PLAINS, Ga. — As the nation mourns the loss of one of the most influential first ladies in U.S. history, others point to Rosalynn Carter's hometown legacy as "peanuts, Plains, and pollinators."
The former first lady died Sunday at 96 years old. In the final decade of her life, she was dedicated to Monarch butterfly conservation.
Returning to Georgia after her husband Jimmy Carter's presidency, she worked to create more awareness about the diminishing Monarch butterfly population. In her aspiration to create a butterfly garden on her Georgia property, she sought to promote butterfly and habitat conservation, according to the National Park Service.
What started as a seed of an idea grew into the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.
Understanding that pollinators suffered from loss of habitat, chemicals and weather conditions, Rosalynn Carter didn't just create one garden on her property but two - intentionally adding native milkweed and other host plants unique to Georgia to support its natural environment.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's concern for pollinators in 2013 has blossomed into a network of gardens a decade later. Gardens have bloomed across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan, according to the organization.
Annette Wise, with the Georgia Department of Education, helped establish the trail and sparked "a comprehensive review of the state's science and social studies curricula was conducted." This helped create a strategic plan to encourage the development of public, private, and school gardens. People can view a map of school butterfly gardens here, including the location of one in China. A list of public butterfly gardens can also be considered here, including information on a garden in Honduras.
Organizers with the butterfly trail also outline how to start your own garden, adding it's a beautiful way to honor the former first lady's legacy. People can get started here. For more ways to pay tribute to Georgia's first lady, consider contributing to her other causes.
Already have a garden that you'd like to add to the trail? View directions below.
How to register your garden with Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail
The trail starts in Rosalynn Carter's home in Plains - but it doesn't have to end there.
Qualifications:
- Food source: nectar plants, such as flowers
- Host plants: where butterflies can lay their eggs, like milkweed or parsley
Registration queries
- Person's name and garden name
- Type of garden: Public, school or private
- Garden type (container or in-ground)
- List the type of butterflies the garden is trying to attract
- List nectar and host plants in your garden
- Address
*Private gardens will not have their addresses shared publicly; just listed - Photos, if available
If you're ready to register your garden, you can do so here.