Why plant some nameless sapling in your yard when you could have one with a Very Virginia family history? Plant a tree with a past from the American Forests Historic Trees store. The nonprofit-run online store, at www.historictrees .org, cultivates and sells the offspring of trees associated with famous Americans and historic events: the Elvis Presley Southern Magnolia, for example, or the Clara Barton Redbud.
A good number of the trees associated with presidents, the Civil War and Revolutionary War come from Virginia. Most saplings cost $39.95. Of course, you could drive over to Berkeley Plantation or the Poe Museum and pick up a few seeds yourself.
Here are some ways you can branch out:
Edgar Allan Poe Live Oak stands in the garden of Richmond's Poe Museum.
Ulysses S. Grant Black Locust stands at Grant's field headquarters on the bluff overlooking the James and Appomattox rivers at City Point, now Hopewell.
Robert E. Lee Sweetgum grows at Lee's Stratford Hall birthplace.
Appomattox Courthouse Honey Locust witnessed the signing of the surrender documents and perished in 2000 at the age of 183.
Berkeley Plantation Black Locust stands on the site of the first official Thanksgiving and birthplace of Presidents Benjamin Harrison and William Henry Harrison.
Patrick Henry Osage Orange bestowed on Henry's daughter by Lewis and Clark, this tree stands today at Henry's Red Hill Plantation west of Lynchburg.
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