Thomas Jefferson and the White House Gardens

The month of November is associated with elections, causing my thoughts to move to the gardens at the White House. Many Presidents have had an influence over gardening at the White House, beginning with George Washington who purchased the land that would become the South lawn from a tobacco farmer by the name of Davy Burns. John Adams was the first President to occupy the White House and the first to order the planting of a garden.

Thomas Jefferson took the White House garden to the next level, ordering a complete redesign of the garden. With all of his work at Monticello in the areas of horticulture and agriculture, Jefferson was most fond of trees. He planted over 160 species at Monticello and has been called “the father of American forestry” for his planting of white pine and hemlock. So strong was his appreciation of trees that he was once quoted saying “The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder.”

It should come as no surprise that Jefferson began the tradition of planting trees at the White House, when he planted hundreds of seedling trees. He did not give orders to plant trees; he planted them himself. None of these trees is believed to have survived to the present day. It was also his idea to plant groves of trees, an idea he had begun at Monticello. In addition, he picked the location for the flower garden, and fences and walls were eventually built where he had specified. Fences were another area of interest as he used many types to protect his gardens at Monticello. Jefferson built an arc of triumph between two weeping willow trees on the southeast corner of the grounds. Unfortunately, these are no longer standing.

Perhaps someday, I will have the chance to tour the White House gardens. While separate from the tour of the White House itself, this is the tour I would like to take. As rich as the history is of the building itself, to roam these grounds where Thomas Jefferson used his inspiration to plan and plant many trees would be a treat.

Early Recipes Reflected Available Bounty

While we often refer to the first Thanksgiving as a shared meal between the English settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Wamponoag, it was quite common in many cultures to give thanks after a successful harvest. The Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts clears up many of these stories and provides a wonderful resource to the cultures and practices of that time.

One aspect of interest are the vegetable crops used during that period. Many recipes from the Wamponoag and the early English settlers use ingredients familiar today.

One common Wamponoag dish was sobaheg. The equivalent word in English is stew. First recorded as a recipe in 1674, it is a dish that varies with the season and the success of the hunt. The vegetable ingredients typically included maize and frequently, but not always, kidney beans. The name was partly because of their shape and partly because they were felt to benefit the kidneys. This term was more general than what we think of as kidney beans, as the colors were white, black, red, yellow, blue, and variegated. Additional vegetables could include Jerusalem artichokes, nuts such as acorns, chestnuts, or walnuts, and pumpkins or squash. The meat component could include venison, bear, beaver, raccoon, fish, moose, or otter. One interesting point is the lack of salt in the original recipe. This item did not appear until trade began with the English.

Stewed pompion (pumpkin) was common and could still be appreciated today. It was referred to as an ancient New England standing dish, which means something eaten every day or even at every meal. The ripe pumpkin was cut into cubes and placed over a gentle fire that would stew the pumpkin all day. As the pumpkin cooked down, more was added but no liquid was included. When it resembled cooked apples, butter, salt, and ginger along with a little vinegar were added before serving.

As you celebrate the traditions of your family on this Thanksgiving Day, take some time to reflect on the many blessing afforded most of us. Look around the table as well to see just how much of what we serve has its origins many years ago.

An Indoor Desert for the Winter Blahs

Anyone who has read a few of my columns this time of year realizes I am no big fan of winter. Sure the mosquitoes are gone and the lawn does not need to be mowed, but after this the appeal wanes quickly. Fortunately there are houseplants that help chase the winter blahs. Cacti are certainly a group of plants that can help us think about the warmth of the desert this time of year.

There are over 2000 species of cactus. One surprising aspect is that all but one of these species is native to the Americas. While we tend to think of cactus as desert plants, they range from the Arctic Circle to the mountains of Chile. Cacti suited to growing indoors are round, squat, or tubular and upright. This shape provides a small amount of surface area to volume, reducing the amount of water lost through the plant. Most have the familiar spines that function as a protective armor.

The soil must drain well and the pot needs drainage holes. You can buy a special cactus soil mix, or make your own. Mix one part of a good loose potting soil with one part of coarse sand. Make sure the potting soil, sand, or cactus mix is sterile to protect your plants.

The low humidity in our homes during the winter months is well suited to growing cactus. They will need occasional water only to prevent any withering. Add enough water to soak through the drainage holes, and discard any water in the saucer after a few minutes. Fertilizing in the winter is generally not needed. An application of fertilizer in late spring and again in late summer will suffice. Dilute to one-half the listed rate, and try to find fertilizer with higher phosphorus than nitrogen.

One requirement is good light. A sunny window will work in the winter, but supplemental light is usually needed. Fluorescent lights will work to provide the extra light needed. Regular bulbs will work fine. Cool nighttime temperatures are preferred, but if the window will have a cold draft, move the plant away from the window after the sun sets.

If you have a desert getaway in the winter, you can enjoy cactus in their native habitat. The rest of us will need to provide our own indoor desert.