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January 7th
By Mutt Mulligan The living landscapes of the White House’s South Lawn
TurfMutt talks a lot about lawns and their importance in maintaining a healthy environment and lifestyle. But there’s one lawn that stands out above the rest that TurfMutt thinks is worth barking about.
It’s the South Lawn of the White House, which is considered the backyard of the presidential mansion on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Courtesy of White House Museum
The South Lawn comprises more than six acres. It includes lots of grass, trees (maple, elm, oak, magnolia, cedar and more) and seasonal plantings. These are just the kind of living landscapes that make TurfMutt spin in circles with joy!
Can you imagine this beautiful and good-for-the-environment lawn being deadened with pavers, mulch, gravel and hardscape?! We sure can’t, and we imagine the First Family and their thousands of visitors each year wouldn’t like that much, either.
All the First Families have made good use of their temporary backyard for family time as well as official events – from the annual Eastern Egg hunt to state dinners. In fact, we think they epitomize TurfMutt’s mantra that nature (and good times!) start in our own backyards.
The First Dogs, Bo and Sunny, often take walks with the First Family on the South Lawn. There’s also a swing set where Sasha and Malia Obama used to play when they were younger.
Last year, a group of Girl Scouts pitched tents on the lawn – the first campout ever held on the grassy venue. In 2011, 300,000 children joined Mrs. Obama on the lawn to break the Guinness World Record for the most people around the world doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period.
Additionally, Mrs. Obama enlisted the help of local schools to plant a garden on the South Lawn in 2009. It’s the first time a garden has been planted on the property since World War II.
Whether your yard is six acres or six square feet, it is an important part of your family’s lifestyle and our environment. And even in a drought, it’s possible to maintain living landscapes. Click here to learn more.
