The White House Garden Tour

I moved to DC two years ago from LA and I was immediately exited when a friend told us about the tour! The Gardens are gorgeous, we went in the Spring and the tickets are free! The View of the Washington Monument from the south lawn is impressive! I was definitely one of the geeky tourist when I walked steps away from the white house. Lol Great experience! I recommended it highly! Must do if you come visit DC!

Thank you Mrs. Obama for caring about the health and welfare of Americans. You and your husband have done an extraordinary job trying to improve quality-​of-​life.

What a treat I just happened to be in town when the White House opened the south garden to a tour. I guess this only happens twice a year.
They did a great job of streamlining a large number of people through the garden. I didn’t fell rushed and I also didn’t feel crowded.
Well I wasn’t lucky enough to see the president or the first Lady but I did see from a short distance the first family’s dog Bo.
It was an awesome experience for a regular Joe like me to walk through the south garden and see open close the rose garden and walk the same steps as all our great leaders of this country.
It’s worth the long lines and security.

I went for the Fall 2015 White House Garden Tour.
Although tickets start passing out at 9am — there’s no need to wake up super early and get in line for tickets. I got there around 10:30 am and they were passing out tickets for 1:00pm and 1:30pm (Last entry is 4pm). To get the tickets you just walk around the Eclipse Lawn and find a volunteer handing them out. No line — very easy.
For the actual event, you’ll probably have to wait 30 – 40 minutes in line to get in for your time slot. Everyone slowly files in through security (kind of like an airport security). Once you’re inside, you can see all the trees and portraits of which president, first lady etc planted them. It’s quite interesting. There’s no super pretty floral gardens though. The garden itself is pretty small, without the crowd you could walk through it in 15 minutes. I think the more exciting part was just being 10 feet away from the White House.
There’s also a long line inside to see Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden. It’s cool but they usher you really quickly through it so the rest of the people can take a look.
Overall definitely worth the experience but if you don’t like big crowds I would go early and ge tit out of the way.

Free public tour of the garden without contacting your local congressperson.
The tour is basically a stroll through their rose garden. You walk past numbered posts and framed photos, then the back of the white house, then the fountain, then Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden, and then you’re done. The brochure they hand out lets you in on what the numbered posts are; president’s tree here and there.

Only twice a year, in the fall and the spring, does the Rose Garden open to the public, so if you happen to be available during either of the chosen weekends, I highly recommend going whether you’re a tourist or a DC local! Specifically for the Fall 2015 tour, the dates were October 17 and 18, with the dates being announced 1 – 2 weeks prior to the tour. On Saturday, I believe the allotted time was 10am-4:30pm, whereas on Sunday, it was 10am-2:30pm. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. I arrived around 10am and the next available tickets were for the 12:30pm tour. We left and came back around 12pm, and our tour time was beginning to line up. You do have to go through heavy security, and I recommend not bringing a large bag since only two of the lines were open to those with large bags. Cell phones are allowed and pictures are encouraged. The two things I saw people get turned away by security for having were selfie sticks and lighters. Once you are admitted, the tour is sort of «move at your own pace». We stayed for about 45 minutes, mostly taking pictures. The vegetable garden was open too. I wouldn’t feel the need to do this every year-​how much changes really?-, however, it is pretty cool to get a behind the scenes look at the South Lawn of the White House!

Wonderful experience! I am so glad my boyfriend and I were able to do this together! We go great photos!
The whole thing was well organized. Wait in one location for tickets, then another to enter. The lines to enter the White House lawn were broken down by time, which was great since we snuck in a quick brunch before our time slot. Each group was able to start entering (after passing through security of course) at their scheduled time.
The tour was self guided — my preference. They passed out nice booklets that explained everything you saw. We were able to take tons of photos, and security kept us moving a long so the crowd did not back up.
The Air Force band even made an apperance! This was such an Americana experience!

Totally nerded out for this one! I’ve lived in DC now for almost five years and this was the first time I stepped foot inside the gates of the White House. I was actually giddy with excitement. This is the freaking White House!
The tickets were distributed at 9am on a Sunday and we got in line around 8:20am. There were less than 100 people in line in front of us. The line moved very quickly and we got tickets in the second wave (10:30am) which gave us time to go get breakfast.
The Garden Tour was cool and we got some awesome pictures of the White House and of the Washington Monument from the perspective of the White House. We got to see the podium as it stands during speeches from the Rose Garden and we even got to see the Presidential putting green and playground!
I highly recommend checking this tour out next time!

This is one of the few events that don’t require a letter from your congressman or representative. The grounds are beautiful. Free tickets are passed out at the Elipse Visitor’s Center. The tours are usually 10:00am — 3:00pm. We were in line at 7:45am. There are about 40 people ahead of us. When the park service passed out tickets at 9:00am, we were in the first tour time slot (10am). It was handy reading the «no-​no» item list on the White House facebook page. The security check was efficient. We brought minimal items. There are great photo opps all over the grounds. Remember to turn around and look at the Washington Monument in the background. That point of view is only available if you are on the white house grounds. My most recent visit was the Spring Garden tour. The Fall garden tours are worth seeing too. If you want to know something about a plant, flower or tree, feel free to ask the park service crew stationed around the grounds (hint…they are the ones in green and not the secret service). Follow the white house facebook or twitter page for upcoming events. #whgarden, @whitehouse

Two weekends a year, the White House opens the South Lawn to the general public for garden tours. This spring day was chilly and at times overcast, but it was still a wonderful visit. The «President’s Own» Marine Corps band played as thousands throng through the South Lawn. You get tickets on the Ellipse at the Visitor’s Center. The entries are timed so they is not a rush. Avoid bringing big bags or items that would be contraband for TSA (N.B. because of the new DC law, there are now signs noting that Marijuana is prohibited and will be prosecuted under federal law). It is not wise to utter «Photo bomb» while on the White House grounds.
There are signs showing when many of the trees were planted (often accompanied with photos of the tree planting). If a visitor has any questions, be sure to ask a Park Service employee (who managed the South Lawn) ask they are quite knowledgeable. One guide gave a great history on the evolution of the Oval Office (which started out as a rectangle under Teddy Roosevelt).
The Spring Garden tour offered a chance to see Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden and the apiary (beehive) where they get the honey for President Obama’s honey porter.
If you love the federal city, this is one of the rare times that most people can get close to the peoples’ house and snap selfies. I highly recommend the experience.

If you get the chance to do the Garden Tour, I wouldn’t pass it up. While I’ll be honest and say it wasn’t what I expected (because I honestly didn’t know what kind of gardens the White House did or did not have), I was not disappointed.
I went on the Fall Garden Tour with my roommates last fall and needless to say, we were able to get some great shots of the gardens and the White House! Definite picture, selfie, or mini photo shoot opportunity! So if you can get your hands on some tickets and have the time to wait in line, yes goooooo!

I can’t lie — I was in nerd heaven during every second of this garden tour!!! And also selfie heaven too!
Doors open at 10AM, but the line starts up earlier than that. No need to get there before the metro opens, but if you can, then you’re guaranteed to get one of those shots with the White House BEFORE a MILLION people flood the gates. It’s also best to get there early because there is no time limit on the tickets. I.e. you can stay as long as you like til the day closes at 4pm. So people at 10AM can stay the entire day if they’d like to!
I was in line probably about 8am and was one of the very first people. We had a bit of time to get some DD and donuts while we waited (this is the Fall 2014 tour I’m referring to). Got our tickets at 9ish and then walked right in at 10. I can’t tell you how amazing our photos are — being first in line and able to get huge sweeping shots of teh grounds with very minimal people! Make sure to charge up your camera for all those selfies! You have the WH, vegetable garden, rose garden, marine band, view of the washington, the national mall, etc etc etc. Again: Nerd Heaven!
Just make sure not to take any HUGE items or prohibited things. It makes maneuvering very tricky. Tickets are distributed at the Ellipse Visitors’ Center and then the line to get in forms behind that at the street. Tickets are in :30 minute intervals (will say so on your ticket) and you line up according to that. Best of luck and I HIGHLY recommend it if you can!

SELFIE HEAVEN!!! Hey kids! Wanna make your friends jealous and gain mega Facebook likes? Come to the White House Garden Tour! Here, you will find approximately two plants that you might want to see. But who cares about the freaking vegetable garden? YOU’RE HERE TO TAKE SELFIES AT THE WHITE HOUSE!!! So put on your Sunday Best (but wear sensible shoes, cuz you’re going to be in line awhile) and get clicking! You will have magnificently enviable pictures of yourself in front of the White House (close enough to touch), the Fountain, the Rose Garden, and, if you’re lucky, you might catch a member of the Obama family (we got to meet the dogs).
Seriously, there is absolutely nothing to see by way of a real garden (the Barefoot Contessa wins there). Just come, take a million fabulous photos, upload them on the internets, and enjoy the envy!

I think it’s really great that twice a year the administration opens these historic gardens to the public. I had a great time viewing the various trees planted through the ages, and additions made by the different presidents. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to see Michelle Obama’s veggie garden as the line was wayyyy too long, but I’d like to come back for the spring opening and see it then.
I did not plan for this event at all. I was just playing tour guide for my brother over the weekend and a ranger gave us passes. Next time I’ll try to get a ticket and devote some more time to the garden.

While it’s nice that members of the public are able to visit the POTUS and FLOTUS’s personal veggie garden, of which I was and am very jealous, there were so many people and hollering volunteers that I just couldn’t wait to get out. The tour is a novel concept that gives average Americans a glimpse of the White House’s beautiful, historic garden, and I’m glad I got a chance to check it out. (The history really is pretty interesting if you’ve got the patience to read while being jostled by herds of tourists)
The whole experience reminded me of an outdoor museum but without the opportunity to leisurely enjoy one’s surroundings and ask questions.

Any time I can get into the White House, or close to the White House, or anything presidential, I jump at the chance. And once again, the First Family did not let me down.
I was lucky enough to attend the White House Garden tour on a beautiful spring morning. The weather was perfect, the sky was bright blue, and even the birds seemed to be in a great mood. It wouldn’t not have surprised me if President Obama himself started singing and dancing alongside the secret service on the south lawn!
The gardens or gorgeous– very well maintained, and fragrant. The military band was playing and the crowds were minimal. It was a lovely experience– the highlight being Michelle’s garden. The only thing I wish I had seen was Bo playing in the fountain.
If you get the chance to tour the White House Gardens, I suggest you do it. The gardens are only open twice a year! And, who knows when you will be back in DC (unless you are like me and live here).

The White House Garden Tour is an experience everyone should have at least once in their life.
I had no idea the White House opened up its lawn/​garden twice a year to the general public, until a coworker invited me to join her this year. She is now my favorite coworker of ALL time.
They start distributing tickets at 8 am so we lined up at 7:30. This was probably not necessary since it was a Friday morning and they seemed to be giving out tickets for quite some time after we arrived. I think this is good for the Saturday tour and it was nice to be part of the earlier group as there weren’t too many people and we were able to stay for a while.
The White House Garden is beautiful. I especially loved the Kitchen Garden and seeing the beehive where they get the honey to brew the White House Beer (the current admininistration is just so fun).
I have to admit the highlight was seeing The President and Vice President have their daily briefing in the Oval Office, followed by Obama popping out to wave and say hello to the visitors. As both a West Wing geek and a huge fan of the President, this absolutely made my year.
I highly recommend taking advantage of living in or visiting Washington DC and going on The White House Garden Tour. I will be back in the Spring for a second chance to wave hello to Obama in the Oval Office from the White House lawn!

When I was a kid, I thought DC was boring, because hey, who wouldn’t rather go to Disney World?!
Now that I’m all growed up and stuffs, I can appreciate the beauty, history and culture of DC, and I have the patience for tours and museums. And since it was Boyfriend’s first visit to DC, I tried to get us tickets to tour the White House (back when I went, you didn’t have to write to your representative months in advance), but we were told that the week we were visiting, the interior would be closed to visitors.
But wait! It just so happens that the Fall Garden Tours, which happen twice a year, were going to take place the weekend we were there! So a staffer, after apologizing about us not getting to tour the inside, graciously provided us with two tickets to the WHGT. We picked up our ticket from the Capitol office, and headed straight to the White House, where we only had to wait in line to get in (if you don’t get tickets through your rep, you’ll have to wait in line for it that day).
Very cool tour of the White House grounds — it’s a self-​guided tour and you are handed a booklet that has descriptions of what took place when, etc. and there are numbers that correspond to the information so you can read along as you walk. Beautifully manicured, and you can get some great pictures of the house itself, so make sure you bring a camera!
Definitely a must-​see if you happen to be in town or can make it there.

Sehr interessant, die Anmeldung muss aber Monate vorher erfolgen. Es ist daher nichts für Kurzentschlossene.

Still haven’t quite figured out how I scored tickets to the WHGT twice in three years (they didn’t have date or ticket info ANYWHERE online in 2010, believe me, I googled for it countless times), but I’ve loved it every time!
Is it worth waiting in line at 6am? I will disagree with martha w. and say no/​sorta. Is it worth it if you score free, timed tickets ahead of time? YES!
Don’t forget that Secret Service is absolutely everywhere — you will be herded through organized lines, your bags will be searched, and no, you cannot stand on the grass or go into the rose garden. And yes, it will feel a little bit like a cattle call at some junctions.
My Fall 2008 tour was wonderful! Luckily, one of my OMB friends arranged a girl’s day out in DC and scored some tickets for us. She also gave us the tour of all of the inaugural trees planted by the POTUSs, as well as some history of the rose garden and the tour itself.
The Fall 2011 tour had a couple nice additions: Sasha and Malia’s jungle gym, and Michelle’s veggie garden. More crowded than 2008, for sure, but still well organized with plenty of picture taking opportunities.
Usually you enter relatively close the WH itself (hard to take pix that close), and loop around the South Lawn (great opportunity for WH and Washington Monument pix). Wear your walking shoes, because who knows which way security will send you back out.
Overall, this is a great, unique event that is definitely worth doing at least once while you’re in DC. Now if only I can score Spring tickets…

This past April the White House opened its gates for a free Garden Tour. Since 1972, the White House has opened its gardens for the public, allowing anyone to see the rose garden, children’s garden, south lawn, among other things.
I knew about the tour, but tickets are only available in person near the white house. I wasn’t planning to go until my phone rang at 6:45 A.M. from a friend who said «do you want to go to the white house garden tour?!?» Obviously I can’t say no to that. A few hours later we meet by the side entrance and enter for a stunning self guided tour of the white house trees, flowers and lawns. Each tree has a history and each planting has a different shovel that various presidents used.
Among the fun sights were the rose garden, front fountain, vegetable garden, childrens garden, Obama’s kids playground/​swing set and a view of the oval office.
Next year, when this even rolls around, you definitely don’t want to miss out.