Estimated to

be somewhere between 700 and 900 year old, the tree is steeped in legend.

Guale braves would meet maidens under the spreading limbs to court, giving

the tree its name, Lovers' Oak. Seeds were gathered from the tree last

fall and direct-offspring Lovers' Oak trees are ready for outdoor planting.

American Forests

( www.americanforests.org ), founded in 1875, is the nationís

oldest nonprofit conservation organization and the world leader in tree

planting for environmental restoration. Since 1917, American Forests has

recognized trees as living witnesses to the events and lives that shaped

our nation. The group began this work as a preservation program and has

continued to update and catalog old trees in five publications, the most

recent being in 1975 Famous & Historic Trees (Clepper and Randall).

In partnership

with American Forests, companies are assisting in the search for historic

trees in many states in the nation. "We know that Georgia is rich

in heritage," said Susan Corbett of American Forests, "and we

hope to learn of a Georgia corporation that shares our respect for the

past and pride in these environmental treasures."

With Magellan

Global Positioning equipment provided by Magellan Corporation, the latitude

and longitude of each historic tree location is recorded. Future plans

include a Historic Trees Eco-tour guided by these GPS locators.

Beginning in

1989, direct offspring historic trees have been grown at the Historic

Tree Nursery facilities in Jacksonville, Fla. These are available to schools,

organizations and individuals and each purchase aids efforts to reforest

ecosystems and habitats.

Crown Publishing,

a division of Random House, will publish the National Register of Historic

Trees, the first comprehensive reference of trees with historic significance,

in 2004.

Across the

nation, trees stand as the last living witnesses to lives and events that

shaped American history. These grand old trees shaded Native Americans

before the first European settlers landed; gave protection to the Minutemen

during the opening shots of the Revolution; survived the battles of the

Civil War and stood as landmarks for pioneers heading westward. Each tree

has a place in history and the National Register of Historic Trees will

recognize, preserve and protect them for future generations.

Individuals,

historic societies, civic groups and students are invited to nominate

trees to the National Register of Historic Trees online at www.historictrees.org

or by requesting a nomination form at 1-800 320-TREE (8733).

A complete listing of American Forests' Historic Trees

is available at www.historictrees.org .

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