Across the continent, tree planters are sharpening their shovels in preparation for Arbor Day celebrations that will take place during the month of April. While the last Friday in April is recognized by the federal government as National Arbor Day, individual communities and states have the latitude to declare their own Arbor Days, with the dates varying to accommodate local climates and planting conditions. All 50 states celebrate Arbor Day. Here in Oregon, we go for the whole enchilada and declare the first week of April to be Arbor Week.  Maybe it’s a case of “so many trees, so little time.”

Oregon’s celebration kicks off on Sunday, April 3, with guided tree walks in more than 20 communities across the state. Tree plantings too numerous to list here take place throughout the week. Members of the Oregon Association of Nurseries will be packaging hundreds of tree seedlings and sending them along with study guides to elementary schools in Oregon. OAN volunteers will present each member of Oregon’s Legislature with a Red Sunset® Maple tree. A list of Oregon Arbor Week activities is found here.

A guide to Arbor Day celebrations state-by-state is posted on the National Arbor Day Foundation  website. Suggestions for organizing and celebrating Arbor Day celebrations are found there as well.