Apollo
14 Moon Trees in Hartwell (return)Apollo
14 Moon Trees in Hartwell (return)
When astronauts launch into space they are allowed to take a few personal items that tally up to no more than a pound and a half called PPK's, Personal Preference Kits. Astronauts have taken up a variety of items such as patches, flags, and coins to give family members, friends, dignitaries, and other officials upon return. Some items have been more unusual, such as a piece of material from the Wright brother's plane, and a sandwich brought along for another astronaut. In 1971 on Apollo 14's lunar trip to the surface, Alan Shepard took along a few golf balls and the head of a six-iron. Edgar Mitchell carried the four-star insignia of General Omar Bradley, and astronaut Stuart Roosa, a former Forest Service smoke jumper before joining the Air Force, packed about 500 tree seeds. The United States Forest Service thought this would be an excellent experiment to see how Loblolly Pine, Sycamore, Sweetgum, Redbud, and Douglas Fir seeds react after being in space. Unfortunately upon return to Earth, the seeds became mixed together during decontamination when the canisters burst. Undeterred, the seeds were still planted and 420 to 450 tree seeds germinated successfully! These became known as the Moon Trees of Apollo 14. In 1976, many of these trees were given away in honor of the nation's bicentennial celebration. According to NASA, a Loblolly Pine is planted at the White House, while other trees went as far as Brazil, Switzerland, and the even to the Emperor of Japan. Other trees are scattered to various universities, NASA centers, even Valley Forge, and the International Forest of Friendship. The National Garden Club's goal is to plant Patriotic Trees. So Madora Garden Club decided to contact the Historic Tree Nursery to inquire about a Moon Tree as well as other historic trees that could be planted in Hartwell. Luckily, the nursery had descendants from the Apollo 14 Sycamore, and the club purchased four. No one had kept a systematic list of the original trees or their descendants, but that has started to change with Dr. Dave Williams of NASA. He has started to track down these trees, and at this time we are the only location in Georgia to have Apollo 14 Sycamores. Hartwell will now be added to his list of second generation Apollo Trees. These four trees will be planted on school grounds over the next month. Additionally, each trees' certification and a lesson plan book on trees will be presented to each school library. |
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Coach Brooks Mewborn with Members of Student Council from L-R: AJ Townley, Alex White, Bryar East, Kyle Brown (kneeling), Tamara Lack, Morgan Walker, and Allison Atkins. |
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Apollo 14 Sycamore Planted May 4, 2006 |
When the severe summer drought had past, the final two Apollo trees were planted. | |
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November 2, 2006
November 2, 2006 |
| Madora would like to thank these schools for their help and enthusiasm. To date, these four Apollo 14 trees are the only NASA registered moon trees in the entire state of Georgia. | |
