Welcome to Day 23 in the A to Z Blog Challenge where we post in alphabetical order during April. My blog theme for the month is Read the World with Kid’s Books. W is our letter of the day so we are heading to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue which is, of course, the address for the White House in Washington D.C.
First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew
By Robbin Gourley (author and illustrator)
Clarion Books
Picture book grades 1-4
It is spring and that means it is time for gardening.
In First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew, we learn about the White House gardens. Did you know that the White House is situated on eighteen acres of land called President’s Park which includes the Rose Garden, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and the Children’s Garden? And, we can’t forget the South lawn where the annual Easter Egg Roll takes place.
These gardens have been well used by the occupants of the White House. Thomas Jefferson planted fruit trees. Woodrow Wilson grazed sheep to save money on maintenance. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden. John F Kennedy, Jr. played in the fountain, Tricia Nixon was married in the Rose garden, and Amy Carter had a tree house.
Most recently, Michelle Obama planted a vegetable garden which is the main focus of The First Garden. The garden was planted in 2009 and is 1,100 square feet. It grows more than 55 types of vegetables and fruits (but no beets at the request of the President) which are used for the Obama family and their guest’s meals. In the first year over 1,000 pounds of food was grown as well as 134 pounds of honey. Surplus produce is given to local organizations to feel people in need. The book includes recipes and gardening tips as well as information about healthy eating.
I would love to tour this garden! Groups interested in gardening and healthy eating can contact the White House to set up a tour.
Here is a video of the First Garden being planted with an interview with the first Lady.
Cool book 🙂 I enjoyed our travels to the DC area years ago to visit sister and her family. Good book with what is grown in the garden there!
betty
Hi Betty,
I thought it was really interesting, too. I wish it was easier to schedule a tour.
I just got back from Washington DC. We got to take a White House tour, but I sadly never got to see the first garden.
Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
I didn’t see the garden either. I heard that there is a spot where you can see it from the street but I’m not exactly sure where that location is.
I’ve been near Washington DC so many times but never visited. I really need to take the fam there soon.
Stephen Tremp
A-Z Co-host
W is for Window and White Noise
I think most of take more time to visit places far away rather than those close.
Good idea for a theme! We visited Wahington DC on vacation last year and had a wonderful time.
There’s certainly lots to see. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I read this book and love it. I have been to DC a few times and wish I could visit the gardens!
I don’t blame our President for the beets. I don’t like them either!
See you tomorrow, Claire.
Beets aren’t my favorites either but they are better than turnips which I wrote about a few days ago.