George Washington, first president of the U.S., was born on this day in 1732. He is often associated with cherry trees, but I'd like to take this opportunity to mention Washington hawthorn trees, instead. Washington hawthorn trees may be most valued for the time at which they bloom. Since they bloom in late spring to early summer, Washington hawthorn trees help bridge the gap between the blossoming display put on earlier in spring by many specimens and the fall foliage show later on, in autumn. This characteristic makes Washington hawthorn trees a useful element in landscape design.