Arbor Day - Plant One Tree or a Hundred?

Arbor Day - Plant One or A Hundred?
by Laura Thieme

Have you ever participated in Arbor Day?  I’ve not been too much a fan of this in the past, as many people plant trees but do little to care for them.  I once dated a landscaper and know the importance of watering newly planted trees.  They’ll die if you don’t.  But this year, with a stronger interest in environmental awareness, I’m trying to do more than just plant a tree this year on Arbor Day.  In fact, I’m wondering if we can plant more than 100 trees.  It only costs $3 at Arbor Day, and some water, per tree.  $300 - a valuable investment if you ask me.

If you’re unfamiliar with Arbor Day - it’s April 27, 2007 this year, or the last Friday in April.   J. Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska and noted a treeless community.  He planted trees, shrubs and flowers.  Trees were realized as windbreaks to keep soil in place, used for fuel, and as shade from the sun.   The tree planting holiday has been around since the 1800s.  It was estimated that over one million trees were planted on that first holiday in 1872. 

I’m also not much of a fan of promoting Arbor Day through the use of more paper materials, including signs, posters, and pencils of all things.   I’d propose that the number of trees we plant on Arbor Day might just offset the number of trees consumed to promote the event.  However, if we plant a larger number of trees, that are self-sustaining, and we take care of them and learn more about what type of trees are best to be self-sustaining, perhaps Arbor Day can have real meaning to some.