The tradition of planting trees on Arbor Day dates back to 1872 in Nebraska. Julius Sterling Morton, vice-president of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, proposed that a day be set aside in his state for planting trees. The Nebraska Board approved his proposal, and newspapers began promoting the event.
On that first Arbor Day, April 10, 1872, it is said that over one million trees were planted in Nebraska. The idea of having a special day to plant trees quickly caught on with other states; and within twenty years, all states were celebrating Arbor Day on the last Friday in April.
In 1907, at an Arbor Day celebration, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt stated that a people without children would face a hopeless future, and a country without trees would be almost as hopeless.
Arbor Day tree plantings honor the future by planting young trees for future generations to enjoy.
AFGC garden clubs are honored to participate in Arbor Day tree plantings. Some clubs purchase trees, while others help plant trees. Scottsdale Garden Club, Yuma Orchid and African Violet Society, and Pecan Grove Garden Club were among those participating in their town’s tree plantings.
Pecan Grove Garden Club, Yuma Orchid and African Violet Society, students from G.W. Carver School, and other community members planted twenty trees at Carver Park. Scottsdale Garden Club helped plant trees at Cactus Park. It was a busy morning as holes were dug and trees planted by club members.
Once these newly planted trees are mature, they will provide habitat for wildlife and a shady spot for families to enjoy nature and the great outdoors.
If your garden club participated in Arbor Day, please write a blog and email it and a photo to azgardenblog@gmail.com. It will be posted on the AFGC Blog site.
By Karen Bowen
Karen is a member of Yuma Orchid and African Violet Society and Pacific Region butterfly chairman.
Photo 1 Susan Salembier
Scottsdale Garden Club members, along with Mayor Ortega, help plant a tree at Cactus Park for Arbor Day.
Photo 2 Karen Bowen
Students from G.W. Carver School, members of Pecan Grove Garden Club and Yuma Orchid and African Violet Society, along with other community organizations, helped plant twenty trees at Carver Park for Arbor Day.
