Sarasota County Tree Plantings Will Celebrate Arbor Day

Sarasota County is recognizing Arbor Day with two tree-planting ceremonies on Friday, April 29. Ceremonies will be held at two Sarasota locations: 9 a.m. at Colonial Oaks Park, 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd, and 10 a.m. at Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road. The events also will feature informational booths, seedling giveaways, children's activities and nature walks.

"Planting trees is an opportunity for communities to reach across barriers of income, geography, culture and politics to work for the common good," said Sarasota County Commission Vice-Chair Carolyn Mason. "Trees benefit everyone!"

The first statewide Arbor Day was created by Nebraska's J. Sterling Morton in 1872, when the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture proposed that a day be set aside annually for tree planting. The first Arbor Day was a huge success after 1 million trees were planted in a single day. By 1920, more than 45 states were celebrating Arbor Day. Today, many states continue to annually celebrate the day on the last Friday of April. Adding trees to lands also provide shade, clean air, lower energy costs, higher property values and beauty.

For more information about planting trees, visit local nurseries or go online: the Sarasota County Extension Office at http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/ and the Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry at http://www.fl-dof.com/

For more information on local Arbor Day celebrations, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000.