National Arbor Day

Today is National Arbor Day.  How many different types of trees can you name?

Nebraska is actually the state that first started Arbor Day back in the 1870’s.   A Nebraskan named J. Sterling Morton had a passion for trees.  This passion coincided with a time when Nebraska was an open territory with lots of open space and little trees.  

In 1872, Morton proposed a holiday to plant trees at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.  The proposed name was “Arbor Day”.  A contest with prizes for the most properly planted trees on April 10 of that year there were an estimated one million trees planted in the state. Nebraska’s nickname before “The Cornhusker State “was The Tree Planter State. 

Over the years tree planting grew across the country and by 1920 over 45 states adopted a celebration of Arbor Day.  Today there is Arbor Day in all 50 states. This last Friday of April is National Arbor Day in most states but a few have different dates due to their growing season.

We can take trees for granted because they are all around us.  Even our cities take care to plant trees to help the environment.  

To celebrate Arbor Day take a hike in the woods and admire the trees and nature.  Try paying bills or get statements online to save on printing.  If you have a need you can also research trees and plant one in your yard.  After a few years the shade in the summer can be awesome. Enjoy the day!