the first arbor day took place on april 10, 1872 in nebraska. it was the brainchild of julius sterling morton (1832-1902), a nebraska journalist and politician originally from michigan. throughout his long and productive career, morton worked to improve agricultural techniques in his adopted state and throughout the united states when he served as president grover cleveland's secretary of agriculture. but his most important legacy is arbor day.

morton (photo, right) felt that nebraska's landscape and economy would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees. he set an example himself planting orchards, shade trees and wind breaks on his own farm and he urged his neighbours to follo*munity? talk with your neighbours. find out what their opinions are. and, oh yes, plant a tree.