In 1825, John Quincy Adams developed the first flower garden on the White House grounds and planted ornamental trees. Holidays at the White House are a family affair…with thousands of guests. A few times a year, the public is invited to tour the White House grounds. The fountain in front of the White House is landscaped with colorful flowers. However, even though trees can be great, there are some types of trees that are simply not good additions to any home. The White House grounds are beautifully landscaped with a variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. In fact, 51 fir trees have graced the Blue Room at Christmas since 1961. The White House Rose Garden is especially beautiful during the spring and summer months. In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy kicked off the custom of a themed Blue Room tree by garnishing it with characters from the “Nutcracker Suite” ballet. It's believed that the first Christmas tree in the Blue Room was put up by President William H. Taft's children in 1912. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. The grounds to the White House are beautiful landscaped. Photo © White House Historical Association, Pergola in the East Garden of the White House. The winner by a mile is fir. Aloe Vera Tree: Aloe Vera plant usually grows to a height of about 12 to 16 inches. It all started with President Benjamin Harrison in 1889. The White House grounds are maintained by a garden crew consisting of 13 regular staff including a chief horticulturalist who is on the executive residence staff. The warm white LEDs will add a touch of splendor and charm without endangering your house and family. Through good times and bad, during periods of peace and prosperity and eras of conflict and strike, our president and his family have gathered around the White House tree on Christmas, just like the rest of us. The country is renowned for its magnificent dark-green trees that are exported far beyond its borders, but red needles are posing a growing threat to the lucrative business. Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. According to legend, the ardent conservationist wasn't too keen on chopping down trees for Christmas. Lavender cotton, planted in the shape of diamonds, surrounds the crabapple trees. Adjustments were also made to improve accessibility as outlined in … In fact, it takes about 400 staff members and volunteers to decorate the public rooms. Visitors especially enjoy visiting the Rose Garden on the White House grounds. On tours at the White House, one can see flowers such as tulips, hycinths and chrysanthemums in the East Garden. White Christmas Trees Are Officially Not Tacky, How to Watch the National Christmas Tree Lighting, The 2019 White House Christmas Ornament Is Here. Dale Haney, White House Superintendent of Grounds, visited Taylor’s farm to pick out the other trees for the White House. The flowering trees visible in photos of the Rose Garden before the renovation were actually crabapple trees, not cherry trees, per the White House Historical Association. Other plants that can be seen in the Rose Garden include magnolia trees, Katherine crab apple trees and a variety of roses. The other 12 are National Park Service staff—three foremen, eight gardeners, and one maintenance operator. Events that are held in the Rose Garden today include the annual pardoning of the turkey, and other presidential ceremonies and speeches. White House Christmas tree inflation began in 1959 when President Dwight Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, set up a record 29 trees, filling every floor of the White House. 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