I was in DC on Saturday to take in a photography exhibit at the Corcoran and do some street photography when I saw a line of people entering the east gate of the White House grounds. A quick stop to the guard for a chat revealed it was the yearly Garden Tour of the White House, with free admission. He handed me a ticket for 1:30, which happened to match the time on my watch and I walked on in.

Well, I walked about fifty yards to a security booth that made National Airport's security seem like more of a joke than it already is. They checked out my camera, my iPhone, my money clip and luckily stopped before the full body check. The metal detector signaled me as 'Not A Terrorist' and I walked onto the grounds.

Now, in almost a decade living here this is by far the closest I have been to the White House. The drive that goes right up to the south entrance was open to walk. This is the door that Marine One helicopter lands outside of to pick up the President for his late night runs to Arby's for their 5 for $5 deal.

The drive moves along to the west and to, well, the West Wing. For those not in the know, the West Wing is the extension going off the west end of the White House, with the Oval Office being the western most part of that extension.

In the image above you see the end of the columned walkway and the windows behind the President's desk in the Oval Office. The columned outside walkway, which goes past the Press Pool (where most of the series West Wing was set) is where President's walk when they want to be photographed looking introspective and serious.

On past the West Wing is an opening in the shrubbery with a sign marked 'Children's Garden'. A walk through here reveals stepping stones with the handprint impressions of all of the children of the White House since 1968. The gate to the secluded tennis court is there also.

It was a great joy and honor to get this close to the home that Barack Obama will occupy beginning next January.