Nature & Science

Privet hedge provides the area with an aromatic scent.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

In order to fully appreciate the relationship between Jimmy Carter and the town of Plains, Georgia, there must be an understanding of the geographical features of the region in which they were both developed.

Wildlife and Other Resources

The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is located in what is part of the southwest Georgia Costal Plain's Flint River region which covers approximately 8,400 miles. The waters of the region contain various types of fish, such as catfish, bass, perch and carp. The woodland wildlife in the area consists of animals such as deer, turkey, duck, opossum, raccoon and fox. There are an abundance of birds in the area and include cardinals, bluebirds and bluejays.

The Boyhood Farm also hosts a colony of honeybees that assist with the pollination of the crops on the farm. Mr. Earl Carter used honeybees to pollinate the crops on his farm and for the honey that was produced by the bees which was sold in the farm commissary store.

Soils

The majority of the soil in the region is sandy loams that are acidic and infertile. Because of the lack of lime content the soil requires fertilization and other additional augmentation for crop cultivation. The upland soils are well-drained and support crops such as cotton, corn, peanuts, tobacco, pastures, small grains, soybeans and similar plants. The majority of the earth bed in Sumter County is comprised of burnt umber, oxblood and bright red ferrous hues.

Vegetation

Various trees and plants including sweet and black gum, red and sweet bay, tupelo, hickory, red, white and water oaks grow in the watershed. Long leaf and yellow pine, persimmon, post and upland willow oak, and black walnut accompany the introduced species of pecan and peach in the uplands.

ArbNet, an interactive, collaborative, international community of arboreta and tree-focused professionals. ArbNet facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience, and other resources to help arboreta meet their institutional goals and works to raise professional standards through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.

The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park has been awarded a Level I Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism. The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is also now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants. For more information: http://www.arbnet.org/

Climate

Industrial pollution problems are minimal and the region remains, for the most part, rural and agriculturally based. Summers are hot, averaging above 80 degrees with fall and winter bringing mild and rainy weather with temperatures averaging around 50 degrees. Springtime brings a landscape that is green and punctuated with the whites, pinks, and reds of the magnolia, chestnut, and peach trees along the pastel yellows of the honeysuckle bushes. The intoxicating fragrance that is produced designate that it is springtime in the region.

 

• 

  Birds

  Birds and the Carters

• 

  The Mighty Peanut

  A pea or a nut?

• 

  Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail

  Discover the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.