Jun 22, 2008 5:31 pm US/Eastern
First Lady Bush In Boston For Environment Program
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
First Lady Laura Bush was in Boston this weekend to launch a program designed to teach urban children how to protect fragile ecosystems and create gardens in their neighborhoods.
"Today I am pleased to announce that Boston will become the site of the first metro-wide First Bloom program in the nation," Bush said.
First Bloom is the first nationwide program designed to help children learn about the environment and conservation by reintroducing and cultivating native plants in urban areas.
Bush launched the program last year in honor of Lady Bird Johnson, who died last July. The former first lady was an environmentalist devoted to preserving wildflowers and native plants.
Bush joined join 30 students Sunday afternoon to plant native species in a newly designed garden in Boston National Historical Park, marking the city's first citywide First Bloom project.
Mrs. Bush encouraged them to not only help preserve park land, but their own land as well. Students participating in Sunday's program were from the Warren Prescott School in Charlestown and the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.
First Bloom is the National Park Foundation's newest grant program.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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