David Fairchild

But Nellie Taft comes sweeping in as First Lady, learns about this opportunity or this idea, and it resonated with her having seen Lunetta Park in the Philippines and also her experience in Japan, the power of these open public spaces and these beautiful cherry blossom trees.

She works with David Fairchild, a senior officer at the Department of Agriculture, then is in touch with the Japanese embassy, the ambassador, the ambassador's wife.

They're very compelled by the idea, sort of a gift among nations to strengthen their relationship, and they send over 2,000 cherry trees.

which turned out to be diseased.

It was a drizzly day, a fitting time to wander through a tropical garden.

The 83-acre garden opened in 1938 and honors legendary plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild, who traveled the world in search of useful plants.

As we meandered through the tropical delight, seeing supersized plants we have as houseplants here, how fun it is to see them living outdoors, I said out loud, I wonder where the baobab tree is.

As if on cue, there was one before me.