Idaho Arbor Day
The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, thanks to a resolution proposed by Nebraska City, Nebraska resident J. Sterling Morton. Morton, a civic leader, agriculturist, and former newspaper editor, urged Nebraskans to “set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit.” The tree-planting holiday was so popular that by 1920 more than 45 states and U.S. territories annually celebrated Arbor Day. Today it is observed in all 50 states and in many countries around the world.
In Idaho, Arbor Day takes place on the last Friday of April – this year, April 27 (this is also National Arbor Day). This is a perfect time to remind your viewers of the benefits of trees:
-
Trees clean our air by absorbing common air pollutants.
-
Trees improve water quality by reducing rain water runoff and erosion.
-
Trees provide shade that protects us from the sun’s UV rays.
-
Trees provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife.
-
Tree rings provide information about historical climate that is not available from scientific records.
Viewer Tip: Encourage your viewers to get planting! Idaho’s state tree is the Western White Pine, which was the most abundant tree in the state until in 1910, when a disease almost wiped out the population. Current restoration projects are in the works, and scientists have developed a western white pine that is resistant to the deadly disease, blister rust. Learn about other tree species and get practical advice on which trees to plant in Idaho’s temperature zone by checking out the Arbor Day Foundation’s Hardiness Zone Map at arborday.org.
Season: Spring
(Source: This information is provided through a partnership with The National Arbor Day Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation at arborday.org.)
