Thursday marks the 95th birthday of Rosalynn Carter, the second-oldest U.S. first lady in history. In addition to birthday cards and well wishes, butterflies will also be released in her honor.
Annette Wise, a lifelong friend and neighbor, stated that Mrs. Carter’s interest with butterflies dates back to her childhood, when she was captivated by the colorful insects flying among her mother’s flowers in Plains, Georgia.
This led to the creation of the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail, which was constructed in a community in southwest Georgia after the former first lady became concerned about the future of butterflies, which are essential to the pollination of flowering plants.
“In 2013, she saw an article about the demise of monarch butterflies and decided to take action,” Wise said.
Wise stated that she assisted Carter in establishing a garden containing native milkweed, a prime habitat for monarch butterflies, at the home she shares with the former president, her husband of 76 years, but the public is not permitted to visit the garden due to Secret Service security concerns. As a result, Wise created a second garden nearby that could be accessed by people, which contributed to the creation of the 76-garden butterfly trail in rural Plains.
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Wise said the butterfly trail will utilize Carter’s birthday to promote the Great Georgia Pollinator Census, an annual statewide count of butterflies scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter made one of their rare public appearances in a while on Saturday for the dedication of a new butterfly sculpture that is part of the path and is on land next door to where she grew up. The ceremony was conducted in honor of the former first lady’s birthday. Using a walker, the former first lady turned a switch to illuminate the artwork at dusk.
“They do not venture out too often. COVID is a legitimate issue, as are their ages “Wise remarked.
The National First Ladies Library states that Bess Truman, the wife of President Harry Truman, is the only first lady to have outlived Rosalynn Carter. Truman, who served as first lady from 1943 to 1953, died at the age of 97 in 1982.
Jimmy Carter, who will age 98 on October 1, is the oldest living ex-president of the United States. During the unveiling of the artwork, he was captured on camera seated in a wheelchair and grinning.