Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Homeschool Post Card Link Up - State Tree & Flower


I'm having a blast with Educating Layton's postcard link up. I actually was the random winner last week! I plan on making all of my entries into actual postcards so I can use them for the postcard swap over at the Starts at Eight blog. There is still time to get your name on the post card swap list.

Head over to Educating Layton to join in the fun. You have until Tuesday evening to link up your state flower and/or tree. This weeks giveaway is a Melissa and Doug 51 piece USA map floor puzzle. 
Next Wednesday link up your homeschooler and your state flag!

Our state flower and tree postcard.
The state tree for GA is the Live Oak tree.
It can be found throughout the Southeast. The majority of the ones in GA are found in South GA and many times you will find them covered in moss. The one on our postcard was located in Savannah where they line the historic downtown streets. The name live oak comes from the fact that evergreen oaks remain green and "live" throughout winter, when other oaks are dormant, leafless and "dead"-looking.

Some awesome facts we discovered about Live Oaks:
-The oldest live oak tree is called the "Angel Oak" and its located in South Carolina on Johns Island. The tree is approximately 1,500 yrs old. I found this absolutely amazing because that means that this tree started sprouting 1,000 yrs before Columbus discovered America.
-The largest live oak tree is near Lewisburg, LA and is is 11 feet in diameter, 55 feet tall, with a crown spread of 132 feet.

-The oldest live oak in GA is in Thomasville GA and is 329 yrs old.
-The largest live oak in GA is in Waycross GA and is 10 feet in diameter, 86 feet tall, with a limb spread of 143 feet.

Find more interesting facts here.

The state flower for GA is the Cherokee Rose.
The most interesting thing we learned about GA's state flower is was that it is also a symbol for the "Trail of Tears." The legend says that the mothers of the Cherokee grieved so much that the chiefs prayed for a sign to lift the mother's spirits and give them strength to care for their children. From that day forward the Cherokee Rose grew wherever a mother's tears fell to the ground. The rose is white, for the mothers tears. It has a gold center, for the gold taken from the Cherokee lands, and seven leaves on each stem that represent the seven Cherokee clans that made the journey. To this day the Cherokee Rose prospers along the route of the "Trail of Tears." Visit this website for more information about the legend and "Trail of Tears." We took our Cherokee Rose pictures at the Fernbank Rose Garden. The single rose in the center was cropped out of a close up photo I took. And my dear Gwyndolyn Rose posed next to a rose bush for me (Rowyn didn't want to participate he was tired).

Here is a great link that I stumbled across on Fernbank's website. It's basically a mini unit study on roses, including the Cherokee Rose.

For more facts on GA visit this great website.

Here are a few other photos we took at the Fernbank Rose Garden:









8 comments:

Stef said...

look at you -- wow - definitely A+ !!! thanks for being fun and participating !!

Joy said...

Wow! That is so cool about the Live Oak and the Cherokee Rose! I need to add more history with my link next time!

Theresa said...

Your kids are so cute! I love the photo of your daughter sniffing the flower!

I was wondering how this worked. I have to check it out!

Kathy Balman said...

@Theresa Definitely check it out it is so much fun!!

Kathy Balman said...

@Joy Thanks! We are having so much fun with this. We learned a lot about GA by participating.

Kathy Balman said...

@Stef Layton No problem. We have learned so much about our state and others!

Beloved's Redheaded Bride said...

Extremely Fun. This is a fabulous post.

I had to cruise in from the field trip link up when I saw the word GA and "Oak Trees!" My extended family lives in Savannah. So, Oak trees and Moss remind me off home!

The Adventurer said...

I love oak tree especially the really big ones:) that provide lots of shade. This looks like a fun link up unfortunately we live overseas at the moment:) Thanks for linking up to the Field trip hop lots of great information here:)

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