As with Earth Day, one day each year is set aside to celebrate Arbor Day, and that would be today, April 29th, the last Friday in April 2011. But also just like Earth Day, every day is Earth Day and Arbor Day!
All week long, Newport RI has been celebrating the establishment of the first city-wide arboretum in New England. Newport has many magnificent trees that are as worth a tour as the so-called "cottages" along Bellevue Avenue. Still to come is a major tree planting at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, on May 7th. The RI Tree Council, National Grid, and the Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club are collaborating to plant 100 new trees at this state park.
Here are links to a couple of recent stories and articles regarding Arbor Day in case you haven't planted a tree yet this year and wonder what the fuss over trees is about:
- Froma Harrop: An urgent Arbor Day reminder to honor trees globally ~ Providence Journal, April 27, 2011
- Digging Rhode Island: Hug A Tree: Arbor Day in Rhode Island [URI Master Gardeners' Blog]
And by the way, do you know what the official Rhode Island state tree is? [Hint: The photo to the right can be found from the Arbor Day Foundation Rhode Island page.]
THINGS TO DO FOR THE TREES:
Check out the Arbor Day Foundation's website to learn all about trees in general and for suggestions for giving, planting and nurturing trees. One thing you can do is to check with your town or city hall to find out if you have a municipal forester, tree warden, and tree ordinances. The Arbor Day Foundation's RI page also lists our 11 Tree Cities/Towns. Is your town one of them? Twenty-eight towns and cities are missing!
Rhode Island Tree Council runs a twice-yearly tree steward training program. The next one begins May 3rd, and perhaps there is still room for more folks.
Providence residents can apply for free street trees through the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program. Application for fall planting is coming up in about a month.
RI Department of Environment has an entire division devoted to foresty and trees. Learn a little about where our tax dollars go to care for the forests in Rhode Island. Download and read a copy of the Forests of Rhode Island Report or the RI Forest Resources Management Plan.
Problems with trees on your property? Hire and/or consult with a certified, licensed arborist.
Happy Arbor Day!
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