Tour the White House Gardens This Weekend

Beginning with John Adams, the first president to reside—and plant gardens—at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, many American leaders have revealed a green thumb through extensive work on the grounds. This weekend, the White House will open its storied gardens for public tours as part of a biannual tradition initiated by First Lady Pat Nixon in 1972. Visitors can walk through the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, the White House Kitchen Garden, and the South Lawn.

Each garden is steeped in history. Formerly the East Garden, which was created by landscaper Beatrix Farrand in 1913, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden was redesigned by the Kennedys but completed during the Johnson administration. The Rose Garden, also a Kennedy redesign, includes a broad lawn for outdoor press conferences and events. Over the years, several first ladies have had their own iterations of the White House Kitchen Garden. The current one, managed by Michelle Obama, is located on the South Lawn, which also hosts White House traditions like the Easter Egg Roll.

*April 25–26 at the White House. This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required; whitehouse.gov