This photograph is of First Lady Hillary Clinton participating in a tree planting ceremony on April 10, 1997. On that day, Mrs. Clinton planted a cherry blossom tree. Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of Tricia Nixon with the 1970 Cherry Blossom Princesses on the South Portico of the White House. First Lady Pat Nixon, Tricia's mother, was caught in a traffic jam during the annual parade, commenting later, “I had my own parade and loved it. The Cherry Blossom Queen princesses waved and blew kisses. It was a treat.” Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of First Lady Hillary Clinton speaking at the opening of the 1997 Cherry Blossom Festival. Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush enjoying the cherry blossoms planted along the Tidal Basin on April 8, 1992. Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of First Lady Betty Ford greeting the Cherry Blossom Princess on April 7, 1976. They had specially gathered at the White House to wish Mrs. Ford an early Happy Birthday. Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom festival.

This photograph is of First Lady Michelle Obama participating in a centennial tree planting ceremony during the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 2012. Mrs. Obama emphasized the significance of the historic occasion remarking, “People from both of our nations worked together for years to bring these trees here to Washington. And over the past century, people of all ages from the U.S. and Japan and so many other nations have come to this Tidal Basin each spring to marvel at their beauty. And year after year, even after the coldest, darkest, stormiest winters, these trees have continued to bloom.” Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of First Lady Laura Bush posing with Cherry Blossom Princesses and the Goodwill Ambassadors in the East Room of the White House on March 31, 2004. In 2001, Mrs. Bush opened the Cherry Blossom Festival stating, “The cherry trees in bloom represent the coming of spring… and the enduring relationship between the United States and Japan… We are grateful for the beautiful gift exchange that has taken place over the past century. Beyond the beautiful trees, we have much more to share and offer one another, from trade and commerce, to education, art and culture.” Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of President Jimmy Carter greeting the Cherry Blossom Princesses in the White House Rose Garden on April 5, 1979. Two years earlier, he commented on the significance of the Cherry Blossom Festival: "Just the fact that the cherry blossoms bloom every year is a true indication of friendship that exists not only among our own people but with our friends in Japan.” Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This black and white photograph is of President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon strolling among the cherry blossoms planted along the Tidal Basin on April 14, 1969. Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of President Ronald Reagan meeting with the Cherry Blossom Princesses in the Rose Garden on April 2, 1984. President Ronald Reagan remarked on the occasion, “You’re a sure sign of spring; the arrival of the princesses here makes that positive. The festival symbolizes the spirit of friendship between the United States and Japan, as well as the beginning of spring.” Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom festival.

This photograph of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and Madame Takeuchi, wife of the Japanese ambassador to the United States, was taken on April 4, 1965 while they participated in a reenactment of the original 1912 planting. Mrs. Johnson accepted a gift of an additional 3,800 trees from the Japanese government and many were planted near the Washington Monument. Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

This photograph is of President Ronald Reagan meeting with the Cherry Blossom Princesses in the Rose Garden on April 2, 1984. President Ronald Reagan remarked on the occasion, “You’re a sure sign of spring; the arrival of the princesses here makes that positive. The festival symbolizes the spirit of friendship between the United States and Japan, as well as the beginning of spring.” Since 1912, the blooming cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of springtime in Washington D.C. First Lady Helen Taft was responsible for the planting of the 3,020 Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Many first ladies have continued to take an active role in the cherry blossom celebrations and in recent years have served as honorary chairs of the annual Cherry Blossom festival.