The historic White House Rose Garden is getting an upgrade for the first time in nearly 60 years. First Lady Melania Trump faced backlash after revealing the restoration plans Monday — just months before the election, as coronavirus cases continue to surge in many states.
Mrs. Trump said she wants to return the garden to its original 1962 glory, when it was designed by Rachel Lambert Mellon, a friend of President John F. Kennedy. Mellon wrote that she was found inspiration during an October walk along Fifth Avenue in New York City, when she was awestruck by magnolia trees outside of the Frick Museum.
Plans are already underway to restore the famous garden, the first lady said during a rare appearance Monday. It hasn’t been redone since the Kennedy era, but the announcement emphasized the need for a renovation after decades of use and modern updates, in order to “appreciate