Arbor Day is April 20th for Colorado. Throughout April other states will have their own day for Arbor Day. The day may be insignificant to most people, banks don’t close and the post office will stay open, it will come and go as just another ordinary day. Arbor Day, though, is one of the most significant days of the year.
Arbor Day is all about giving back to nature and insuring the survival of plant species and creatures that survive on those species. Trees provide homes for birds, shelter from heat, and protection from wind. Without trees the land would be bare and the winds would blow dust storms and erode soils. We need trees as much as they need us. They provide fruits and nuts for birds, animals, and us. Bugs need trees to. They are their home and nutrition source. Without bugs we wouldn’t have butterflies and ladybugs. And naturally birds and certain animals eat the bugs. Think of the bats. They are flying mammals that eat bugs. The more trees and plants there are the cleaner the air and they help in the fight against global warming. Trees are our biggest allies.
Do your part on Arbor Day and encourage seedling growth. If you don’t have a tree to plant then take care of a seedling that has come up on its own. I’m sure that in your yard there have been seedlings at one time or another that have managed to sprout from a seed perhaps brought in by a bird, squirrel or the wind. Instead of pulling it up and discarding it: do all you can to support its growth by watering it and feeding it plant food if the seedling is in a part of the yard that you don’t mind it growing. Otherwise carefully dig under and around the roots so that you can remove it from the ground for transplantation to an area where it is free to grow.
Think in terms of growing a rainforest. Most everyone knows the peril of the rainforest, but what a lot of people don’t know is that some of the trees and plants growing in the rainforest can be grown in their area. If the rainforest can’t be saved then we need to grow a rainforest in America so that maybe the species that thrive in the rainforest can be saved. We can all do our part by growing as many of those rainforest trees and plants in our own backyard.
Trees and plants beautify yards, but they’ve also been used as fence lines between neighbors instead of the traditional wooden or metal fences. The live fence line is better for the environment and much more attractive to look at, but it may not be as effective at keeping people, cats or dogs out of the yard. On Arbor Day, plant cactus barriers to take care of this problem. Or if you already have a wooden or metal fence in place, but it’s not doing any good at keeping people, cats or dogs from trespassing in your yard cactus or cacti barriers could be the answer. Cacti are really quite beautiful. There are flowering cacti and tall or short cacti. And Cactus doesn’t need much water. Buy a variety of cactus or one kind of cactus if you have a favorite and plant them next to your fence all the way around or just where the problem area is. Any animal or person who jumps over the fence will have to miss the cacti or get splintered by them. A reminder for those who want cactus as a protection along their fence lines, some cacti don’t have thorns.
Keep a plant room in your house. If you can spare a room fill it with different kinds of plants. It can be relaxing to see, clean your air, and give you more oxygen to breathe. You don’t have to have a plant room, but give a plant a home. Just as animals in the shelters need a home, plants need one to. They’ll listen when you talk to them and they can keep a secret. If you show a plant love it will respond by perking up wilted leaves, of course you may need to give it water if its wilted, but it will appear healthier if you show it compassion and love. In the end you’ll be happier and healthier to.
