It's Arbor Day!

Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. It was started by a man named J. Sterling Morton and he lived here in Nebraska. The very first AD was celebrated in our state on April 10, 1872 and over 1 million trees were planted! In 1885 Arbor Day was named a legal holiday in Nebraska and April 22, Morton's birthday,was selected as the date for its permanent observance.

During the 1870s, other states passed legislation to observe Arbor day, and the tradition began in schools in 1882. Today the most common date for the state observances is the last Friday in April, and several U.S. presidents have proclaimed a National Arbor Day on that date. But a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree-planting weather, from January and February in the south to May in the far north. Arbor Day has now spread beyond the United States and is observed in many countries of the world. In some it is the king or queen who leads the national celebration, and in many countries exotic trees not suited to North America are planted in commemoration of the day. To find out when Arbor Day is observed in your state, go here.

So, go plant a tree today!