We give thanks to J. Sterling Morton for proposing a tree-planting holiday back in 1869! In 1872, the State Board of Agriculture accepted his resolution to set aside one day to plant trees. Contests were conducted for the counties and individuals who properly planted the most trees. It was estimated that more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska that first official Arbor Day! Click here to read more about the History of Arbor Day!

This year, National Arbor Day is celebrated on Friday, April 29. 

Fast forward a century to 1969, and t he idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin), founder of Earth Day. Senator Nelson, was determined to convince the federal government that the planet was at risk.  According to Nelson, he envisioned a large-scale, grassroots environmental demonstration "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda."  Click here to learn more about the history of Earth Day. Earth Day is celebrated on Friday, April 22, ironically, the actual birthday of J. Sterling Morton.

To go along with that, here is a diagram of how a tree grows and transitions in the nursery industry before you purchase it. We hope you enjoy this interesting fifteen year tree journey.

One of my favorite quotes is "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." -Chinese Proverb