The Fabric of Real Life: DOWN TO EARTH: Celebrating Arbor Day

DOWN TO EARTH is going to be a regular feature on this blog. As you may already know, Mother Nature is a constant inspiration for me. So I'm glad to introduce ARBOR DAY as my first DOWN TO EARTH post.

Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to Take Action by planting and caring for trees.

It originated in Nebraska City, NE by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 and an estimated one million trees were planted that day!! Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, depending on climate and suitable planting season. In Michigan, we celebrate Arbor Day the last Friday in April.

Below are a list of a few activities you or a Group can do to join in celebrating such a wonderful holiday. Its is a SIMPLE ACT that makes a difference.

Enjoy the outdoors. Visit a local park or take a nature hike.
Attend a class on tree and plant care.
Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization. You’ll meet new people and make a difference in your community.
Raise the flag & strike up the band, make Arbor Day fun. Make it memorable.
Organize a beautification project in a public area.
Get people into action~ Ask a civic or service group to promote a recycling program and save a tree.
Celebrate Arbor Day in a personal way by planting a tree yourself. It is an act of optimism and kindness, a labor of love and a commitment to stewardship.
Read a book about trees. Learn to identify trees in your yard and neighborhood
Hold a poster, poetry or tree trivia contest. Give away trees to winners.
Tell people to take a hike— a tree identification hike — and have girl scouts or boy scouts act as guides.
Dedicate a forest, a tree or a flower bed in a park, and make it an occasion to talk about stewardship. Get a local nursery or garden center to hold an open house or field day. Organize an Arbor Day Fair.