Keep Covington Beautiful will celebrate Louisiana Arbor Day with the annual tree give-away at the Covington Farmers Market on Saturday, January 17, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. until noon, or until the tree seedlings are all given away. A variety of native bare-root seedlings will be available – Buttonbush, Mayhaw, Chickasaw Plum, Bald Cypress, Longleaf Pine and White Oak. Volunteers are needed to help wrap the seedlings and hand them out, contact kcb@covla.com for more information.
The idea for Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in the 1800’s. As pioneers moved there, trees were needed as windbreaks, for fuel and building materials, as well as for shade. J. Sterling Morton, journalist & newspaper editor, proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the state Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872.
Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for properly planting the largest number of trees on that day. It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day! Morton was proud of the success and noted, “Other holidays repose upon the past. Arbor Day proposes for the future.”
Although national Arbor Day is currently observed on the last Friday in April, many states observe the day in correlation with the best tree-planting weather. In Louisiana, Arbor Day is the third Friday in January.
The Arbor Day Proclamation by Mayor Cooper reminds us of the many reasons to plant trees and to protect our woodlands: Reduce topsoil erosion; Cut heating and cooling costs; Moderate temperature; Clean the air & produce oxygen; Provide habitat for wildlife; Renewable resource for many wood products; Increase property values; Enhance the economic vitality of business areas; Beautify the community.
If you have a favorite tree in your yard or anywhere in the Covington, please share it with Keep Covington Beautiful. Send us a photo with the location of the tree and a short explanation of why you like it. The photos will be used as part of our current Urban & Community Forestry grant to document what trees add to our local environment. Join Keep Covington Beautiful in the celebration of the natural beauty that surrounds us, which we too often take for granted. visit www.keepcovingtonbeautiful.org or contact KCB at 985-867-3652 or kcb@covla.com.
