An arboresque day at the park

After all the ice and snow from days before had melted, families from the surrounding areas made their way to the Louisiana State Arboretum for the annual observance of Arbor Day on a springlike day last Saturday.
The morning celebration began with local boy scouts raising the colors and with the reading of a proclamation from Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards proclaiming January 19 as Arbor Day in Louisiana. Interpretive Ranger Eric Bush, then, gave some historical information on the day’s celebrations over the years.
“The original idea of Arbor Day came from Nebraska due to a lack of trees in the area, and this was done in the 1800s,” said Bush. “J. Sterling Martin was instrumental in this advocating for trees as a wind break and also to keep soil in because trees helped with their agricultural practices.”
“Martin proposed a tree planting holiday on January 4, 1872, called Arbor Day,” Bush continued. “He wanted to foster ideals of conservation and keeping forests plentiful and our surroundings beautiful. At a meeting of the state board of agriculture was set the original date for April 10, 1872.”
Bush then went on to describe the day was originally celebrated. “It was estimated on the original Arbor Day that one million trees in Nebraska were planted,” he said. “They had a contest for individuals and counties to see who could plant the most trees. People really went out of their way to plant as many trees as possible.”
According to Bush, Arbor Day was originally proclaimed on March 12, 1874, and became a legal holiday in Nebraska on April 22 of that same year, which was Sterling’s birthday. Other states in the country began passing legislation in observance of Arbor Day in the 1970s.
“Most common dates for state observances of Arbor Day tend to fall on the last Friday in April and range from January to May,” Bush said. “This is because of the different temperatures and different conditions to plant trees. Right now in the end of January is the time to plant trees in Louisiana, but, up in the north, May is when it’s time to plant trees. It just depends on each state.”
“It was originally tried as a national Arbor Day, but it didn’t work as well,” he continued. “The goal isn’t just to plant trees, but it’s to keep them living as well.”
After the outdoor ceremony, festivities shifted inside the J.D. “Prof” LaFleur Nature Center. Those in attendance enjoyed a slide show presentation in the multi-purpose room and enjoyed different tree related activities in the classroom. Games, crafts, hikes and tree care and planting information were also available throughout the day that concluded at 4:30 p.m. Tree seedlings were given away to families to take home and plant including Baldcypress, American Snowbell, Buttonbush, Native Sweet Pecan, Chinquapin, Crabapple, Flatwoods Plum, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Green Ash, Sassafras and Tulip Poplar.