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PEOPLE
Growing Up with Longleaf When Roger Birkhead and Dr. Chelsea Ward welcomed their first child in 2008, they initiated a photo series of their son Michael next to “his” longleaf tree. In the Spring of 2010, when Roger first shared these images of Michael with his tree in The Longleaf Leader, he wrote, “I want my son . . . to have an appreciation for these trees and the role they have played in our
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history.” Later Sawyer and Adelaide joined the family, each receiving their own tree as well. Seeing that this family tradition has carried on and grown in the last ten years, it is evident that Roger and Chelsea are passing their love and respect for this ecosystem along to the next generation of longleafers.
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1: Roger and son Michael (6 months) next to Michael’s longleaf in 2008. 2: Brothers Michael and Sawyer in 2012. 3: Michael, now 12, literally hugging his longleaf tree. 4: A family tradition for all 3 kids! From left to right, Adelaide, Sawyer, and Michael. All photos courtesy of Roger Birkhead.
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