By Mark Martin

Salisbury ISA Arborist

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 in Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton. If that name sounds familiar, his son founded the Morton Salt Co.  J. Sterling Morton was a journalist and avid horticulturist. Morton promoted trees and plants in the newspaper and owned a 260 acre farm.

It is estimated that during the first Arbor Day celebration 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska. Soon after, Nebraska declared Arbor Day a legal state holiday.

Morton’s farm was acquired by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1972. The Lied Lodge, a large conference center, was added in 1993. There are many titles for this farm, including National Historic Landmark, State Historical Park, conference center, tree adventure theme park, living laboratory of environmental stewardship and conservation.

The National Arbor Day foundation sponsors the Tree City USA program with cooperation of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. The city of Salisbury is a 32-year Tree City USA this year. There are four requirements for Tree City USA: Establish a Tree Board or Department; establish a tree ordinance; spend $2 per capita toward tree maintenance; and hold an annual Arbor Day observance.

Arbor Day in North Carolina was March 16. Salisbury will hold its Arbor Day observance on Sunday, April 8, at the Hurley Park Spring Celebration. National Arbor Day is Friday, April 27. So there is plenty of time to plant trees.

In the words of J. Sterling Morton, “Each generation takes the earth as trustees. We ought to bequeath to prosperity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted and consumed.”