Celebrating the earth

After a dreary start to spring, the trees and shrubs are bursting forth with their buds. As nature comes alive with all the grandeur of the season, Arbor Day beckons on Friday: a reminder of the importance of trees. “Earth Month” culminates with activities that bring out the best of our natural world, for everyone to share.
It has been over 135 years since J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day. His simple idea of setting aside a special day for tree planting is now more important than ever. The National Arbor Day Foundation estimates that 18 million trees are planted each year on Arbor Day. Even if you are not planting at tree, this weekend is a great time to be outdoors and celebrate our environment.

Planting Fields Arboretum’s Arbor Day Festival
Oyster Bay’s Planting Fields Arboretum celebrates the preservation of trees and their importance to the environment at its annual festival, Saturday and Sunday. The more than 4,000 trees in the state park provide a fitting backdrop to the many exhibits and presentations, April 30-May 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
There’s something for everyone at this family festival: Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center presents a hands-on wildlife exhibit, circus shows on Camellia Lawn, entertainment by Peat Moss & The Fertilizers, a family concert and storytelling with Strummin’ and Drummin’ and Flumpa and Friends, children’s nature crafts, a tree planting ceremony with Smokey Bear, visits from animal rescue organizations, and more. Highlights include supervised tree climbing for the kids, tree-planting demonstrations and seedling give-aways, along with a plant sale, and mechanical bull rides.