President Ronald Reagan with the Cherry Blossom Princesses 

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, Youre 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.