Arbor Day

National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. Across the United States local Arbor days are held on dates best for tree planting. In some southern states, Arbor Day is held in January and February and in the northern U. S. as late as May. Arbor Day is celebrated in many countries around the world.

J. Sterling Morton is credited with being the founder of Arbor Day. Morton and his wife moved from Detroit in 1854 to the Nebraska territory. Morton started Nebraska’s first newspaper spreading the word about his love for trees.

In early 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree planting day to be called “Arbor Day” to the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. The Board approved the first Arbor Day for April 10, 1872.

Click on the links to learn more about trees:

Primary Grades: The Secret Life of Trees

Upper Grades: Dr. Arbor Talks Trees