White House South Lawn becomes first lady’s grassy stage

Michelle Obama’s affection for the White House South Lawn has grown just like the sweet potatoes and carrots she plants there.

She has used her family’s backyard to promote an agenda that made her an international symbol for healthy living.

But the lawn is more than a place to talk about nutrition and fitness.

It’s a symbolic venue for a woman who came to the White House with the goal of welcoming more visitors, especially children.

Girl Scouts settled in for a camp-out on the lawn last summer. Scores of children joined Mrs. Obama to break the Guinness World Record for jumping jacks.

Children helped plant her garden on the lawn in preparation for her anti-childhood-obesity initiative.