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In honor of President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, Trees Atlanta is planting 100 trees at The Carter Center. The celebration began on President Carter’s birthday, October 1, 2024, with two live oaks planted: one at the Georgia State Capitol and another at The Carter Center in Atlanta. The tree planted at The Carter Center is the first of 100 that will be planted there from October 2024 to March 2025.

The Significance of the Live Oak

Throughout his career as a Georgia State Senator, Governor of Georgia, and President of the United States, Jimmy Carter championed legislation that strengthened environmental protection, from safeguarding natural habitat to preserving clean air, and water for future generations. His time working on his family farm, his love of the outdoors, and his enjoyment of outdoor sports deeply influenced his environmental vision. These trees honor his belief in the power of nature to heal, inspire, and unite communities.

The live oak (Quercus virginiana), Georgia’s official state tree, was carefully chosen for this tribute. Known for its strength and resilience, the live oak boasts a broad, cooling canopy and is prized for its hard, durable wood, which was historically used in shipbuilding. These qualities make it a fitting symbol of President Carter’s moral strength and fortitude and his service in the U.S. Navy. These 100 trees will beautify The Carter Center and create a lasting symbol of Carter’s service to our country, including his contributions to environmental protection.

A Long-Standing Partnership

This project to plant 100 trees for Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday continues a long partnership between Trees Atlanta and The Carter Center. Over the years, Trees Atlanta has already planted more than 120 trees and shrubs on their campus, co-hosted environmental thought leaders at the Presidential Library and Museum as part of our Speaker Series, and led tree tours of their landscape. We are also grateful for The Carter Center’s role as a community gathering place and being the location of our Annual Tree Sale each October.

Twenty years ago, Trees Atlanta gave President Carter a Georgia oak for his 80th birthday. For his 90th birthday, we planted a Pollinator Garden at The Carter Center. Greg Levine, Executive Director of Trees Atlanta, reflected on this significant partnership: “For his 100th year, we are proud to plant 100 trees at The Carter Center and one more at the Georgia State Capitol. President Carter’s lifelong love of the outdoors is well-known, and we hope this gift will be a fitting tribute to him.”

Dr. Meredith Evans, Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, emphasized the Carters’ long-standing commitment to nature: “From the Carters’ creation of a tree farm in the 1950s near Plains to their interest in the trees on the Carter Presidential Center grounds, we see their values have always been larger than themselves. They understood that simple gestures like planting and caring for trees help our environment, community, and spirit. Trees Atlanta has chosen such an impactful gesture of planting 100 trees to mark President Carter’s 100th birthday.”

Looking Forward

The live oak at the Georgia State Capitol is planted to the left of the building’s main entrance on Washington Street in downtown Atlanta. A statue of the 39th President stands to the left of the Capitol steps, a place of prominence reserved for the first and only Georgian who has served as the President of the United States. President Carter’s statue stands with open hands looking toward the newly planted live oak.

At The Carter Center, 100 new trees for Jimmy Carter will soon take root and become a part of President Carter’s long history. The trees will provide beauty, shade, and a habitat for wildlife for years to come. They represent the values that guided President Carter throughout his life: a deep respect for nature and a belief in the power of small actions to create lasting change.

Happy Birthday, President Carter!

News coverage from the celebratory tree planting.

Photos (L-R): All Photos Credit: Trees Atlanta. “Trees Atlanta staff and volunteers plant a live oak at the Georgia State Capital to celebrate President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, October 1, 2024”; “Trees Atlanta staff and volunteers dig a hole for a Live Oak at the Carter Center, October 1, 2024; “A statue of President Jimmy Carter looks out at a freshly planted live oak at the Georgia State Capital, October 1, 2024”; “Trees Atlanta staff and volunteers plant a live oak at The Carter Center to celebrate President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, October 1, 2024”; “A Trees Atlanta volunteer display our appreciation for President Jimmy Carter, October 1, 2024”

Posted on: October 17, 2024