PHOTOS The White House Gardener (April 9) UPDATED

[Jackeens]

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[Renew Deal]

1. Those are Oscar De La Renta gloves

:D

[FrenchieCat]

13. I think so!

:rofl:

[Cha]

2. I stop for pics of the latest White House

Organic Garden Progress! Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme, ect, ect, ect:bounce:

[Arugula Latte]

59. I hope she planted plenty of arugula to piss off the rightwingers!

:hi: :fistbump:

[beac]

65. And watering it with latte by the gallon!

;)

[rsdsharp]

3. Hope that works out for her.

I planted herbs in early May one year, and lost them to frost. Of course, DC is a little south of Iowa.

[politicasista]

4. I am not a idol groupie, but I have to say

You go FLMO! :bounce: :fistbump: :patriot:



Thanks for the pics.

[babylonsister]

5. She IS the Pied Piper(ess)! And I love her sneakers. :) nt

[YOY]

6. The gardener at the Whitehouse must be a miracle worker.

The soil here is shit...no I take that back. The soil here is solid clay.

[firedupdem]

7. How nice...I love our first lady! n/t

[JuniperLea]

8. I love her so much!

:loveya:
What a wonderful woman.

I'm really tired of hearing RW creeps put her down too!

Dig this cretin:

"Michelle is one step away from being the Alien that Sigourney Weaver fought. She's a monster, and a bitter one at that.

Barack-O and his handlers have no earthly clue how to handle respect and international politics (something he for some reason got lots of points for during the campaign)."

Sorry to put icky stuff in this wonderful thread, but it just makes me so mad!

[acmavm]

9. Such a classy lady. And she is comfortable with her role as FLOTUS.

She's the best damn thing about this administration, hands down!

[glowing]

10. Wow, they have a ton of herbs.. Herbs go a long way. Perhaps they

really need a large harvest, but in my garden, I litterally have to give away my basil and mint.. they grow like weeds.. the Oregano.. I will never need as much as is sitting there...its such a shame, but it looks beautiful.. I need cilantro, rosemary, thyme still. I put a stevia plant in.. good lord the winter doesn't kill that plant. It in the center of the herb garden.. all the kids stop to pick a "sugar" leaf.. I love teaching them what things smell and taste like. they like the mint a bit, but many are more for taste or enhancement of food. We also have blueberry bushes and pineapple that is new this year.. My son has gotten 2 blueberries.. he checked every day waiting for the berry to turn blue. He's also keeping an eye on his tomato plant. He loves tomatos.

[Jane Austin]

23. Why don't more people plant lemon balm?

It's good for what ails you!

[Hissyspit]

54. I have some! What do you do with it, put it in tea?

Have had the same plant for five or six years.

[Jane Austin]

61. You can make a salve with it (good for fever blisters)

Grind it up and put it in capsules, make tea, make a tincture.

Look it up in a herb book - it's good for lots of things.

[Hissyspit]

74. Thanks, I will. I do have a mortar and pestle.

[left is right]

37. Once you harvest the Stevia

how do you put it to use? I am diabetic and I buy a lot of Stevia in those little packets.

[WhiteTara]

43. powder the leaves

grind it up with a mortar and pestle. But, I also recommend Agave. It is very low glycemic and is a great sweetner.

[knitter4democracy]

46. I know I'm cutting back on planting herbs this year.

Basil and rosemary don't winter over, and now that I've learned how to process them with oil and freeze that in ice cube trays, I've still got more than I can use.

Then again, I do love that lemon basil. I'm planting more of that this year.

[glowing]

58. I'm in FL, it never goes away. I've got Lemon basil all over my yard

from the seeds that flew everywhere.. smells like lemon just walking in the back yard..LOL

[knitter4democracy]

62. Yeah, up here in Michigan, it dies with the first hard frost.

I just love lemon basil. It's so good with chicken and fish. Although, the strawberries and apple mint are trying to take over my yard. I'm toying with letting them--less mowing. :)

[glowing]

68. Not a bad idea..

[Vidar]

11. What lovely images. Thank you.

[me b zola]

12. These photos are every bit--if not more--beautiful of Michelle

as the glam shots. Just wow.

[noamnety]

14. oh dear

Anyone who has ever grown oregano or dill will see what the problem is here. :D

[dalaigh lllama]

18. What?

I haven't planted yet, but am thinking about these two. Do they grow like weeds?

[noamnety]

24. Yep

They each need at least three or four times the amount of space she's given them.

[greenbird]

26. I saw that

and then wondered if the markers were just stuck in the ground temporarily until the planting was completed, then spaced out.

[noamnety]

27. If you look at photo #6

it's pretty clear they're planting little rows where the markers are.

I'm soooo glad my first garden wasn't in such a public spot. :)

[Catshrink]

29. Michelle will turn this "mistake" into a gardening lesson for others.

I agree though -- my rosemary plant turned into monster!

[greenbird]

33. You're right

I know what you mean about being glad that the whole country wasn't watching you plant your first garden! :blush:

[Undercurrent]

20. Yes, huge plants in itty bitty spaces.

Maybe there is a plan that is not apparent to me in the photos?

[K8-EEE]

32. I have one GIANT rosemary bush but also the trailing "prostrate" type for containers

Maybe that's what type she is using here? :shrug:

[Undercurrent]

38. Could be.

There are a variety of sizes for most herbs. Maybe they are using a midget variety. I have a rosemary that stays pretty small. Of course I'm continually taking snips for cooking. So maybe they are taking that into consideration too.

Some herbs are very pushy though. My oregano has spread to take up a third of my herb garden. I need to dig it back to a much smaller size.

[K8-EEE]

40. I think my oregano must be dwarf or something, but the parsley!!

The flat-leaf parsley is intent on taking over my herb garden! The oregano seems content to stay it its 1 sq ft space.

[Undercurrent]

41. Wow! I love parsley.

My parsley is a pip squeak. Just an 8 inch, or so clump. I should check to see if there a different variety when I go to buy my tomato, and cucumber plants.

[bklyncowgirl]

63. I have one that's survived four winters and is now over 3' high and wide

Makes a great ornamental and smells pretty too. I didn't think it would survive the cold temperatures this winter but it's alive and well.

[xxqqqzme]

49. These arethe herbs being planted as requested by the WH

chefs, right? Maybe the WH kitchen needs more herbs in their kitchen than we do in ours. I know I wouldn't plant multiple herbs but then I only have a family of three to please.

[gardenista]

35. Michelle, all you gotta do is call, and I'll be there

to help you place your plants so they'll grow great!

But we all need to learn, and everyone in the country can learn with you.

Garden On, Michelle!!!

[polichick]

15. So nice! She looks like a little girl in #2.

[vaberella]

16. Oh God...she's bloody Brililant. Talk about inspiration. I'm about ready to cry.

The White House is now America's playground and we get to have this close to a personal relationship. Remember how people used to see it as a privilege to see the White House or go on the grounds...or even hang with the President or First Lady---if you could. Now it's like their readily accessible. Like anyone can just have a conversation with them if you want too. These kids definitely are part of history, landmark and hopefully see the change for what it's been for.

Has this ever been done before by ANY First Lady?

Thanks Jackeens.

:kick:

[muffin1]

48. I'm ready to cry, too.

I almost always am when I see her. She is just a superb human being and role model.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

17. I'm so happy for those kids...what a great thing to be a part of.

And you gotta love a First Lady who seamlessly moves from meeting royalty to digging in the dirt.

Thanks again for posting, Jackeens!

[Undercurrent]

19. Beeeutiful!

Spring fever. This is what hope looks like. A new season, and new plants in the soil.


Glad to see Michelle got a pair of gloves and some good shoes too. Gardening is dirty work.

[my2sense]

21. K & R

[midnight]

22. This is such a great project. I'm starting my plants by seed

this year. I usually by them already started for me, but to save so money I'm trying them by seed. I think I started a bit late so don't know how it will all come together, but the lettuce is about an 1 1/2 tall alread, and the tomatoes are right behind. Nothing coming up from the eggplants. I'll start cucumbers later next week.

[Catshrink]

25. FLOTUS isn't showing respect for the Whitehouse.

Look at that dirt on her pants in #7! Laura or Nancy would never disgrace the office like that. These people are going to ruin our way of life.

(Do I really need this -->) :sarcasm:

[treestar]

72. ROFL!

Freepers suck! You've got a handle on exactly what they would say about this!

[Phx_Dem]

28. I love #7 -- stand up with dirty knees surveying the work!

Great pictures. I can't wait to see the garden as it grows.

[Karenina]

67. Caption: Erledigt!

That's my favourite shot too!

[Lars39]

30. She looks like she's glad to be back home.

These pictures are making me tear up a bit. It's been so long since we had anyone like this even remotely near the WH.

[Fire1]

31. Girlfriend looks like she knows what she's doing!

Go girl!

[question everything]

34. I was going to ask whether the kids will get some of the veggies

or flowers - or whatever they planted - or will all of this go to the White House kitchen.

[Tx4obama]

42. Yep

The harvest will be used by the White House kitchen, extra will go to Miriams' Food Kitchen for the homeless, and the school kids are going to be invited back to harvest at the end of the school year and help prepare some food in the White House kitchen with the chefs and Michelle and the kids will get to eat some.

[asdjrocky]

36. I know it may be silly to say this-

with all of the problems facing our country today, but I think this is one of the most important things our First Lady can do. I'm serious about this. Because of the actions of this great family people are going to catch on and I believe gardens can save the world.

And I love the picture of her standing, with her hands on her hips.

[rvablue]

56. Not silly and the timing is perfect

wonder how many families this will inspire to get planting as it is the season!

Maybe the First Lady should start a section of whitehouse.gov where people can post pictures of their own gardens.

She is setting a lovely example!

[asdjrocky]

73. That's a great idea.

[BlooInBloo]

39. I heart America's Mom.

[Kablooie]

44. Here's a different gardener who was in the White House.

Chauncy Gardener



Don't get it?

I guess you had to Being There.

[Imagevision]

45. It helps for Obama to have such a great partner in life...

[SeaLyons]

47. Great Pictures of a great First Lady....n/t

[northofdenali]

50. 'k, got my Michelle fix for the day.

WHAT A WOMAN!!

[Bertha Venation]

51. No. 9 is the best picture.

Thanks for posting these.

[LynneSin]

52. That red jacket looks like it came from Sears - how DARE she

:eyes:

[Raffi Ella]

53. I love these~

B-)

[tammywammy]

55. Where were the children from? A local school? n/t

[opihimoimoi]

57. I kan taste the SOUP now....ya jus noes its gonna be good...

Bush made lousy soup...for 8 years....He gorgot...THIS IS NO COUNTRY FOR SOUR SOUP

[Joe the Revelator]

60. I love her....so refreshing after the stepford wife

the picture of her with dirt on her knees is a freaking winner.

[harun]

64. Going to have some good eats in a few months.

[beac]

66. I was planting my herbs yesterday too!

She's setting such a great example. :fistbump:

Thanks for the pics!

[L. Coyote]

69. A sensible step towards a more agrarian nation, perhaps?

Will the People follow and engage in gardening also?
Schools should encourage this, and teach growing food.
There is a lot to be said for taking more direct and local control of our subsistence.
Planting fruit trees can have a century of impact!

[psychmommy]

70. i like pic #2

the kids are still smiling and talking to the first lady after their hard work. she is laughing with them. wish my kid was so fortunate as to be there. what a memorable day for those kids. i hope she continues to reach out to kids like this. more than any of the glam shots, i love the kid shots. kids know when you care and they react to you so differently. she isn't just posing, she is our interactive flotus. i think that's why people loved princess di she reached out and touched them, so does our flotus.

[sundog]

71. nice

i think she's great :)