The Anonymous Moon Tree

There's a loblolly pine tree next to the Sebastian County Courthouse in Ft. Smith, Arkansas that has traveled where few humans have ever gone. The tree, planted in a ceremony on Arbor Day in 1976, was a sprout from one of about 400 seeds Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa carried to the moon and back in February 1971. Arborists call it a "moon tree."

Unfortunately, few people know anything about the significance of the tree. There's no marker, no historical placard, no informational sign at all so even most of the folks who work at the courthouse, tourist information workers, and public information workers are unaware of the tree's history. And so it stayed anonymous until not that long ago when a public information officer for the Arkansas Forestry Commission arrived in town asking about it.

The information he brought with him proved the seed of the tree was one carried to the moon by Roosa, a former U.S. Forest Service smokejumper. A mostly unknown story is that when Roosa returned from space, the packets of seeds exploded during decontamination procedures. Scientists said the seeds were dead after being in space and undergoing decontamination. But then, just to be sure, a few of the seeds were planted in starter containers. The "experts" were surely surprised when the seeds proved to be unexpectedly hardy and sprouted! 

After proof of life, some of the seeds were planted in a patch of ground next to earth-bound seeds of the same variety for NASA to study and determine if seeds in space grew any different. Almost 50 years later, no difference has been evident. A large number of the space seeds were given to various Forest Services regional offices and Arbor Day groups to be planted around the nation during ceremonies celebrating the national Bicentennial Year.

All together, Arkansas received four of the space seeds and all were planted at the same time. In addition to the Fort Smith tree, one was planted at the Forestry Services office in Little Rock, one in Monticello and the other was planted in Old Washington Historic State Park in Hope. The Little Rock tree and the Monticello tree died in the mid-1990s from root nematodes. Both the Washington State Park and Fort Smith trees remain in good health and are available for you to touch, hug and take a selfie with a living entity that has been to the moon!

Postcard from The Chairy Orchard

"The Chairy Orchard"

There's a wonderfully whimsical little place you should take a few minutes to visit if you find yourself in Denton, Texas - "The Chairy Orchard." Nope, that's not a misspelling."The Chairy Orchard" was started in 2015 in an empty suburban lot between the houses owned by long-time friends Anne Pearson and Judy Smith, affectionately known as "The Chairy Fairies." The ladies have owned their homes and been friends for over 40 years now. 

The lot is in a floodway so no permanent structure can be built on it. In earlier days, the lot was the site of their children's and grandchildren's and even great-grandchildren's soccer games, volleyball games and skateboard ramps. Forts were built and swings were hung from "The Big Tree." Easter eggs were hidden and found and games of tag were conducted. Over the years, the sounds of childish laughter and squeals of delight filled the ground between Anne and Judy's homes. 

In 2015, with the children mostly grown, Judy began attaching chairs to the trees at the rear of the property and named it "The Chairy Tree." Ann wanted to expand the pun by creating "The Chairy Orchard." With that thought, one thing led to another and "The Chairy Fairies" began collecting chairs from all over town. Most of the dozens of chairs were found at thrift stores, garage sales, dumpsters and curbs.

"Chairy Arch"

An artist friend, Mark Holderbaum, agreed to build an entryway arch so Ann and Judy collected 30 metal chairs which Mark welded into a "Chairy Arch" so the orchard could have a grand entrance. Terry, Judy's son, built a giant chair and her grandson, Drew, built "The Chairy Totter." Small chairs still get attached to Anne's fence, "The Chairy Wood Fence." Chairs are also attached to an oak tree named "Jim's Chairy Tree." When chairs die due to weather and age, they are laid to rest in "The Chairy Graveyard."

The mission of "The Chairy Orchard" is simple - to make people smile. To this end, it is open to the public from dawn to dusk. "The Chairy Fairies" enjoy seeing people walking around smiling, taking pictures and having a nice time in their little park which has lately been the site of Easter egg hunts, engagement photos, pot luck dinners, birthday parties, prom and graduation pictures, baby photos and even weddings. 

The author in the "Giant Chair"

There is no charge to visit, but there is a box set up for folks who are so inclined (and I hope everyone is!) to give a donation to help "The Chairy Fairies" pay for the orchard's upkeep and to thank them for being such good, generous people who are bringing a smile to stranger's faces. The Chairy Orchard is located at 1426 Churchill Drive. It is a quiet, suburban neighborhood and visitors should be respectful of the good folks living there and their property.