The story of Apollo 14 pilot Stuart Roosa’s pocketful of seeds might seem quaint if it weren’t so absurd. It all starts in 1971, as Roosa flies to the Moon with a small forest of seeds in his pocket. Once back on Earth, many of Roosa’s “Moon trees” become the centerpieces of celebrations all over the U.S. The trees grow, flourish, and soon interest wanes. Within a few years, NASA and the U.S. Forest Service loses track of the bulk of the trees — until a kid asked their teacher about a “Moon Tree” plaque. The search for all the trees is still on today.
