I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair,;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

- - Joyce Kilmer - -

Trees are probably the most important and useful plants on earth. They provide us with oxygen we need to breathe, food for both animals and people, wood that we depend on for our houses, furniture, and paper products...not to mention some shade on a hot summer day.

Arbor means "tree" in Latin. Arbor Day is a day that has been set aside for planting and caring for trees. The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. It was started by J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska newspaper publisher who encouraged Nebraskans to plant trees to beautify and enrich the almost treeless state. He offered prizes for the most trees planted...over a million trees were planted on that first Arbor Day.

After Arbor Day was made a legal holiday in Nebraska in 1885, the idea spread to other states. Now, with activities that range from the planting of a single tree to the beautification of public grounds, we are learning the importance of forestry and reforestation.

Today, all fifty states and many Canadian provinces celebrate this holiday every spring. The date of Arbor Day varies from state-to-state due to climate. The most common common date is the last Friday in April.

Click here for the dates of Arbor Day (listed by state).