VOA文化艺术2023--What White House Gardens Say about America

What White House Gardens Say about America

The earliest presidents who lived in the White House did not want the large outdoor areas that the monarchs² of Europe might enjoy.

Marta McDowell is writer of All the Presidents' Gardens. She said, "You can understand that, given our democratic³ form of government." But she said she thinks that a visit to the home of the British royal family, Buckingham Palace, caused President John Kennedy to expand the White House gardens.

From the start, presidents and their families influenced the 7.2 hectares of open space in the front and back of the White House differently. Their choices often showed their values and traditions of their day.

McDowell said that the White House is "really their home" while they are in office. She added that as long as they work with the historic⁴ plan of the gardens the National Park Service tries to meet the desires of the administration⁵. The National Park Service oversees⁶ the gardens.

John Quincy Adams, America's sixth president, worked in the garden. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, took down glass structures called greenhouses⁷ that were first built by James Buchanan, the 15th president, in the 1850s.

John Kennedy, the 35th president, redesigned one garden called the Rose Garden in the 1960s. First lady Michelle Obama, wife of the 44th president, built a food garden using plants and seeds from the home of Thomas Jefferson, the third president. Today, the garden has more than 50 kinds of vegetables.

Pierre L'Enfant was the city planner and architect for America's first president, George Washington. At first, he planned for a 30-hectare presidential garden. However, as a believer in small government, Jefferson reduced the White House grounds to just 2 hectares. The gardens were expanded to the current 7.2 hectares

Jefferson, like many Americans who had just freed themselves from a British monarch¹, was concerned about creating a new king.

"Avoid palaces and gardens of palaces," William Thornton, a Washington city representative warned. "If you build a palace with gardens, I will find you a king."

Over time, several different plants and flowers were planted at the White House. They include roses which have been around since at least Jefferson's time. They also include peonies, wanted by first lady first lady Nancy Reagan of the 40th president, and Texas bluebells⁸, asked for by first lady Laura Bush of the 43rd president.

Oak⁹ and elm trees have also been on the White House grounds almost since the beginning. One tree, a chestnut¹⁰ oak southeast of the White House, might be the oldest tree on the grounds. The White House says it has been around since 1800.

McDowell says the White House gardens represent gardening tradition over time. First it followed designs in Europe, and then it was shaped by local traditions, the area, and the climate.

But she said, "It's not that they are always the leader. In fact, sometimes they're following."

The White house grounds were open to the public up until 1923. That was when Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, permanently¹¹ closed them to unapproved visitors.

These days, the White House Garden planned visits for the public are usually available for the public twice a year, one weekend in the spring and again in autumn.

McDowell said, "They are full of tradition. They're full of beauty."

Words in This Story

monarch – n. a person (such as a king or queen) who rules a kingdom or empire

garden – n. an area of ground where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown

architect – n. a person who designs buildings

king – n. a male ruler of a country who usually inherits¹² his position and rules for life

palace – n. the official home of a king, queen, or president

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分

3 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

4 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

5 administration   

n.经营，管理；行政，行政机关，管理部门

参考例句：

• Who is in charge of the administration of your company?你们公司的行政工作由谁负责？
• The teachers are responsible to the school administration.教师向学校行政负责。

6 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

7 greenhouses   

温室，花房( greenhouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cypress and redwood are seldom used in the superstructure of commercial greenhouses. 扁柏和美州红松很少用于商用温室的上部结构。
• They grew tomatoes in two greenhouses, each with a CD-player inside. 他们在两个温室里种西红柿，每个里面都有一个CD播放机。

8 bluebells   

n.圆叶风铃草( bluebell的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He pressed her down upon the grass, among the fallen bluebells. 他把她压倒在草地上，压倒在掉落满地的风信子花上。 来自英汉文学
• The bluebells had cascaded on to the ground. 风信子掉到了地上。 来自辞典例句

9 oak   

n.栎树，橡树，栎木，橡木

参考例句：

• The chair is of solid oak.这把椅子是纯橡木的。
• The carpenter will floor this room with oak.木匠将用橡木铺设这个房间的地板。

10 chestnut   

n.栗树，栗子

参考例句：

• We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
• In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。

11 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

12 inherits   

v.继承( inherit的第三人称单数 )；经遗传获得（品质、身体特征等）接替（责任等），继任

参考例句：

• We think that Mary inherits her blue eyes from her father. 我们认为玛丽的蓝眼睛是她父亲遗传的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A son inherits from his father. 儿子继承父亲的遗产。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》