Happy Arbor Day!

Arbor Day is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past while Arbor Day proposes for the future. J. Sterling Morton

Arbor Day was started in Nebraska in 1872, when J. Sterling Morton, president of the State Agriculture Board, was successful in getting the state legislature to declare April 10th Arbor Day, a day where Nebraskans were encouraged to plant trees. It is estimated that one million trees were planted on that first Arbor Day!

Morton became passionate about planting trees after moving to Nebraska in 1854 -- a state that did not have a lot of trees! By 1885, the state made Arbor Day an official holiday to be held on April 22nd, J. Sterling Morton's birthday. Today, all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day, as do many countries around the world.

In Illinois, Arbor Day is held the last Friday in April every year, placing the holiday on April 30th this year. Illinois was the 8th state to make Arbor Day a state holiday in 1949.

The celebration has expanded from the planting of trees to include education about the need to care for trees throughout the year. The holiday has long appealed to educators who recognized the learning opportunity that the occassion provided for students of all ages.

As awareness of the impact of carbon dioxide levels on the global climate grows, the role of tree planting seems to become more vital. Why? Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Trees store carbon in their roots and their wood.

In addition to all the other wonderful things trees do for us - clean the air, increase property values, reduce stormwater runoff, provide natural beauty, give shade on a hot summer day, provide a strong branch for a child's swing, etc, etc - trees are also an important part of sequestering carbon. Sequestering carbon and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change.

So plant a tree already!!