THE LEAFLET

Last Tuesday, Casey Trees was honored to play a part in this historic moment, partnering with the USDA Forest Service, the Kennedy Center, and NASA to plant a young sycamore grown from seeds that traveled to space aboard the Artemis I mission in 2022. This extraordinary tree is now a living symbol of our shared commitment to preserving the environment, fostering curiosity, and dreaming boldly.

Deborah Rutter, President of the Kennedy Center, giving remarks at the Moon Tree Planting.

The sycamore, generously gifted by the Forest Service, holds special ecological and cultural significance. Native to the Potomac River’s banks, it stabilizes the river’s ecosystem and has long been valued by Indigenous communities for its practical and ceremonial uses. “This sycamore has particular importance to the Indigenous peoples of the Potomac and the ecology of the river itself,” shared Deborah Rutter, President of the Kennedy Center. “As it grows here at our national cultural center, it will serve as a perpetual reminder of the importance of dreaming big, communicating science through art, and preserving our fragile planet—our ‘pale blue dot’ and all its rivers, forests, trees, waters, and wildlife.”

Andria Weeks, Associate Deputy Chief for the USDA Forest Service, speaks on the significance of the Sycamore.

President John F. Kennedy’s vision for peaceful space exploration, environmental protection, and the arts continues to resonate. The tradition of Moon Trees began in 1971 when Apollo 14 astronaut and Forest Service smokejumper Stuart Roosa carried seeds from five tree species into space. This legacy continues with the Artemis Moon Trees. “The sycamore seedling we have here today is one of many trees that spent 25 days in space and orbited the Moon twice during the Artemis mission in 2022,” explained Andria Weeks, Associate Deputy Chief for the Forest Service. “These trees inspire a new generation with a science-based understanding of nature and space.”

The journey of this sycamore began with meticulous preparation. At the Forest Service’s Bend Seed Extractory, the seeds were x-rayed for viability and transported in custom packets to preserve their condition during spaceflight. Upon their return, the seeds were germinated in Forest Service nurseries, and seedlings like the one now planted at the Kennedy Center were nurtured to ensure their success in Earth-bound environments.

For Casey Trees, the Moon Tree planting is an inspiring demonstration of trees’ power to connect us to nature and our collective history. “This young sycamore is a symbolic link between our recent REACH to FOREST festival and the upcoming EARTH to SPACE—Arts Breaking the Sky festival,” shared Rutter. “The Moon and space have forever been a source of inspiration for artists, and this tree reminds us of the importance of dreaming big and preserving our planet.”

The Kennedy Center’s stewardship of the Moon Tree emphasizes the role of environmental awareness in its arts programming, and a commitment echoed in President Kennedy’s dedication to both space exploration and environmental conservation. Rutter noted, “President Kennedy’s vision inspires us to protect our planet, honor its beauty, and harness the power of the arts to communicate the urgency of environmental challenges.”

As this sycamore takes root on the Kennedy Center’s grounds, we’re proud to have helped identify its planting location and will support its care for years to come. This tree represents a harmonious connection between the Potomac’s ecology, the space program’s legacy, and the arts’ potential to inspire change.

Trees are essential to our planet’s health, and this sycamore stands as a testament to what we can achieve when we unite science, art, and environmental action. Casey Trees celebrates this partnership with the Forest Service and NASA, knowing this Moon Tree will grow as a beacon of hope and ecological stewardship, inspiring generations to look both to the stars and the Earth we must protect.