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White House Gardens Symposium Schedule

May 2, 2019

This event will be held at the White House Historical Association. Arrive at the entrance at 748 Jackson Place, NW, Washington, D.C. for the symposium on May 2, 2019.

May 2, 2019

8:00-9:00am

Registration & Light Breakfast – Decatur House

9:15-9:30am

  • Welcome and Overview
    • Stewart McLaurin, President, White House Historical Association
    • Anita McBride, Education Committee Chair, White House Historical Association Board of Directors
    • Thomas E. Lovejoy, Board Member, Oak Spring Garden Foundation Board of Directors

9:30-9:40am

  • Short Film – White House Gardens Through the Years
    • Introduced by Dede Petri, President, The Garden Club of America

9:45-10:15am

  • History of White House Gardens Introduction
    • Introduced by Dr. Matthew Costello, Assistant Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, White House Historian, White House Historical Association
    • Jonathan W. Pliska, author, White House Historical Association’s A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Grounds and noted landscape historian

10:30-10:40am

  • Documentary Clip – Beatrix Farrand’s American Landscapes by Stephen Ives and Anne Cleves Symmes
    • Introduced by Gail Griffin, former Director of Gardens and Grounds, Dumbarton Oaks

10:45-11:45am

  • The Legacy of Beatrix Farrand
    • Introduced by Gail Griffin, former Director of Gardens and Grounds, Dumbarton Oaks
    • Moderated by Paula Deitz, editor, Hudson Review and frequent contributor to the The New York Times, The Architectural Review, and Gardens Illustrated
    • Judith B. Tankard, author, Beatrix Farrand: Private Gardens, Public Landscapes, landscape historian and preservation consultant
    • Dr. Therese O’Malley, Associate Dean of the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art

12:00-1:15pm

  • Luncheon Program
    • Introduced by Stewart D. McLaurin, President, White House Historical Association
    • Opening remarks by Frederick J. Ryan Jr., Chairman, White House Historical Association Board of Directors
    • Presentation by Tony Willis, Librarian, Oak Spring Garden Foundation
    • Closing remarks by Stewart McLaurin, President, White House Historical Association

1:30-2:30pm

  • The Legacy of Bunny Mellon
    • Introduced by Dr. Matthew Costello, Assistant Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, White House Historian, White House Historical Association
    • Moderated by Thomas Lloyd, grandson of Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon
    • Linda Jane Holden, author, Presidents’ Gardens and The Gardens of Bunny Mellon
    • Meryl Gordon, author, Bunny Mellon: The Life of an American Style Legend
    • Mac Griswold, author, Washington’s Gardens at Mount Vernon: Landscape of the Inner Man, Pleasure of the Garden: Images from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Golden Age of American Gardens: Proud Owners, Private Estates, with Eleanor Weller

2:45-3:45pm

  • The White House Gardens Today
    • Introduced by Dr. Matthew Costello, Assistant Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, White House Historian, White House Historical Association
    • Moderated by Dr. Susan Pell, Deputy Director; Science and Public Programs Manager, United States Botanic Garden
    • Jim Adams, Horticulture Manager, United States Botanic Garden
    • Jim McDaniel, Board Member, White House Historical Association Board of Directors

3:45-4:00pm

  • Closing Remarks
    • Stewart McLaurin, President, White House Historical Association

4:15-5:00pm

  • Reception — Courtyard

4:15-5:00pm

  • Book Signing with Jonathan W. Pliska – White House History Gift Shop
    • White House Historical Association’s A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Grounds will be available in the White House History gift shop for purchase throughout the day. Jonathan W. Pliska will be signing copies of his book during the reception.