First ladies to thank for D.C.’s spring scenery

In this photo taken, Monday, March 19, 2012, a woman takes pictures of the oldest cherry blossom trees along the tidal basin in Washington. The pink and white cherry blossoms that color the U.S. capital and draw a million visitors each spring began with trees that have survived for a century. It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington's Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) — In this photo taken, Monday, March 19, 2012, a woman takes pictures of the oldest cherry blossom trees along the tidal basin in Washington. The pink and white cherry blossoms that color the U.S. capital and draw a million visitors each spring began with trees that have survived for a century. It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington’s Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Mrs. Helen Taft, widow of the former President William Howard Taft, is checking with a customs officer as she arrived on April 5, 1936 in New York aboard the steamer vacation from Vera Cruz, Mexico, were she went for a winter holiday. Mrs. Taft is returning to Washington D.C. to attend the cherry blossom festival which she established while in the White House (AP Photo)

In this photo taken Monday, March 19, 2012, root cutting of cherry tree leaves have begun to flower inside a greenhouse at the National Arboretum in Washington. The pink and white cherry blossoms that color the U.S. capital and draw a million visitors each spring began with trees that have survived for a century. It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington’s Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

In this photo taken Monday, March 19, 2012, George Waters, an agricultural science research technician, demonstrates the technique for propagation of cherry trees, at the National Arboretum in Washington. The pink and white cherry blossoms that color the U.S. capital and draw a million visitors each spring began with trees that have survived for a century. It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington's Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) — In this photo taken Monday, March 19, 2012, George Waters, an agricultural science research technician, demonstrates the technique for propagation of cherry trees, at the National Arboretum in Washington. The pink and white cherry blossoms that color the U.S. capital and draw a million visitors each spring began with trees that have survived for a century. It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington’s Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Lady Bird Johnson, left, wife of Pres. Johnson, takes a group of leaders of a "Let's Beautify America" campaign on a tour of the White House flower garden, April 28, 1965. The group gave Mrs. Johnson a report on what some of the nation's cities are doing to make themselves more beautiful. (AP Photo) — Lady Bird Johnson, left, wife of Pres. Johnson, takes a group of leaders of a “Let’s Beautify America” campaign on a tour of the White House flower garden, April 28, 1965. The group gave Mrs. Johnson a report on what some of the nation’s cities are doing to make themselves more beautiful. (AP Photo)

Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Pres. Johnson, uses an umbrella to keep dry as she and New York's Mayor Robert F. Wagner, center, with Anna Rosenberg Hoffman, left, co-chairman of the city's "Salute to Season" program, inspect a flower display at the Plaza Hotel in New York, May 7, 1965. The nation's first lady called upon New Yorkers to use green thumbs in beautifying the city's streets. (AP Photo/John Lent) — Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Pres. Johnson, uses an umbrella to keep dry as she and New York’s Mayor Robert F. Wagner, center, with Anna Rosenberg Hoffman, left, co-chairman of the city’s “Salute to Season” program, inspect a flower display at the Plaza Hotel in New York, May 7, 1965. The nation’s first lady called upon New Yorkers to use green thumbs in beautifying the city’s streets. (AP Photo/John Lent)

A man runs past blooming daffodils along Rock Creek Park in Washington, on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) — A man runs past blooming daffodils along Rock Creek Park in Washington. Lady Bird Johnson is responsible for beautifying Rock Creek Park. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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WASHINGTON 鈥� After a winter like the one that just passed, we all look forward to spring, and, finally, signs of the season are beginning to show. But what many don鈥檛 realize is that a handful of former first ladies are responsible for Washington鈥檚 springtime scenery 鈥� from the blossoming cherry trees聽along the Tidal Basin to the budding wildflowers in Rock Creek Park.

When Helen Taft came to the White House in 1909, her priority was to make Washington the cultural center of the United States. But shortly after her husband took office, the first lady suffered a stroke and had to spend a significant amount of time recovering and regaining her health.

When she did recover, Mrs. Taft turned her attention toward sprucing up the Tidal Basin, a focus that turned into one of the most significant beautification movements of the 20th century.

Susan Swain, co-CEO of C-SPAN and author of explains that at the time of the Taft administration, the Tidal Basin was a mess. The path was often muddy and was frequently used as a track for residents to race their cars. Mrs. Taft, however, envisioned a beautiful park along the Potomac 鈥� so she imported cherry trees.

Her first attempt to plant the trees failed. When the Japanese government heard this, they offered to send her some more, which she accepted.

鈥淭here was a political angle to this, as well,鈥� says Swain, who recently moderated a yearlong series on the nation鈥檚 first ladies on C-SPAN. 鈥淭he Japanese were concerned that President Taft was tilted too much toward China. So by offering the cherry trees as a gesture of friendship, they wanted to make sure that they got the first lady鈥檚 attention and the president鈥檚 attention that in fact, Japan was an important ally too.鈥�

Again, Mrs. Taft had some difficulty with the trees, but when they finally began blossoming in 1912, they never stopped.

鈥淚f anyone walks around the Tidal Basin now, you can find some really gnarly old trees with a little plaque. These are the early ones that were really planted by Mrs. Taft 100-plus years ago,鈥� Swain says. 鈥淲ithin 10 years, when they really took root and were flowering, the president walked around with his daughter and turned to his daughter and said, 鈥楾hese cherry trees that your mother planted, they鈥檝e really taken blossom and they鈥檝e changed Washington for the better.鈥欌€�

The president鈥檚 observation couldn鈥檛 have been more on-point. The cherry blossoms have become an iconic symbol in the nation鈥檚 capital, marked by聽annual festivals and events and ushering in millions of tourists each year.

鈥淧eople are biking, they鈥檙e roller blading around the cherry blossoms; there are weddings under them every year. 鈥� We all have our favorite aspects of the cherry blossoms, and thank you, Mrs. Taft, for that,鈥� Swain says.

Nearly a half-century after Mrs. Taft鈥檚 success with the cherry trees, another first lady decided to further beautify Washington, and several other states as well. And similar to Mrs. Taft, it took this first lady some time to get started on her agenda.

When Lady Bird Johnson鈥檚 husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, took office, she immediately assumed the role of caregiver, attending to a grieving nation following Kennedy鈥檚 assassination. But when Johnson was elected in his own right, Swain says, she felt as if she could take on a hallmark project.

鈥淪he knew that she had a bully pulpit and wanted to use it,鈥� Swain says. She turned her focus to flowers: “Her thinking was a nice environment 鈥� places where things grow and flowers grow and trees blossom 鈥� make all of us feel better.鈥�

And while planting flowers may sound like an easy job, Swain says, it proved to be a politically difficult task. The first lady had to spend a lot of time lobbying on Capitol Hill and elbowing her way past the highway billboard lobby and others. But her political efforts were well worth it.

鈥淲ashington was transformed 鈥� the tulips, the daffodils. If you drive around Rock Creek Park or along the GW Parkway, every spring there鈥檚 a profusion of them, and that鈥檚 Lady Bird Johnson, so thanks to her,鈥� Swain says, who adds that Mrs. Johnson also built parks and playgrounds in D.C. neighborhoods that were without.

So the next time you take your lunch outside the office to a nearby park bench, or Metro into the city to grab a glimpse of the trees in聽peak bloom, be sure to thank your former first ladies for the springtime scenery.

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