¡¡¡¡morton(photo,right)feltthatnebraska¡®slandscapeandeconomywouldbenefitfromthewide-scaleplantingoftrees.hesetanexamplehimselfplantingorchards,shadetreesandwindbreaksonhisownfarmandheurgedhisneighbourstofollowsuit.morton¡®srealopportunity,though,arrivedwhenhebecameamemberofnebraska¡®sstateboardofagriculture.heproposedthataspecialdaybesetasidededicatedtotreeplantingandincreasingawarenessoftheimportanceoftrees.nebraska¡®sfirstarbordaywasanamazingsuccess.morethanonemilliontreeswereplanted.asecondarbordaytookplacein1884andtheyoungstatemadeitanannuallegalholidayin1885,usingapril22ndtocoincidewithmorton¡®sbirthday.
¡¡¡¡intheyearsfollowingthatfirstarborday,morton¡®sideaspreadbeyondnebraskawithkansas,tennessee,minnesotaandohioallproclaimingtheirownarbordays.todayall50statescelebratearbordayalthoughthedatesmayvaryinkeepingwiththelocalclimate.(statearbordays)atthefederallevel,in1970,presidentrichardnixonproclaimedthelastfridayinaprilasnationalarborday.arbordayisalsonowcelebratedinothercountriesincludingaustralia.variationsarecelebratedas¡®greeningweek¡®ofjapan,¡®thenewyear¡®sdaysoftrees¡®inisrael,¡®thetree-lovingweek¡®ofkorea,¡®thereforestationweek¡®ofyugoslavia,¡®thestudents¡®afforestationday¡®oficelandand¡®thenationalfestivaloftreeplanting¡®inindia.juliussterlingmoortonwouldbeproud.sometimesonegoodideacanmakearealdifference.
¡¡¡¡forthehomeowner,arbordayisanexcellentopportunitytotakestockofthetreesonyourpropertyandplanforthefuture.inspectyourtrees.noteanybrokenbranchesorevidenceofdiseaseorinsectinfestation.thinkabouthowplantingnewtreesmightimprovethelookofyourpropertyorprovidewindorheatprotection.takeatriptoyourlocalnurserytoseewhat¡®savailableandtogetnewideas.walkaroundyourneighbourhood.arethereanypublicareaswheretreeplantingortreemaintenancemightmakearealdifferencetoyourcommunity?talkwithyourneighbours.findoutwhattheiropinionsare.