Remarks by the First Lady at a First Bloom Event

Castle Clinton National Park

New York City, New York
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--

11:08 A.M. EDT

MRS. BUSH: Thank you. LizBeth just said she was very nervous, but
we couldn't tell. You did a really great job. Thank you very much.

And Chris, thank you also. Thank you for talking about Lady Bird
Johnson. I actually got a letter from Lady Bird Johnson a few years
ago, and she wanted me to know about Battery Park. And she wanted me
to meet Warrie Price. And that's how I met Warrie Price, was because
Lady Bird Johnson wrote me, and I had the chance to come here and tour
the Battery with Warrie Price. And it looks better every time I come,
more and more planting. And I'm so thrilled to have this chance to be
here with you today.

And especially with the members of the Boys Club of New York and
the Lower East Side Girls Club. Thank you all for joining us today.
(Applause.) I got to plant a few native plants with the members of
these two, the Girls Club and the Boys Club. They've done garden
design. They've studied what they wanted to plant, the specific plants
they wanted to put in. They've learned about native plants. They've
learned about invasive non-native plants. And I'm very proud to have
this chance to be with them.

Thank you, Vin Cipolla, the President of the National Park
Foundation. Thank you for what you do. (Applause.) I also want to
introduce Regan Gammon, who is the Citizen Chair of the National Park
Foundation. She's with us here. And of course recognize Warrie Price
again, and Maria Burks, the National Park Service Commissioner for the
National Parks of New York Harbor and the Superintendent of the
Manhattan Sites. (Applause.) Thank you very much for everything you
do. And I do hope that all the boys and girls here get an idea in your
mind about a job that you might grow up to want to have, and that is
working in our national parks, from our historical sites, like the
White House - I actually live in a national park - to our most
magnificent natural sites like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Acadia
National Park or all our beautiful natural national parks.

And then a special thanks to Lynda Johnson Robb. Thank you so
much, Lynda, for joining us today. (Applause.) I wish your mother
could be here. She would love every minute of this. She would love
seeing these boys and girls as they plant native plants here right in
New York City. It would be so great to have her with us today.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a key partner with
First Bloom. First Bloom is a new program that combines both our
national parks and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. And the
whole goal of it is to make sure young people learn about our fabulous
natural treasures that we've all inherited as Americans, and
especially about our native plants and wildlife.

I want to recognize Susan Reiff, who is the Executive Director of
the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Susan, thank you very much
for joining us today. (Applause.)

When people think of New York City, national parks probably are
not the first thing that comes to mind. But in fact there are 10
national parks in New York City and northern New Jersey. And we're
standing right in front of one of them right now. Castle Clinton,
that's behind me right here, is one of our national monuments. Castle
Clinton was constructed to defend New York Harbor in the war of 1812.
Since then it's served as a theater, as an immigration depot, and even
as an aquarium. And this landmark was spared from being torn down in
1946. Instead, Castle Clinton became a national monument and a great
example of how our national park system protects our history and our
heritage.

This National Park Week we're celebrating what kids are doing to
help preserve our natural and historic treasures. We're also
highlighting programs like First Bloom, which are bringing kids into
our national parks, and bringing our national parks' ethic of
conservation right into the communities of all of our children. By
teaching kids how to protect native plants, First Bloom is giving our
young people a head start toward a lifetime of environmental
stewardship.

First Bloom was announced last October, and already it's sprung to
life in five pilot cities. At the White House last week, First Bloom
hosted an activity to help kids plant the seeds of native Washington
flowers that would be planted in compostable cups, just like they did,
and then planted at the new World War II Memorial and the FDR Memorial
on the National Mall.

Several days ago I was with students in Dallas who were introduced
to First Bloom. They did "shake a shrub." They shook shrubs to see
what would fall out. And you know what falls out? I'm sure these kids
do. Seeds fall out, bugs fall out - all of those sort of things fall
out of a shrub. Those plants that those kids in Dallas were planting
will go to their nearest national park, which was Lynda's home, the
LBJ Ranch National Park.

Today's event is very special because this is the first First
Bloom event in New York City. All these boys and girls have spent a
lot of time preparing for today. They've searched the Battery for
native plants. They've identified invasive species. They've done art
projects and garden designs. They've planted the native seeds in
biodegradable cups. And some of these kids have even seen Zelda. Do
you all know who Zelda is? Zelda is the wild turkey that lives here in
New York City, and some people can see it right around here in the
Battery.

Today your study and hard work is taking root. The gardens you've
designed are being stocked with beautiful plants that are native to
Manhattan, like Bluebells, Blue-eyed Grass, Blue Wood Aster.
Apparently some of you share my favorite color: blue. You've chosen
these plants carefully to make sure there will always be something
colorful blooming here in Battery Park, no matter what the season.

And, of course, we're not the only ones who are going to get to
enjoy this beautiful display. Your gardens will be seen by thousands
of Americans who come to visit the Battery and this national monument.
What a great way to celebrate National Park Week.

Thank you for inviting me to participate today. Special thanks to
First Bloom and the Battery Conservancy, and to all of the young
people here - the Boys and Girls Clubs who have planted these native
plants. (Applause.)

President Franklin Roosevelt once said, "There's nothing so
American as our national parks." So through First Bloom and the work
of the National Park Foundation, we can make sure that all young
Americans learn to know and love our national parks. Thank you all
very, very much, and thank you especially to the young people here.
(Applause.)

God bless you all, and God bless America. (Applause.)

END 11:16 A.M. EDT

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