The week-long Johnny Appleseed Birthday Celebration and Tree Planting Tour continues with the planting of genetically authentic Johnny Appleseed RAMBO Trees in an effort to repopulate one of Johnny’s original nurseries.

The Thursday event is the second of five special events being put on with the help of AMERICAN FORESTS, the Johnny Appleseed Foundation and Museum at Urbana University and cooperating land owners in celebration of Johnny Appleseed’s 235th birthday anniversary. Also featured will be Johnny’s original contract with landowner Col. William Hedges.

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, 10:00 a.m. Hank Fincken performance, 1:00 p.m. tree planting ceremony

Rockford, OH, Parkway Local Schools, 400 Buckeye St., Rockford, OH 45882

September 26th marks the 235th anniversary of Johnny Appleseed’s birth. Born John Chapman, Johnny Appleseed (1774 – 1845) planted apple trees across more than one hundred thousand square miles during his lifetime. His apples were a staple for many settlers moving West after the American Revolution.

The last known living apple tree planted by Johnny still grows on a farm in Nova, Ohio that was part of a Land Grant signed by John Quincy Adams in 1837. Cuttings from that tree – a Rambo variety, Chapman’s favorite – have been grown into the trees by AMERICAN FORESTS, the nation’s oldest conservation organization founded in 1875. These Johnny Appleseed Trees will be planted on this anniversary tour and are available to the public for online purchase from historictrees.org .

Plant a Johnny Appleseed tree and sink your teeth into a delicious piece of American history!

Come join us in this celebration of a legend – and be sure to keep an eye out for Johnny in the crowd.