To our surprise, the White House accommodates far more people than we thought. Not only were we among the first 100 to get tickets, apparently they continued to distribute them throughout the day. Despite the rules posted, the early crowd was able to get multiple tickets and choose their entry time.
But enough of the logistics. Let's get to the gardens and grounds. After shuffling through airport-like security, the entire south lawn was open. Most of the attention was concentrated around the photos and signs staked into the ground that identified trees planted by Presidents and First Ladies. Visitors were entertained by "The President's Own" Marine Band and free to explore and photograph at their own pace. We spent about 1.5 hours and were happy to have been among the first to enter since we avoided some of the crowds and the nasty wind that was to come later in the day.
J Says
I stared up at each window thinking about all of the historical events that have taken place behind the glass. I remember Hillary Clinton writing fondly about the fan-shaped window (pictured below) in her book Living History.
I never noticed all of the intricate details of the house.
Or the huge variety of plants and flowers blooming in every inch of space.
Or Jacqueline Kennedy's garden on the southeast side of the house.
The gardens were blooming with life on this gorgeous April morning. Every color was vivid (and every nose was running!)
A personal favorite was this view of Malia and Sasha's playhouse located just outside the Oval Office so Dad can keep an eye on his girls while he works.
I could get used to this view.
The Garden Tours are offered each April and October. We'll be back in October to see what Fall looks like at the White House. Perhaps this time we'll sleep in a little bit longer...
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