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How To Own A Piece Of History
You can't have the trees that George Washington stood under while farming at Mount Vernon, but you can buy seedlings from them. The Historic Tree Program at the non-profit American Forests organization sells 1 to 3-ft. tall trees that have a direct connection to famous people from Washington to Johnny Appleseed, Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Elvis Presley, and many more.
"Most of our trees are from seed collected from the original tree, but a few, like our Johnny Appleseed Apple and Tidal Basin Cherry trees, come from cuttings," says Seth Menter, American Forests. "The original trees are viewed as witnesses of historic events and people."
Available selections can be viewed online or by contacting American Forests. Collections include American Presidents, American Revolution, Environmentalists, Native Americans, African Americans, Civil War, Famous Women, Authors & Artists, Landmarks and more. Texas has its own category, including the Texas Treaty Live Oak. Believed to be 500 years old, the tree had been revered by Native Americans for centuries before it was the site of the Council of Oaks. It's the lone survivor of oak trees under which Stephen Austin signed a treaty with area Native American tribes.
Information on trees includes price, growing zones, spread and height, soil moisture and soil type needs. Most trees are priced at $39.95 with the exception of the Tidal Basin Cherry Tree ($45.95) and the Johnny Appleseed Apple Tree ($49.95).
Trees may be ordered throughout the year. Menter suggests ordering in spring or fall according to your planting zone.
"Our trees come in plastic pots and can be kept inside and next to a window for a long time with weekly watering," he adds.
He warns that some trees, such as the Pearl S. Buck Mimosa, Stratford Hall Black Locust, Williamsburg Wisteria and Wilderness Kentucky Coffee Tree, are in short supply.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Seth Menter, American Forests Historic Tree Program, 734 15th St. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005 (ph 202 737-1944, ext 219; smenter@amfor.org; www.historictrees.org).


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2010 - Volume #34, Issue #5