EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

from the Middlesboro Daily News:

Photo: Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock recently signed an Arbor Day Proclamation which urges all citizens to participate in the observance of Arbor Day by planting trees to beautify our Commonwealth and to focus attention on our great natural resource — our forests. Pictured with Judge Brock is District Forester Jared Calvert (left) and Bell County Forest Ranger Lem Johnson (right). (Photo submitted)

Celebrate Arbor Day 2008

By Jared Calvert/District Forester

Published:Monday, March 31, 2008 10:28 AM CDT

PINEVILLE — Arbor Day in Kentucky is traditionally celebrated on the first Friday in April. This year, Kentucky will observe Arbor Day on Friday, April the 4th. Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1874.

J. Sterling Morton first came to Nebraska as the editor for Nebraska’s first newspaper and noticed that the state was void of trees. As a naturalist, he emphasized that trees were needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun. After widespread awareness of the need for trees to be planted was spread other States made Arbor Day a legal holiday during the 1870’s, and Arbor Day has been celebrated every year since its enactment.

Currently, the Kentucky Division of Forestry works with landowners, schools, and conservation districts within individual counties to keep the tradition of Arbor Day alive.

The Division of Forestry promotes Arbor Day through the donation of trees to schools and local conservation districts. In addition, the division works with local county judge executives and elected officials to promote the observance of Arbor Day in their county. The division also offers assistance to private landowners to help them decide what the proper trees will be to plant on their property and to elect an appropriate area to plant the trees.

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Upon request, private landowners who wish to plant large amounts of trees over large acreage can use the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s mechanical tree planters that can help speed up the process of planting trees on their land if the conditions are right. In addition, the division offers high quality seedlings for sale at low prices to private landowners.

This spring the Kentucky Division of Forestry has high quality hardwoods and conifer seedlings available. The following species are currently available and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis: Shortleaf pine, Virginia pine, silky dogwood, persimmon, black locust, mixed hickory, black oak, bur oak, cherrybark oak, northern red oak, overcup oak, pin oak, shumard oak, southern red oak, swamp chestnut oak, white oak, pecan, and black walnut. Most tree species are $15 per 10 trees or $25 per 100 trees. This price includes tax and shipping.

The Kentucky Division of Forestry urges you to play your part this year in planting trees in observance of Arbor Day. For more information about the state nurseries or to obtain an order form, visit the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s website at www.forestry.ky.gov or contact your local Kentucky Division of Forestry office in Pineville at (606)337-3011.

Jared Calvert is the Southeastern District Forester for the Kentucky Division of Forestry. Contact him via e-mail at jared.calvert@ky.gov.