Trees have been celebrated around the world on Arbor Day for over a century. 

The first American Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10, 1872 when Nebraskans planted an estimated 1 million trees. Nebraska journalist and politician, J. Sterling Morton, planted orchards, shade trees and windbreaks on his own farm at Nebraska City. Morton was Secretary of Agriculture for President Cleveland and later served on Nebraska’s Board of Agriculture when he proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and raising awareness of the importance of trees. Nebraska made Arbor Day a legal holiday in 1885, using the date April 22 to commemorate Morton’s birthday. For more on the history of Arbor Day, visit here. The Arbor Day Foundation continues Morton’s work.

National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates throughout the year based on best tree planting times in their area. Here in Ohio this year we will celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 26^th. 

To learn about Arbor Day events in Northeast Ohio, check out the Sustainable Cleveland Arbor Day 2019 page.

When planting trees in your yard, be sure to review the Cleveland Tree Plan’s Guide for Species Selection to determine what tree species will have the highest survival rate and provide the greatest benefits.

And if you’re planting more than trees, check out resources for native plants and the LEAP Native Plant Nurseries Map. 

Some upcoming native plant sales, tree giveaways and workshops:

• The Wilderness Center on April 27^th from 9am-4pm and April 28^th from 1pm-4pm
• Nature Center at Shaker Lake's Annual Plant Sale on May 11^th from 9:30am – 1:00pm
• Cleveland Botanical Garden - free sapling giveaway on April 26th from 10am-4pm
• Cleveland Metroparks Nature Centers - free sapling giveaways on April 26th and more

Whatever you have planned for your Earth Month and Arbor Day celebrations, make sure you show some love to Cleveland’s trees.