White House Rose Garden thread. 👇 There’s a lot of misinformation masquerading as commentary out there.
2. “Most notable is the absence of the 10 crabapple trees that were part of the original design. However, per a White House official, the shade they were casting over the flowers, as well as root growth, made it difficult to keep other plantings alive and healthy. ....”
3. “... The official also said the trees were taken to the offsite White House greenhouse to be cared for and that they will eventually be replanted around the White House grounds.”
4. People crying about how Melania ruined the garden with “concrete” (correction: limestone) must not care about ADA?
5. It did take some digging but it took me just a few minutes of scrolling to find out what was wrong with the #RoseGardenMassacre hot takes.
Please ignore these people. This is a distraction from real issues. It’s emotional manipulation. I’m sure you have better things to do.
Please ignore these people. This is a distraction from real issues. It’s emotional manipulation. I’m sure you have better things to do.
6. White House press release from 7/27/20 on the renewal of the Rose Garden.
whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat…
whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat…
7. "In addition, the plans include improved Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, utilities, and support for audiovisual and broadcasting needs that will allow for the continued enjoyment of the garden’s natural beauty and storied history."
8. Great 7/28/20 article on the history of this Rose Garden renovation, approval process, horticultural challenges, and link to original design. Highlights below.
Thanks to @kbschroedy
for pointing me to it!
washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home…
Thanks to @kbschroedy
for pointing me to it!
washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home…
9. The First Lady may have spearheaded the Rose Garden renovation but it was done with approval of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House Grounds and addresses many longstanding problems. 
10. “… the lavish redo of the Rose Garden has generated Marie Antoinette comparisons. In reality, the renovation is long overdue."
11. People claiming that Melania has gotten rid of the roses are misinformed.
“[O]nly a dozen or so remained” before but "some 200 rose bushes planted in pastel colors” have been planted as part of the renovation.
“[O]nly a dozen or so remained” before but "some 200 rose bushes planted in pastel colors” have been planted as part of the renovation.
12. My favorite piece of misinformation has Melania removing the Rose Garden’s famed “cherry blossom trees”. 🌸🤔
There were never any cherry blossom trees in the Rose Garden. 🤷🏻♀️
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Hou…
There were never any cherry blossom trees in the Rose Garden. 🤷🏻♀️
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Hou…
13.
Left: Cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington DC
📷 credit: Nicolas Raymond
patreon.com/posts/washingt…
Right: Crabapple trees in the White House Rose Garden
📷 credit: National Archives/White House Photographic Office. 1974-1977
catalog.archives.gov/id/6829650
Left: Cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington DC
📷 credit: Nicolas Raymond
patreon.com/posts/washingt…
Right: Crabapple trees in the White House Rose Garden
📷 credit: National Archives/White House Photographic Office. 1974-1977
catalog.archives.gov/id/6829650
14. Read about the history of cherry blossom trees gifted to the US by Japan in 1912 that have made the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC possible. 🌸
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_…
arlingtontours.com/dc-cherry-blos…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_…
arlingtontours.com/dc-cherry-blos…
15. Some have correctly identified the 10 removed trees as crabapple trees & acted as though Melania was tearing up history and Jackie O’s legacy by removing them.
16. Here’s the reality.
- 5 of the crabapple trees were replacements
- they have been relocated for replanting
- they have caused problems for years
- Bunny Mellon, designer of the Rose Garden, had once recommended reducing to 3 crabapple trees due to problems. Never done.
- 5 of the crabapple trees were replacements
- they have been relocated for replanting
- they have caused problems for years
- Bunny Mellon, designer of the Rose Garden, had once recommended reducing to 3 crabapple trees due to problems. Never done.
17. Some people are hoping the crabapple trees will be brought back because an earlier design included 6 trees "but by the time the final design was presented to Melania Trump on July 21, they had been eliminated.” This choice appears to have been made by Oehme, van Sweden.
18. Some people are showing side by side photos of the Rose Garden in full bloom and the current photos, comparing the renovation to a “cemetery”.
Here’s what the Rose Garden looked like during the reconstruction in May 1962 during JFK’s presidency.
jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/a…
Here’s what the Rose Garden looked like during the reconstruction in May 1962 during JFK’s presidency.
jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/a…
19.
Left: White House Rose Garden,
8/24/62
📷 credit: Robert Knudsen
jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/a…
Right: White House Rose Garden, 8/22/20
📷 credit: Andrea Hanks/White House
Via: nypost.com/wp-content/upl…
Left: White House Rose Garden,
8/24/62
📷 credit: Robert Knudsen
jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/a…
Right: White House Rose Garden, 8/22/20
📷 credit: Andrea Hanks/White House
Via: nypost.com/wp-content/upl…
20. If you have an interest in history and horticulture, you can see more White House Rose Garden photos at the National Archives:
catalog.archives.gov/search?q=%22wh…
And the JFK Library archives:
jfklibrary.org/search?search=…
catalog.archives.gov/search?q=%22wh…
And the JFK Library archives:
jfklibrary.org/search?search=…
21. Silent film of the White House Rose Garden c. 4/4/63. Very little color.
Thank you to @kathy11LAW for pointing me to this film!
jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/a…
Thank you to @kathy11LAW for pointing me to this film!
jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/a…
