The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-30
NEW ROOF GARDENS
Mrs. Roosevelt Originated the Plan, and
at Her Request Number OF "Green
Bay Trees Have Been Purchased for

Mrs. Roosevelt Originated the Plan, and
at Her Request Number of "Green
Bay Trees" Have Been Purchased for
Them.
In the made-over White House one idea
claimed by Mrs. Roosevelt as peculiarly
her own is the plan by which the roofs Of
the wings on the east and west have been
beautitied with trees and Towering plants
An arrangement which provides charm
ing Enclosures, suitably walled for garden
parties in the late spring and earlyl fall.
when the president and his family are in
Washington.
The roofs thus adorned are on levi
with the main floor Of the White House
proper, the wings being only one story in
height. One can step out Of the east room
into the garden on that side, while the
garden on the west Is equally accessible
from the state dining-rooms. Guests after
dinner, when the days are long, will find
pleasure In strolling about in these cool
pleasaunces, which have been made addi-
tionally attractive during the last few days
by boxes of brilliant geraniums and mas
turtiums placed at intervals along the top
of the retaining walls.
The chief adornment Of the hanging
gardens, as they might be called, Is the
exquisite bay trees. At Mrs. Roosevelt's
request about 100 Of the trees were pur-
chased recently for the White House, the
four largest ones. which cost something
like 5000 EACH being placed on the portico
at the main entrance. The total expend1-
,ture for the purpose was not far from
IS, 900. -.
These popular trees are only 8 feet or
so in height when full grown, and their
dense foliage is Of particularly lovely
green.
This is the veritable green bay tree.
spoken of in the Bible. It is not native
Of Ia IF 9TH
species are found along the Jersey coast
and elsewhere in the United States; it is
imported from Belgium and Holland,
where 1t grows much better and faster
than on this side Of the water. Some Of
the specimens In the White House roof
gardens are from twenty-five to forty
years old.
Experts In such matters are doubtful
as to whether the White House bay trees
will endure well the heat of midsummer
in Washington, exposed they are to
the full power Of the sun. It may be
that they will have to be taken down tenn
porarily and placed in the shade-a mat
ter not so very difficult inasmuch as they
are planted In tubs. In winter they will
have to be put in cold greenhouse, where
the temperature is only slightly above
freezing point.
Mrs. Roosevelt Is extravagantly fond Of
flowers. She has always had a passion
chen chiefly consulted in the reconstruct
ton Of the interior at the White House,
and she has personally directed the alter
atoms that are still in progress on the
outside She has changed the flower
beds in front, ordered a Encouragement Of
the shrubbery and had torn up the ugly
asphalt driveway. which is now being
replaced with nnacadam. The White
House Conservatives. which stood ever
since Grants time, have been torn down
and utterly removed. but extensive glass
houses, to take the place of those de-
stroyed. have been erected during the
last three months at the Propagating
Gardens, on the south side Of the Wash
ington Monument, and to These have
been transferred all of the plants which
were formerly In the old Conservatives.
These included magnificent collection Of
palms Of various species, a priceless as
semblagee of rare orchids, and many other
valuable and beautiful exotics
The Propagating Gardens belong to the
District Of Columbia, and are utilized
chiefly for raising Plants for the parks
Sixteen great vases in the rooms and
corridors Of the mansion are kept filed
with flowers In winter as well as in sum
mer.
The newest addition to the conveniences
of the White House is designed expressly
for the benefit of Miss Roosevelt It is a
tennis ground. most carefully laid out
with dirt floor rolled hard and as level
billiard table, and surrounded by
fence Of wire net ten feet high. Already
1t has been referred TO by the casual joker
as the royal court. It is situated inn
mediately in the rear Of the business an
mex Of the mansion, and, tho on the street.
is defended from street observation by a
hedge.