“25 Most Giving Cities in the U.S.” by Travelocity | Trees Atlanta

“25 Most Giving Cities in the U.S.” by Travelocity

You appreciate the value of helping those less fortunate, preserving the environment, and improving the conditions of the world around you. That’s why we analyzed hundreds of thousands of social-media posts from across the country to determine America’s most charitable destinations. We scoured the web for posts using the hashtags #charity, #donate, and #volunteer to find out which cities talk about—and use—these charitable social-media signals the most. Based on what people said about their philanthropic activities, we compiled a list of helpful hamlets. From the most hashtag usage per capita to the least, we ranked the top 25 most generous towns.

You are genuinely a good person and don’t take your status in life for granted. As an expression of your gratitude, you prefer to give back and support others whenever possible. You don’t rely on the holiday spirit to put you in a charitable mood, and you certainly don’t need a specific community event to remind you to volunteer. Even during your well-deserved getaways from your daily grind, you feel a calling to contribute to positive efforts. So, when planning your next vacation, consider these like-minded charitable cities and maybe even lend a helping hand when you’re in town.

5. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta With so many residents, it’s no surprise that the Big Peach’s charity calendar is full all year long. No matter the season of your visit, you’ll find an event to participate in. Put your green thumb to use at a weekly Saturday tree-planting project with Trees Atlanta. Break out your tuxedoes and evening gowns for the Center for Family Resources Red Carpet Gala, which raised over $300,000 last year to help local families with housing assistance and other direct services. And help tackle the ongoing food shortage during the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Kick Hunger Challenge, where Falcons fans compete against other NFL cities to see which team can raise the most funds for their local food bank. Blue jeans, black ties, and battling hunger? Atlanta’s charities come in all forms.

Read more at www.travelocity.com

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1. Magnolia Collection

Magnolias are part of an ancient lineage of flowering plants dating back approximately 95 million years. The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is home to 18 types of magnolias from evergreen to flowering. Two magnolias in particular have witnessed history as they were planted just beyond the outfield wall for the former Ponce de Leon Park, where the Atlanta Crackers played baseball. Babe Ruth and Eddie Matthews both hit home runs that were caught in the canopy of one of these magnolia trees. As part of Arboretum experimentation, we have taken cuttings from these historic magnolias and grown them into new trees so that this piece of history can live on the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum and in new parks and baseball fields around Atlanta.

2. 33 Oaks

The oak trees on this slope and throughout the Arboretum represent many ecosystems in Georgia, from bottomland hardwood swamps to granite outcrops. Of the approximately 90 species of oaks native to the United States, 33 are native to Georgia. All 33 oaks are growing on this slope and between them dance 33 stainless steel leaf sculptures – one for each tree.

These metal oaks were designed and crafted by David Landis of Landis Sculpture Studio. Learn more about David’s work here. For more information about the individual oaks featured, see our fact sheet here.

To learn more general information about our Georgia oaks, check out this video here.

3. Beech Circle

Among the stateliest of our native trees, beeches are indicative of a mature forest. Though they can take around 40 years to produce a large quantity of nuts, beech trees are critical for wildlife. Beeches provide food and shelter for all kinds of birds and mammals, such as the red-headed woodpecker. Dubbed the fairy ring, the circle of beech trees here surrounds a granite outdoor classroom and gathering place where you can contemplate how the beech trees will look in 3, 5, and 10 years!

4. Eastside Azalea Collection

Despite the native azalea holding the title of Georgia’s State Wildflower, it is underused in the landscape. The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is now home to the largest public native azalea collection in the Atlanta Area with over 300 azaleas on display. The collection highlights over 25 species, cultivars, and varieties, and is home to all 13 azaleas native to the state of Georgia. This collection focuses on named cultivars (varieties that have been selected for depending on color, size, bloom time, etc.) within two series called the Georgia Moon Series and the Sunrise to Sunset Series. The Georgia Moon Series will have fragrant white-blooming Georgia native species, and the Sunrise to Sunset Series will be comprised of Georgia native species in warm orange, reds, and soft yellows blooming from March – July.

5. Stumpery Garden

The Stumpery Garden is a horticultural oddity, serving as a public place for learning and exploration and demonstrating how trees can be utilized in a beautiful way. Stumpery gardens utilize dead, fallen, and storm-damaged trees as an asset to the garden – providing critical habitat for beetles, frogs, birds, and small mammals such as chipmunks. Whole logs are placed upside down to display their root structure, and logs, branches, and pieces of bark are arranged to form walls and archways. Plants such as ferns, lichen, mosses, soft grasses, and trailing plants are encouraged to grow on and around them.

Take a virtual tour of the Stumpery Garden here.

6. Westside Azalea Collection

Different from the Eastside collection, the Westside collection has all straight species and natural varieties that encourage free hybridization. These azaleas are all grown from seed so there are many variations in the hues even between the same species.

7. Persimmon Woods

Home to the largest American persimmon tree in the state of Georgia, this remnant old growth forest on 1.3 acres provides habitat to a variety of deep forest flora. Walking through a nature trail and over a few bridges will bring you up close and personal with woodland groundcovers, rare spring ephemerals (plants with a short life cycle) such as trillium, and a large collection of native woody species. Enjoy the seasonal blooms, learn from plant identification signs, and get hands-on with volunteer opportunities to plant, divide woodland perennials, and collect seed.

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