Planting in heels
First Lady Melania Trump is back in the dirt again. This time, she’s not planting or harvesting vegetables in the White House kitchen garden. Instead, she has planted a tree on the White House South Lawn.
Specifically, Mrs. Trump planted an Eisenhower-era oak sapling, and President Dwight Eisenhower’s granddaughter, Mary Jean Eisenhower, was on hand to help with the planting.
Other presidential descendants and relatives were at the White House to attend the four-day White House Historical Association’s Presidential Sites Summit.
The oak tree stands around 13 feet and was relocated from the East Wing garden, which was planted by former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, to replace a tree that was wind-damaged in the spring. I’m hopeful this newly replanted tree oak will be on display at the bi-annual White House garden tour.
“We’re honored to make a place here for another historical monument,” Mrs. Trump said. “It’s a very special day. I want to thank the National Park Service for doing an amazing job in keeping the White House grounds in beautiful shape and the whole of America in good shape.”
While she doesn’t make too many public appearances, it is well known that Mrs. Trump is a fashionable First Lady, so I would not expect her to dress in shorts and a T-shirt when planting a tree. Thus, she wore a Valentino skirt and Christian Louboutin sky high heels. In other words for all the fashionably-impaired folks, she wore a very expensive and uncomfortable outfit for gardening.
Though it may not be the most sensible outfit for the activity, I say, “More power to her!”
In a month or so, Mrs. Trump is expected to be back out on the South Lawn to harvest the bounty from the White House Kitchen Garden. Last year’s harvest was Mrs. Trump’s first harvest since moving into the White House. Former First Lady Michelle Obama planted the garden in 2009, and Mrs. Trump has said she’ll continue the tradition.
And speaking of presidents, specifically President Eisenhower, his memorial on the National Mall in Washington is coming along quite nicely. Curious folks can view its progress with a live construction camera on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial website. A quick drive past the sight assures construction is on track to be completed by 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
The Ike memorial will consist of three sets of statues depicting Ike as president, general and a young boy. A large-scale steel tapestry will encompass the entire memorial. An electronic memorial and information station will also be included in the site.
Ike’s memorial has been in the works for quite some time. In 1999, Congress approved the memorial, and work has been underway ever since. The official groundbreaking was held nearly a year ago, and the memorial will certainly be one of the most unique attractions in Washington.
Editor’s note: Seymour Klierly writes Washington Whispers for the Journal from inside the Beltway.