lincoln in springfield

[Eva Elisabeth]

(03-29-2015 11:42 AM)L Verge Wrote:  I don't believe that I have ever seen a wide view of the Lincoln home and lot. I was surprised to see so much lawn around it. Is that a result of the historic planning of the area, or did the Lincolns have such a nice yard?

This doesn't explicitly answer your question about the lawn, but might indicate:

Joseph E. Suppiger wrote: “Not being a nature-lover, Lincoln had never bothered to plant any trees, shrubs or flowers around the house, and the only shade tree on the property was ordered cut down by Mrs. Lincoln when she had some repairs done to the house. A nature-loving workman asked her husband to confirm the unnecessary order, and he replied: ‘in God’s name cut it down clean to the roots.’” 65 Neither of the Lincolns were notable for their horticultural pursuits. Neighbor James Gourley remembered: “Lincoln never planted any… trees – he did plant Som[e] rose bushes once in front of his house. He planted no apple trees, cherry trees – pear trees, grape vines Shade trees and Such like things – he did not seems Care for Such things.” 66 Mary’s sister, Frances Todd Wallace, recalled that neither “Mr. nor Mrs. Lincoln loved the beautiful – I have planted flowers in their front yard myself to hide nakedness – ugliness – and have done it often… Mrs. L never planted trees – Roses – never made a garden, at least not more than once or twice…”67 Relative Harriet A Chapman maintained that although “I never knew him to make a garden, yet no one loved flowers better than he did.”68

For the sources (mostly Herndon), please go here:
http://abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/abra...ringfield/

Also Elizabeth Todd Edwards told William Herndon about Lincoln's first visit to the White House conservatory during her visit after Willie's death in Feb.1862: "One day while there in order to calm his mind, to turn his attention away from business and cheer him up, I took Mr. Lincoln down through the conservatory belonging to the Executive Mansion, and showed him the world of flowers represented there. He followed me patiently through. 'How beautiful these flowers are! How gorgeous these roses! Here are exotics,' I exclaimed in admiration, 'gathered from the remotest corners of the earth, and grand beyond description.' A moody silence followed broken finally by Mr. Lincoln with this observation: 'Yes, this whole thing looks like spring; but do you know I have never been in here before. I don't why it is so, but I never cared for flowers; I seem to have no taste, natural or acquired, for such things.'"