“To the moon, Alice…!” That famous Ralph Kramden threat has nothing really to do with this bit of trivia—except the moon part. Area residents and visitors alike are largely unaware of the Moon Tree at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This American sycamore, growing tall next to the formal rose garden, is one of the trees planted from seeds taken into space and around the moon on Apollo 14 in1971. While the seeds were making their orbit, Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell were walking on the moon. The Moon Tree was planted at the gardens in 1976. It’s only one of many special reasons to visit. www.bbgardens.org
