National Arbor Day

April 30th is National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is a nationally recognized celebration to preserve and care for trees. Trees play an integral part in our day to day lives. They provide foods that we eat, give shade to shield us on a hot, summer day, clean the air that we breathe (trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air) and countless other things.

A little bit about Arbor Day:
It was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska.
An estimated one MILLION trees were planted on the first Arbor Day (that's a lot of trees!!).
Arbor day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April (although each state has its own state Arbor Day holiday as well).

There are many ways to celebrate Arbor Day. How about........

• Organizing a beautification project in an area park or schoolyard
• Ask co-workers, friends and family to recycle paper (newsprint, magazines, etc.) and for every pound recycled, plant a tree
• Take a walk with your family or friends and see how many different kinds of trees are in your area
• Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization to make a difference in the quality and beauty of your community
• Plant a fruit tree in your backyard
• Visit a botanical garden and take in a lecture on caring for trees

Trees do some pretty amazing things for our environment. Did you know that ONE tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces in 25, ooo miles? Or that trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves? Or how about trees cutting down on noise pollution by acting as natural sound barriers (and they are MUCH prettier to look at than a large noise reduction wall!). Makes ya wanna go hug a tree, doesn't it?

For more information on Arbor Day and tree preservation, check out the following websites:
National Arbor Day Foundation – www.arborday.org
American Forests – www.americanforests.org

Until next time, keep it clean! Now get outta here and go plant a tree!