Florida Arbor Day

We LOVE trees and we know lots of you do as well.  Trees are crucial to the survival of our planet.  They remove CO2 and pollutants therefore reducing the “heat island effect”.  They also preserve soil by decreasing storm water run-off, and provide shade and shelter for many animals.  

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The first Arbor Day took place in Nebraska on April 10, 1872.  J. Sterling Morton was secretary of the Nebraska Territory and a huge advocate for trees.  He proposed a tree holiday to encourage citizens and civic groups to plant them.  Prizes were awarded to individuals and counties for properly planting the most trees.  Over 1 million trees were planted on that first Arbor Day in Nebraska. Robert W. Furnas was the Nebraska Governor that officially proclaimed Arbor Day on April 10, 1874.  Arbor Day became a legal Nebraska state holiday in 1885, when it was decided that it would…