Index/People/Rachel Lambert Mellon

Rachel Lambert Mellon

American horticulturalist and philanthropist (1910-2014)

Fact-Checks

16 results
Jan 16, 2026
Most Viewed

Who designed the White House grounds and when were they last renovated?

The general layout of the White House grounds as seen today traces to a 1935 plan by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. of the Olmsted Brothers firm, while signature garden spaces — most notably the Rose Garde...

Nov 15, 2025
Most Viewed

Which First Lady played a significant role in White House interior design renovations?

Jacqueline Kennedy (Mrs. John F. Kennedy) led a highly publicized, scholarly White House restoration that refurnished state rooms, created the White House Historical Association, raised private funds,...

Oct 30, 2025
Most Viewed

What changes did Jacqueline Kennedy make to the White House Rose Garden?

Jacqueline Kennedy is widely credited with initiating a comprehensive modernization of the White House grounds during the Kennedy administration, but the specific ; contemporary accounts and later his...

Dec 1, 2025

Who designed the 2021 White House Rose Garden renovation and what was their vision?

The 1962 Rose Garden redesign was created by Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon at Jacqueline Kennedy’s request; Mellon’s plan emphasized a central lawn framed by crabapple and linden trees, thyme and boxw...

Nov 20, 2025

What were the most significant White House restoration projects undertaken during Melania Trump's term as First Lady?

Melania Trump’s most-cited White House restoration projects during her time as first lady include the 2020 Rose Garden redesign, interior updates such as refreshed fabrics and restored furniture in th...

Nov 17, 2025

Were there any controversies surrounding the 2020 White House Rose Garden renovation?

Melania Trump’s August 2020 refresh of the White House Rose Garden drew noticeable controversy at the time for changes such as adding a limestone border, removing some Kennedy-era crabapple trees, and...

Nov 7, 2025

Which landscape architects were involved in the 2020 White House Rose Garden redesign?

The available reporting and documents converge on a clear finding: the 2020 White House Rose Garden redesign was carried out by a collaboration led by , with Walnut Hill Landscape Company contracted t...

Nov 3, 2025

What role did Melania Trump play in the redesign of the Rose Garden during her husband's presidency?

Melania Trump led and publicly championed the 2020 Rose Garden redesign at the White House, providing aesthetic direction, announcing and hosting the project’s reopening, and framing the work as a res...

Oct 31, 2025

What specific plants and trees were added or removed during Melania Trump's Rose Garden redesign in 2019?

Melania Trump’s 2019–2020 Rose Garden refresh involved such as a new pathway; exact species lists and the total count of plants removed or added remain incompletely documented across accounts . Report...

Oct 31, 2025

How did the Rose Garden layout and hardscape change under Melania Trump's redesign compared with the original Jacqueline Kennedy design?

Melania Trump’s 2019–2020 Rose Garden renovation retained elements of Rachel Lambert Mellon’s 1962 framework but , replacing portions of the central lawn with stone paving, introducing a lighter paste...

Oct 31, 2025

Were any heritage trees or historic elements damaged or altered during the 2019 Rose Garden renovation?

The 2019–2020 White House Rose Garden renovation removed and replaced most plantings and reconfigured hardscape and irrigation, but independent reporting and official documents agree ; removal focused...

Oct 25, 2025

How is the White House Rose Garden maintained and preserved?

The White House Rose Garden is maintained through a mix of institutional stewardship, periodic renovations, and hands-on horticultural care aimed at preserving historical character while adapting to c...

Oct 23, 2025

What were the primary renovations made by Jacqueline Kennedy during her time in the White House?

Jacqueline Kennedy led a high-profile White House restoration beginning in 1961 that emphasized historical authenticity, scholarship, and public outreach, most visibly through a televised tour and the...

Oct 22, 2025

How did Jacqueline Kennedy influence the interior design of the White House?

Jacqueline Kennedy led a high-profile, preservation-focused overhaul of the White House interior that blended historical authenticity with contemporary taste, . Sources agree she hired prominent desig...

Oct 21, 2025

How did the White House Rose Garden look before Donald Trump's renovation?

The White House Rose Garden before the Trump-era renovation was dominated by a installed in 1962 by Rachel Lambert Mellon, framed by perennial beds, brick paths, and specimen trees; it served as a for...

Oct 21, 2025

How did the Kennedy restoration of the White House impact its historical preservation?

The Kennedy restoration, led publicly by Jacqueline Kennedy, profoundly reshaped the White House into a consciously curated historic space and jumpstarted modern federal historic-preservation practice...