Guest Author - Beth Green

The tree-planting holiday of Arbor Day has its roots in the Midwest. The idea for a day dedicated to trees and tree planting began in Nebraska in 1872.

In 1854, journalist J. Sterling Morton and his wife moved to the Nebraska Territory. They loved trees and nature, and the plains of Nebraska were virtually treeless. They soon filled their land with trees, shrubs and other plants to provide wind breaks and shade on their property, and they encouraged their neighbors to do so as well.

Morton became editor of Nebraska’s first newspaper and often used the paper to make state-wide pleas on the necessity and importance of planting trees.

In January of 1872, Morton became a member of the state board of Agriculture in Nebraska. In that forum, he proposed that a date be set aside annually for tree planting in the state. The first Arbor Day date was set for April 10 of the same year, and prizes were offered to people and organizations who planted the most trees on that day.

The next Arbor Day wasn’t held until 1884.

Arbor Day was proclaimed a legal holiday in Nebraska in 1885, and the date of April 22 was chosen, as that was the birthday of J. Sterling Morton. Soon after, the Midwest states of Kansas and Tennessee, as well as several other states, started proclaiming their own Arbor Days. Soon, all 50 states were celebrating Arbor Day. Many countries also celebrate Arbor Day or a variation of it.

In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed that the last Friday in April was to be observed as National Arbor Day. At the state level, the dates may vary to correspond with the best tree-planting weather in their regions.

Tennessee observes Arbor Day on the first Friday in March; for Kentucky and Missouri, the state day is the first Friday in April; and Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas coincide with the national day on the last Friday in April.

Arbor Day is a great time for homeowners to take stock of their landscaping. Check your trees for disease, and remove any trees that are damaged. Buy new trees and plants them with your children. It’s a great time for them to learn about nature and the importance of trees, and it's a great time for you to start going green.