Last summer I read an intriguing book by Andrea Wulf called Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation.
In essence, during political distress, the Founding Fathers left debates and stalemates to tour gardens.
Interestingly, even when they toured British gardens, they gleaned inspiration to promote the American ideal for their own gardens at their homes and in Washington DC.
This intriguing book has a dedicated chapter for each of these scenarios.
Wulf shares how General George Washington wrote to his estate manager extensive details on how to care and redesign the gardens in between battles.
Likewise, Thomas Jefferson wrote to his daughters from France in between diplomatic missions, requesting from them every daily detail of every plant.
Often in the midst of political debate, these Founders often relied upon gardening metaphors to prove a point.
WASHINGTON DC GARDENS TODAY
While touring Washington DC the other day, I again thought of this book in light of all the gardens I see all about today’s Federal City (as it was called in the early days).
For this blog post, I’m sharing pictures of the modern day Federal City to juxtapose with the historic landscape of its initial construction.
While many of the smaller gardens are highly patriotic in hues of reds, whites, and blues, to celebrate Independence Day, the Founders’ vision went far deeper, an early Americana of plants that were American born and bred…which is quite interesting.
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S PLANS FOR THE FEDERAL CITY GARDENS
In 1790, discussions began as to placement for the future seat of America’s government.
After much dispute over a Northern location versus a Southern location, a midway point between the two, and near the home of the Father of our Country, came to rest along the shores of the Potomac River.
When planning the Federal City, President George Washington and Pierre l’Enfant imagined a magnificent city that differed from Thomas Jefferson’s vision that was more basic…all of which are detailed in the book…such as “grand fountains.” – Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, p 132
Eventually, l’Enfant, who grandiosely overthought even his ego, was forced to resign by 1792.
When Jefferson suggested a design competition for the President’s House, which he also allegedly entered, Washington chose James Hoban for the job.
Addressing George Washington’s grand vision, the author states: Washington simply believed that the unity of the states and therefore the nation depended on a strong central government – and he would make sure that his eponymous city was a reflection of this. – Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, p 135.
One of Washington’s chief goals was a botanical garden to promote national unity, which he discussed greatly in his final years as president, even to visitors at Mount Vernon.
Like the garden of native American plants grown in rustic and random groupings that he established at Mount Vernon, Washington envisioned a botanical garden filled with trees from across America from which seeds could be collected to the various states for their own plantings…like Washington’s garden.
Meanwhile Washington sought the perfect area to establish the botanical garden.
Some suggested the land between the President’s House and the Capitol would be ideal, which today would be the Mall.
JOHN ADAMS BECOMES PRESIDENT
When John Adams became our second president in 1797, construction continued slowly in the Federal City along the Potomac.
The President’s House was impossible to live in since it had no roof nor completed windows.
Nevertheless, John Adams who had stayed out of the city planning during Washington’s administration, continued to remain silent apart from admitting he’d be content to rent a simple house.
Although previously heavily involved to fight (subtly) for his basal vision, Jefferson suddenly became silent because he liked the lack of completion of the grand city Washington had envisioned.
The muddy streets were closer to Jefferson’s own ideal for a simple government city.
When George Washington passed away in December 1799, the nation mourned.
JOHN ADAMS’ PLANS FOR THE FEDERAL CITY GARDENS
Not until after Washington’s death did Adams become involved in the building of the Federal City….perhaps in act of deference to our first president who led the charge until his passing.
However, uppermost in Adams mind was gardens as opposed to incomplete buildings and streets.
Now willing to move into the President’s House, Adams recalled one of the Philadelphia gardens at Bingham that he had visited when he requested trees to be planted immediately “so as to make it an agreeable place to walk.” – Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, p140
Receiving the charge, architect William Thornton, who was also a garden, excitedly planned out the project on paper sketching “rows of erect Lombardy poplars to extend like wings from the White House toward the Treasury and the War Office – similar to the lines of poplars that surrounded the Bingham house. – Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, p140
However, due to lack of funds and the need to remove all the construction equipment and even out the ground, the project was indefinitely delayed.
S-L-O-W PROGRESS FOR FEDERAL CITY
When our second president, John Adams finally arrived in the Federal City in 1800 to become the first inhabitant of the yet uncompleted President’s House (future White House), there were still no gardens to be found.
Instead there were forests, swamps, and cows along muddy torn streets full of construction. While the Capitol was half-finished, Adams had to access the President’s House not via Pennsylvania Ave (unyet built) but by permission of a friendly farmer, through his field.
Wooden planks greeted the president to allow him entry to his new home where a few of the rooms were ready for Adams’ use, although they were not yet completed.
In lieu of gardens outside the President’s House were piles of construction materials and temporary lodging for the workers.
Meanwhile the only completed building in the Federal City was the Treasury Building.
THOMAS JEFFERSON’S PLANS FOR THE FEDERAL CITY GARDENS
Thus, to this environment, entered Thomas Jefferson as third president of the United States in 1801, and the second to live in the President’s House.
Living up to his national government ideal of a basic country house with basic gardens, Jefferson even dressed down to robe and slippers with disheveled hair when receiving guests.
Nevertheless, needing a garden about him, Jefferson brought roses and geraniums into one of the rooms that he enjoyed in his solitude, which he tended, watered, deadheaded, and simply enjoyed between required duties.
In his hermit style, Jefferson even skipped his State of the Union addresses.
Instead of routinely engaging with the public, Jefferson took rides into the country, stopped to talk to farmers, and explored the thickly forested banks of the Potomac and hills above the city. – Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, p147
JAMES MADISON MAKES IT HAPPEN
On May 8, 1820, James Madison, our fourth president of the United States, signed a bill setting aside land for a garden to the west of the Capitol Grounds, from First Street to Third Street between Pennsylvania and Maryland Avenues…which lasted until 1837. –United States Botanic Garden
In 1842, the idea of a national botanic garden was reestablished when the United States Exploring Expedition to the South Seas (the Wilkes Expedition) brought a collection of living plants from around the globe to Washington, D.C. These formed the first permanent collection of plants for the U.S. Botanic Garden, and four plants in the Garden today date back to this expedition. The plants were kept in a specially constructed greenhouse behind the Old Patent Office Building while a new Conservatory for the Garden was constructed between 1842-1850. –United States Botanic Garden
The Victorian Conservatory opened to the public in 1850 and the U.S. Botanic Garden has been in continuous operation and open to the public since this date. –United States Botanic Garden
In 1933, the United States Botanic Garden moved to its present location along the north and south sides of Independence Avenue bordered by First Street and Third Streets SW. –United States Botanic Garden
To date, I’ve only made one visit to the US Botanical Gardens at Christmas time to see their uniquely seasonal exhibit of trains chugging through the various plants in the greenhouse, with recreations of famous sites as backdrop.
I’m now looking forward to visiting again in the early and late spring to discover more.
This book also compels me to visit the gardens visited by the Founders, as well as exploring more of the history of the gardens in Washington DC.
