The White House Garden vs. Nadia’s Garden
24 Nov 2009 5 Comments
in Garden Design, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: Michelle Obama garden, organic gardening, The White House Garden Blog, White House Garden Design
Today, I was curious about the White House Vegetable and Herb garden and wondered what is growing there, so I did an internet search to get some information. What I found was the planting sketch from March 2009, the beginning design. It’s quite impressive in variety and size, even with companion planting evident throughout the gardens. I’m feeling a little ambitious, and possibly a bit competitive, to keep up with the Obamas now that they have taken up my favorite pastime. This is Michelle Obama’s first vegetable garden and it’s no surprise that it was designed to be completely organic. Maybe we will see a photo of her donning gardening gloves and pulling up weeds like the rest of us.
I took a tally of all the plants from the White House Garden Map along with calculating what is now growing in my garden. I have to admit that I got a surge of inspiration to add radishes, marigold and onion to my garden this month which I had not thought of until looking at the “South Lawn” map. Although the White House Gardens will be showing off their rhubarb, shell peas, chard, kale and collards, these veggies didn’t inspire me enough to want to plant them in mine. My garden herbs are missing marjoram, chamomile and hyssops in comparison to the The White House garden. This brings us to a total plant variety count of minus – 8 for Nadia. If I take into consideration the plants I have in my garden that the First Lady does not have in hers such as lavender, strawberries, and bok-choy, then it brings the variety count down to minus -5!
So, there we have it : Nadia vs. The White House Gardens.
Nadia with much fewer plants because of space differences, but in terms of plant variety it ends up being a close race. Maybe if I count my fig, lemon, orange and apple trees we could call it a tie.
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Nov 24, 2009 @ 10:08:53
I liked the sketch linked to the garden drawings. It helps to see how a garden is situated… wanna bet the White House Garden was done by the experts? Post a summer garden sketch and you will have an entire year growing chart and plan.
Nov 24, 2009 @ 10:11:55
No doubt there will probably be a book out soon on “How to garden like the Obamas”- full of sketches, charts and guides. Want to write it with me? ha!
Nov 25, 2009 @ 18:19:55
I think you have more than a few 1 ups on the Obama’s garden. The demostration of your fertilization technique in your photo shows it all. While Chihuahua’s may be small I believe their nitrogen output is much greater than a Portuguese Water dog and yes completely maintaining organic status. I love that competitive spirit!!
Nov 26, 2009 @ 08:28:36
too funny! like it
Jan 01, 2010 @ 08:52:08
Your article on herb vinegar was great. It gives me another use for my favorite herb – rosemary. Also I do hope that Michelle Obama will discover the exciting world of herb gardening and decide to add herbs to the White House Garden.
Great blog and by the way I have a herb gardening website about growing your own fresh herbs.