developed an extensive vegetable garden (early presidents entertained using their own money and resources in those days), Mrs. Obama now uses part of the grounds for encouraging local fruits and vegetables. The writing is conversational and inviting, as one might find when visiting a garden with someone who knows it well. The chapters group presidents by the social mores, fashions, and world events of periods that cover a variety of time spans. Photographs, line drawings, paintings, maps, and other documents add to the interesting stories. Short biographies of the 14 head gardeners, a lengthy chart of the plants in the gardens, and two bibliographies add to this delightful and elucidating work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2024

Horticulturist and landscape historian McDowell (Gardening Can Be Murder) digs into the history of the White House gardens. She notes that the 18-acre plot surrounding the White House has been continually tended since 1800, 10 years after the permanent site of the U.S. capital was selected. In this book, first published in 2016 and now available in audio, McDowell presents a chronological study of the evolution of the White House grounds, dwelling upon various presidential administrations that played pivotal roles in its development. Narrator Marni Penning furnishes a lively performance of McDowell's humorous anecdotes, such as how Eisenhower installed a putting green on the South Lawn and how Taft's milk cow Pauline last grazed on the White House lawn in 1912. Penning's conversational tone engages, although her oddly placed emphases impart a snarkiness that is at odds with McDowell's overall approach. McDowell resolutely focuses on the gardens and grounds, eschewing political discussions. This approach may appeal to some listeners, but those seeking a more nuanced discussion of the workforce that enabled the creation and continuation of the gardens will likely be disappointed. VERDICT A lighthearted survey of the White House gardens, entertaining if occasionally insubstantial.--Sarah Hashimoto

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.