"Each generation takes the earth as trustees." - J. Sterling Morton
Arbor Day (from the Latin word, arbor, meaning tree) is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees.
It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1872 with Journalist, Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), also the editor of Nebraska's newspaper. He previously served at the Governor of Nebraska territory (1858-61) and later served as the US Secretary of Agriculture, (1893-97).
His political connections probably helped him with his campaign for tree appreciation which started firts with news articles and then later with a holiday to plant trees with prizes for the individuals and counties that planted the most trees. And it was a hit! The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.
By 1885, it became a legal holiday in Nebraska and moved to April 22nd which was Morton's birthday (also later became Earth Day).
During the 1870s, other states started adding Arbor Days too. By the 1920s, each state in the United States had passed public laws that stipulated a certain day to be Arbor Day or Arbor and Bird Day observance, from January (in the south) to May (in the north) depending on the state's climate zone.
To find your state's arbor day:
http://www.arborday.org/arborday/arborDayDates.cfm
International dates:
http://www.arborday.org/arborday/arborDayDatesInternational.cfm
“If you want to be happy for a year, plant a garden;
If you want to be happy for life, plant a tree.”
- English Proverb
(Sources: Wikipedia; photo credit: Photo credits: tree for the future, townofdurhamct.org; tree, netglimse.com; Morton photo, nndb.com; Historic Washington Magnolia, Arkansas, 1997; street trees, self absorbed boomer.blogspot.com; tree planting, pubarticles.com; Greenery Day, Himeji castle, bugbog.com; how to plant a tree, texastreeplanting.tamu.edu)
