ARBOR DAY

Today is Arbor Day, a celebration that originated in 1872 in Nebraska City, Nebraska.  The holiday went global in 1883 and is now observed in at least 34 countries on different dates, depending upon suitable times for planting.

     Here's some data from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, which is underwriting the planting of 50 million trees in 50 years:

• one million trees can generate up $162 million dollars in environmental benefits over 50 years
• one million trees can absorb one million tons of CO2 during their lifetime
• one million trees can help restore habitats of hundreds of species of animals, many of which are endangered or threatened
• one million trees can provide oxygen for over 4 million people in one day

     Timberland has a Virtual Forest on Facebook:  plant a virtual tree and the corporation will plant a real tree (up to one million trees) in kind in Haiti.

     You don't have to be a corporation; there are a lot of ways to celebrate today.  If you happen to stop the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. today, you can celebrate Arbor Day by taking part in a Save the Frogs Day rally.  You could plant a tree yourself.  You could watch a child climb a tree and dangle from its limbs.  Or, you can just sit back and admire the majesty and variety of these magnificent creations. 

     (Speaking of majesty, you could always celebrate the day by getting married in Wetsminster Abbey.  But then again, I couldn't find England listed as one of countries that celebrate Arbor Day or Plant a Tree Day.)

      To close this post, here's John Denver, who explains it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wT4xP6stCE&NR=1