Birmingham Botanical Gardens to celebrate its Moon Tree on Earth Day

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will celebrate Earth Day, April 23, with a focus on the Moon Tree.

Guests are invited to attend the free event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Blount Plaza. A variety of educational activities, hands-on activities will be held there, just under The Gardens' Moon Tree. The Gardens planted the tree in 1976 after it traveled to space as a seed aboard Apollo 14 in order to test the effects of weightlessness on germination. Today, the Moon Tree stands 80-feet tall.

The Gardens will have a hands-on display about the dispersal method of the sycamore seed, which floats on the wind like tiny parachutes. Beneath the Moon Tree, children will be able to make their own hand-held parachutes from coffee filters. On display will be seedlings from The Gardens’ Centennial Tree Program, grown from local seed sources of native trees for replanting Birmingham’s parks, waterways and tornado-damaged areas.

Exhibitor booths, local vendors, free activities and live music from Tommy Ellison will all be part of the celebration.

Live diamondback terrapins will be a featured in the Orientation Room next to Blount Plaza from noon to 2 p.m., presented by biology professor, Ken Marion, Ph.D. Marion will discuss how scientists are raising terrapins at the turtle hatchery at UAB and releasing them back into their natural habitat in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta in order to keep the terrapins off the endangered species list.

Children’s author and storyteller, Claire Datnow of Media Mint Publishing, will share her adventures while doing research for Operation Terrapin Rescue, book seven of her eco-mystery series, “The Adventures of The Sizzling Six.” Her presentations will be from 1:30 to 2 p.m. and again from 2 to 2:30 p.m.

For more information, as well as partner and vendor listings, visit www.bbgardens.org.