Health & Fitness
Tree Talk: Happy Arbor Day!
Did you ever wonder about the history of Arbor Day? Ken Almstead gives the background of this unique holiday. It's a great time to plant a tree!
How great is it that trees have their own holiday? Arbor Day was established to promote tree planting and recognize the economic importance of trees as well as their beauty. I thought today would be a good opportunity to share the history of Arbor Day.
In the mid-1800s, J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska editor originally from Chicago, started a campaign for planting trees. Along with many other recent settlers to the prairies, he was dismayed by the absence of trees. He wanted to plant trees for shade, for fuel and as windbreaks to prevent erosion. He used his newspaper to create awareness of the economic and aesthetic importance of trees, and encouraged citizen groups to embrace tree planting. As Morton grew in political prominence in the Nebraska Territory, his audience broadened and the momentum for tree planting grew.
In 1872, as the secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he created a tree-planting holiday: Arbor Day. Contests were held and prizes were offered to communities that planted the most trees. It is estimated that over 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska that day. Within two years it was an official holiday in Nebraska. J. Sterling Morton became Secretary of Agriculture and within a decade Arbor Day became a national holiday. Eventually, over 30 other countries followed by establishing their own holiday for trees.
The date of Arbor Day varies by state, following the spring thaw cycle. The last Friday in April is Arbor Day in New York.
Find out what's happening in New Rochellefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
There are many Arbor Day celebrations in our area this weekend. Many arborists from my company, Almstead Tree, Shrub and Lawn Care, will be participating. We’re planting trees, teaching how to plant and prune, and raising awareness about trees with some help from the Treetures. In addition to New Rochelle, we’ll be in Lewisboro, Chappaqua, Eastchester and several places in Connecticut and New Jersey.
I encourage you all to join in some of the local celebrations. And of course, you can follow the advice of J. Sterling Morton, and plant a tree or two.
