Jacqueline Kennedy Garden

The origins of the Garden's present form initially began in 1913 with First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, at the time taking to calling it the East Garden, which saw Mrs. Wilson's design featuring a modest central lily pond.

When the Kennedy administration came to office the ill-kempt state of the gardens drew the focus of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who worked with Rachel Lambert Mellon and Perry Wheeler on the redesign and replanting of the entire Rose and East Gardens.

Rachel Lambert Mellon created a space with a more defined central lawn, bordered by flower beds planted in a French style, but largely using American botanical specimens.

Each flower bed was planted with a series of Littleleaf lindens and Kennedy saucer magnolias bordered by low hedges of boxwood and American Holly.

Spring blooming bulbs planted in the rose garden included jonquil, daffodil, fritillaria, grape hyacinth, tulips, chionodoxa and squill.

Spring in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. Pink tulips massed against the east colonnade of the White House.
Summer in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. Magnolia and Littleleaf lindens underplanted with ageratum and boxwood. The white painted cast iron Rococo Revival garden bench has been on the White House grounds since 1850.
Fall in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The brick paved walk along the east colonnade is bordered with bronze colored spoon chrysanthemum Starlet .