by Dean Nguyen
During one of her whistle-stop appearances in South Carolina, amidst yet another two-sided clamor of cheers and boos, chants and catcalls, former First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson shared with the politically divided crowd a fond memory of the beautiful azalea gardens she saw in Charleston half a lifetime ago. It was her way of reminding people that she was a southerner like them. This was a common theme across many of her speeches along the Whistle Stop tour; she would regularly evoke images of nature and beauty before making appeals for support and unity. It may not have been the first time a politician used greenery to symbolize progress, but for many, it became her most consistent and influential motif. As Mrs. Johnson would put it, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”
It can’t be overstated how tremendous an impact Mrs. Johnson had on the American landscape. Her organization, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, continues to protect and preserve North America’s native plants and natural landscapes to this day. Mrs. Johnson devoted much of her heart and ardor to keeping America beautiful because she believed that how we treat the environment says a lot about who we are and who we hope to be.
An exhibition centered on her life and legacy, Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, is currently on display at the Upcountry History Museum in Greenville. The collection of artifacts and memorabilia, curated and produced by the LBJ Presidential Library, offers visitors never-before-seen insights into the former first lady’s upbringing, political career, relationships, and accomplishments. Beautification will be on view until Sunday, September 7th, 2025. SCNPS is a proud sponsor of this exhibition.
