Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-04
COST Of THE BLOOMS
Total of $4,000 Annually for
White House Flowers.
GROWN WITH GREAT CARE
Propagating Gardens and Green
houses Maintained by Government.
DECORATING OF THE GROUNDS
Plants in Colonial Gardens, South Of
the Terraces, Surrounded
by Hedges.
DECORATING OF THE GROUNDS

To provide the White House with cut
flowers daily and the grounds surrounding
1t with shrubs and blooming plants in
season the United States pays out every
year $4,000. No other appropriation for
the needs of the Executive Mansion is ex-
pected to prove as interesting to the next
first lady of the land" for Mrs. Wilson
is lover Of fowers-even more SO, if re-
port be true. than the wife of any Presi-
dent in recent administrations.
From the Roosevelt regime Mrs. Wilson
will inherit, as did Mrs. Taft, improved
facilities for supplying the White House
with flowers for state occasions and daily
use. Originally the White House con-
servatories were located on the west ter
race. In 1902, while former President
Roosevelt was in office, they were re-
moved to the site south of the Washing
ton Monument, where they now form a
part of the propagating gardens.
In all, sixteen greenhouses are main
tanned in the prOpagating gardens for the
exclusive needs of the Executive Man
annually $4,000 for their maintenance
and $1,000 for repairs.
Removal Made Necessary.
The removal of the Conservatives to
their present location was a part of the
general renovation of the White House
which took place during the Roosevelt adj
ministration and cost the government
approximately 100000
After the Executive Mansion had prac-
tically been made over. Mrs. Roosevelt
became Interested in the question of i'm
proving the White House lawns, and, at
her suggestion, two large flower gardens
were laid out. These are known as the
colonial gardens. and they not only re-
ceived the personal attention of Mrs.
Roosevelt, but have been source Of
pleasure to Mrs. Taft.
No new flower gardens have been laid
out in the Executive Mansion grounds
during the administration of President
Taft. and it is not likely that any will
be added while the Wilson's are occu-
landscape gardeners have declared that
the present arrangement cannot be inn
proved upon.
But the next four Years may witness
the installation OF facilities for increas-
ing the productivity of the propagating
station, which supplies the nations man.
sion with flowers
First Duty of Officials.
The first duty of the officials in charge
of this station is to see that the White
House is supplied daily with cut flowers
and that the floral decorations for the
state occasions are the best that Uncle
Sam can produce. Huge bouquets are
placed daily in the rooms of the Executive
Mansion and in the office known as the
Presidents workshop. Even the presi-
Dental barouche is not sighted.
Propagating Gardener Charles Henlock
and his assistants face their principal
task in preparing for the big state occa-
sions. The White House, then is liter
ally bower of flowers. Particular atten-
ton is paid to the color scheme and only
one kind of flower Is used. For example
at the last diplomatic dinner. orchids
composed the decorations. Roses are