All the Presidents' Gardens

All the Presidents' Gardens

In partnership with the Garden Conservancy
Lecture and book signing by Marta McDowell
Thursday, May 12, 7 – 9 p.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
$37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount
$15 with student ID
Garden Conservancy members and students, please call (847) 835-6801 to register

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From the moment a spade broke ground for the new presidential mansion, the 18 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." Hear garden historian Marta McDowell trace the story of how the White House grounds were conceived and how they have changed from administration to administration. From George Washington’s obsession with collecting trees to Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden, find out how the White House grounds are a reflection of America’s enthusiasms. A book signing will follow the lecture.

Marta McDowell lives, gardens, and writes in Chatham, New Jersey. She writes and lectures on gardening topics and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, where she studied landscape design. She also consults for public gardens and private clients. Her particular interest is in authors and their gardens, the connection between the pen and the trowel. Her most recent book is All the Presidents' Gardens: Madison’s Cabbages to Kennedy’s Roses—How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America.

Read more about Marta McDowell