Florida Arbor Day is Rooted in Resilience
Arbor Day celebrates the importance of trees in our ecosystem and encourages tree planting across the nation. In Florida, Arbor Day is celebrated in January because at this time of year, trees are dormant and not actively growing. This makes January a great time to plant because dormant trees experience less stress during planting. This increases the chance of healthy and successful growth for newly planted trees. Florida is the first state that celebrates Arbor Day, and this year’s Florida Arbor Day falls on January 16th. From mangroves to maples, come explore the history of the holiday and the value of trees!
History of Arbor Day
The origins of Arbor Day date back to the 1800s when pioneers began settling in Nebraska. As these Nebraskans began building their new lives, there was a general sense of longing for the trees they once had in their previous homes. One of these settlers, Julius Sterling Morton, was more passionate about trees than his neighbors. Morton understood the value of trees, and he was motivated to bring more to Nebraska. Through his passion and motivation, Morton thought it best to adopt a day dedicated to planting trees. He called it Arbor Day, as Arbor is the Latin word for trees. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10th, 1872. The day was full of tree plantings, and prizes were offered for the largest number of properly planted trees. This led to the planting of over 1 million trees in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. This success pushed the governor of Nebraska to legally adopt Arbor Day, and by 1885 it was official. In the U.S., Arbor Day is celebrated annually on the last Friday in April.
Urban Foresty Tree Planting
The Value of Trees
Trees provide vital environmental and societal health benefits to communities. They improve air quality by filtering out pollutants and trapping them with their branches. Trees also improve water quality by soaking up stormwater runoff and filtering it using their root systems. This slows the rates of runoff and helps to absorb contaminants like pesticides and fertilizers. In addition to reducing pollution, trees are also fighting climate change through carbon sequestration. The more mature a tree is, the more carbon they can absorb!
The benefits of trees extend beyond the environment as they also improve quality of life for the people who enjoy them. Trees benefit mental and physical health by reducing stress and encouraging more time spent outdoors. Research shows that having a view of trees in a hospital room can speed up a patient’s recovery time. Shade from trees can keep people cool by up to 15 degrees, which reduces urban heat island effect. In cities, the presence of trees reduces the rate of violent crime and creates quieter streets as a band of trees can absorb noise pollution on both rural and city roads. Additionally, the presence of trees on roads can cause people to slow down, making these roads safer for travelers.
How To Celebrate Florida Arbor Day
Plant a Florida native tree: Planting native trees over nonnatives maximizes the environmental benefits because they are well adapted to Florida’s climate, soil, and ecosystem. These strong adaptations make them more resilient as they require less water and fertilizer to survive. Native trees are better suited to provide habitats for other Florida wildlife, supporting biodiversity and encouraging a stronger ecosystem.
Volunteer with a local organization: Getting involved with a local environmental organization is a great way to celebrate Florida Arbor Day. This year, Keep Pinellas Beautiful is celebrating Florida Arbor Day with a tree planting as part of our Resilient Roots Initiative. This project was made possible with the support of Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and the series will focus on four Pinellas County parks: Fred Howard Park, John S. Taylor Park, Philippe Park, and Lake Seminole Park. This initiative empowers youth and residents across Pinellas County to restore local tree canopies and improve natural spaces following the 2024 hurricane season. Please visit our website to sign up for a Resilient Roots beautification event!
Go for a walk: Not everyone can plant a tree on Florida Arbor Day, but taking a walk is an easier way to celebrate the holiday. Whether it’s at a local park or around the block in your neighborhood, taking a walk is an opportunity to foster a connection with our Florida trees. You can also take your walk to the next level with tree identification, a scavenger hunt, and a picnic in the shade of your favorite tree.