You’ve seen the photos of the Rose Garden. Everyone has. But there is another spot on the White House grounds that is arguably more personal, more quiet, and far more reflective of a specific era of American style. It’s tucked on the opposite side of the Executive Mansion, south of the East Colonnade. Officially, it’s the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and it basically serves as the sophisticated, slightly more private sibling to the famous West Wing stage.
Most people don’t realize how much of a mess the grounds were before the 1960s. Honestly, when the Kennedys moved in, the yard was a bit of a disaster.
The story goes that JFK returned from a trip to Europe feeling slightly embarrassed. He’d seen these incredible, historic gardens in France and England. Then he looked at the White House lawn and saw... well, not much. He wanted something that could hold a thousand people for a ceremony but still feel like a home. Jackie, ever the curator, took that vision and ran with it.
The Rachel Mellon Connection
Jackie didn’t do this alone. She called in her close friend Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon. Now, Bunny wasn't a professional landscape architect in the "degrees and firms" sense. She was an amateur with incredible taste and a massive bank account.
They worked together to create a space that felt both French and distinctly American. While the Rose Garden was finished during JFK's life, the East Garden—the one that would eventually bear Jackie’s name—was still a work in progress when the administration ended in tragedy.
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The design is smart. It’s a 50-by-100-foot lawn framed by very specific, very deliberate plantings. Think boxwoods, linden trees, and topiary. It isn't just about looking pretty for the cameras. It was designed to be a functional "outdoor room."
What’s Actually Growing in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden?
If you walk through during a spring tour, you'll see a lot of what Bunny Mellon intended. The garden uses a mix of seasonal flowers that give it a rotating color palette.
- Spring: You’ve got your classic tulips, hyacinths, and grape hyacinths.
- Summer: This is when the lavender and rosemary really take over.
- Fall: Expect chrysanthemums and salvia.
White House chefs actually use the herbs from this garden. Imagine the rosemary on a State Dinner lamb chop coming from the same soil where Lady Bird Johnson once stood. That’s the kind of detail that makes this place feel alive rather than just a museum.
Interestingly, the garden isn't just a static relic. Over the years, first ladies have put their own stamp on it. Hillary Clinton famously used the space to showcase contemporary American sculpture. It changed the vibe from a 18th-century "colonial" feel to something a bit more modern and provocative.
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The Dedication That Almost Didn't Happen
In 1965, Lady Bird Johnson did something pretty classy. She formally dedicated the East Garden to Jacqueline Kennedy.
It was a bit of a bittersweet moment. Jackie hadn't lived in the house for over a year. The garden she had meticulously planned with Bunny Mellon was finally "finished," but it was being christened by the woman who took her place. Janet Auchincloss, Jackie’s mother, was there for the ceremony on April 22.
Since then, its name has flickered back and forth. Some administrations call it the "First Ladies’ Garden." Others stick to the "East Garden." But for historians and design junkies, it is—and always will be—the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
Why It Matters Now
Gardens are fragile. They’re subject to the whims of whoever lives in the house. Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about renovations to the White House grounds. Some people love the "cleaner," more paved-over looks that modern administrations prefer for "accessibility." Others think it’s a crime to touch the original Mellon-Kennedy vision.
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The tension is real. Do you keep a garden exactly as it was in 1962, even if the trees are dying and the drainage is shot? Or do you update it for 2026?
There’s no perfect answer. But the core of the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden—that sense of "controlled nature" and European elegance—is still there. It’s a reminder that the White House isn't just an office building. It’s a residence that reflects the taste of the people inside it.
Your Next Steps for Exploring White House History
If you’re interested in seeing the garden for yourself, you can’t just walk in off the street. You’ll need to plan ahead for the White House Garden Tours, which typically happen twice a year (spring and fall).
- Check the National Park Service website or the White House official site about six weeks before April or October. Tickets are usually free but distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the tour.
- Look for the linden trees. They are a hallmark of the East Garden and provide that European "allée" feeling that Jackie loved.
- Read "The White House: The History of an American Idea" by William Seale if you want the deep-dive on how the architecture and the landscape evolved together.
- Explore the Oak Spring Garden Foundation online. This is Bunny Mellon’s estate, and they’ve digitized a lot of the original sketches and letters between her and Jackie regarding the White House project.