“Each generation takes the earth as trustees.”–J. Sterling Morton
J. Sterling Morton moved into the Nebraska Territory in 1854, like most pioneers, he found the prairie stark and harsh–and treeless. Morton edited a newspaper where he encouraged tree planting and as he rose in political ranks, he declared a tree planting holiday, the first Arbor Day in 1872. Estimates suggest more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day (Arborday.org). Morton’s tradition caught on and branched out–in 1882 Arbor Day was celebrated in schools across America.
Today the last Friday in April is the most common date to celebrate Arbor Day. Whether you’re celebrating today by planting a tree, nurturing a tree, gifting a tree or hugging a tree, the Eco Women wish you a Happy Arbor Day!
Trees
by Joyce Kilmer 1886-1918
| I THINK that I shall never see | |
| A poem lovely as a tree. | |
| A tree whose hungry mouth is prest | |
| Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast; | |
| A tree that looks at God all day, | 5 |
| And lifts her leafy arms to pray; | |
| A tree that may in summer wear | |
| A nest of robins in her hair; | |
| Upon whose bosom snow has lain; | |
| Who intimately lives with rain. | 10 |
| Poems are made by fools like me, | |
| But only God can make a tree. |
Happy Arbor Day to everyone!
I am currently on a quest to plant native redbuds and dogwoods in a part of my yard that I’d like to turn into a mini shade garden, complete with a huge swath of Virginia Bluebells in the spring.
Arbor Day is different in the Nation’s Capital.
Quick: what’s the official tree of DC?
WRONG!
See
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/arbor-day-in-dc/
Plant a tree. Support local beavers.
Happy Arbor Day! We have planted a tree every year but this one, and now have flowering crepe myrtles lining our drive, and fruitable fig trees that I use for jam! I’m in the market for a copper beach but don’t know it will grow in NC.