Arbor Day creed: Plant it for planet
ARBORETUM | Today, vital message of Arbor Day is celebrated all around the world
Happy Arbor Day, perhaps the greenest day of the year. Arbor Day is the nation's oldest environmental holiday and one that's getting more attention as society focuses on going green. It's a popular means of reaching large numbers of people with the holiday's important message: Plant Trees. Arbor Day is now celebrated in all 50 states and countries throughout the world.
Whoever said it's not easy to be green needs to take advantage of the exciting tree options out there. Spring is a great time to plant trees, but many people focus on planting annuals and perennials instead, because they want flowers. At the Arboretum, some visitors are surprised to learn that trees flower as well, and some of those flowers are particularly showy and exquisite.
Some of the newer trees on the market whose flowers will delight eyes and noses include the China Snow Peking lilac. (Syringa pekinensis 'Morton'). This tree produces beautiful and fragrant white flowers in mid- to late-June. And there is even more to enjoy. The tree sports a graceful, upright-rounded shape, with cinnamon-colored bark that features interesting patterns.
Like your flowers to bloom in summer? How about the golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)? This tree produces bright yellow flowers in -- get this -- July! Then you will see green pods. This is a drought-tolerant tree that does well in average soil in full sun to part shade.
If yellow is your favorite color, you'll love this one. Yellow Bird magnolia (Magnolia x 'Yellow Bird') boasts the very deepest-color yellow flowers among all magnolias. Yellow Bird features a pyramidal shape and dark green leaves.
The future is bright for new trees. In about two years, retailers expect to offer a tree that's particularly attractive for three reasons: it grows rapidly for the first 5-7 years before slowing down, which means an impatient gardener would probably love this tree. Its mottled bark is attractive, and its winter hardiness makes it "Chicago tough," according to Dr. George Ware, The Morton Arboretum tree expert who bred this London Planetree named 'Encore,' (Platanus x acerifolia 'Morton Thornhill').
The tree also puts up with difficult urban conditions - such as compacted soil, air pollution, poor drainage, and drought. Encore performs well in almost any situation be it an open area, a homeowner's backyard, or along the street. If all this weren't enough, Encore is strongly resistant to anthracnose, a common fungal disease that destroys spring foliage on sycamores.
No matter what tree you buy, trees are valuable in so many ways.
Besides their obvious practical values-medicines, furniture, fruit-trees clean our air, hold soil in place, and provide shade and cooling. Trees increase property values, and cut your home's heating and cooling costs. Studies have shown that they even increase shopping in commercial districts. Can you think of any human-made product that can do so much and still provide a branch to climb or swing from?
Beyond these benefits are all the emotional rewards. People get attached to trees, and their memories of what happened with them. Trees are planted when children are born, and both are measured as they grow. People get married under trees, hold ceremonies under trees, read and play under trees, and decorate trees at holiday times. Tree planting brings people together, and builds community.
Make Arbor Day your day to plant a tree. It's a fun activity that the whole family can do together. Go to www.mortonarb.org, choose Plant Trees, and click on Selection and Care for information on the factors to consider when choosing a tree.
Gail Goldberger writes for the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
