ARBOR DAY IN FLORIDA
Arbor Day is coming up for Floridians!
Trees, trees, trees, I love trees! It just so happens that I was drawing up a tree plan when I realized Arbor Day was coming up soon. I had never really researched this holiday and how it started so I googled it and came up with this wonderful information I want to share.
It has been over 135 years since Julius Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day in 1872.
President Cleveland appointed Morton Secretary of Agriculture in 1893. He taught modern farming and forestry techniques and was credited with helping that department’s service to farmers and setting up national forest reservations.
Arbor Day is a special day set aside for planting trees. The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization whose mission statement is “Inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees”. The foundation also has an ongoing campaign with the U.S Forest Service where for every dollar donated they will plant a tree to replant our national forests.
The national Arbor Day is observed the last Friday in April but individual states observe their own Arbor Day according to their best planting season. Florida celebrates on January 15th. Check to see when your state celebrates this holiday.
With a $10 membership you receive 10 bare root trees that are specific to your area. That’s a great deal! Their website offers a wealth of information to anyone wanting to learn about adding trees to their gardens and much needed tree plantings elsewhere.
The Arbor Day Foundation site also provides a homeowners “Backyard Woods” link. There you’ll find information that helps you come up with a master plan, planting and pruning guide for a homeowner with 1-10 acres. It asks such questions as “why am I planting trees and what do I hope to accomplish?” This will keep you from haphazardly sticking trees in the ground. There’s also a guide for tree identification and so much more.
Last years members planted 8 million trees. Can you imagine the impact that has made!
Go to the website www.arborday.org and get your membership and your trees. Help be a part of global healing! Help provide a habitat, shelter and food for wildlife whether in your own back yard, the national parks or around the globe. Arbor Day is observed all over the world.
I can’t wait to plant my trees!
