April: The Greenest Month

Arbor Day
When: Celebrated the last Friday in April (IL and WI)

History: J. Sterling Morton and his wife moved from Michigan to the Nebraska prairies in the 1840s. They found the state barren and treeless and began planting trees on their property. Through his position of editor at a local newspaper, Morton encouraged others to plant trees. When he became Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he proposed April 10th as a tree planting holiday.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10th, 1872, with prizes awarded for the most trees properly planted (suggested by Morton). This inspired plantings of over a million trees, and changed the landscape of Nebraska.

Later, Arbor Day was declared a legal holiday in Nebraska, and the date was changed to April 22nd in honor of J. Sterling Morton's birthday.

Today: The official Arbor Day is celebrated worldwide, usually on the last Friday of April, but dates vary for states with different growing seasons.

How to Celebrate:
Illinois

• Morton Arboretum- April 25–Free admission for all visitors this day only, April 25–27—special activities including tree planting, annual Plant Sale, and hands-on tree-discovery activities.
  

Wisconsin

• Aldo Leopold Nature Center- April 16th, 2008 1-4pm (Registration Required)
• Whitnall park, Boerner Botanical Gardens April 19-20
  

Earth Day

When: Celebrated every year on April 22nd

History: Earth Day was inspired by Arbor Day. Activities in 1970 were expanded from planting trees to educating the public on the importance of protecting the environment as a whole. Earth Day on April 22, 1970 was celebrated mostly by students, but it gave a boost to the environmental movement. Earth Day was observed again in 1990 at Earthfest in Washington D.C. People of all ages gathered for environmental themed music, information and inspiration.

Today: Earth Day is not a federal holiday, but is celebrated every year by many Americans who recognize the need to protect the environment.

How to Celebrate:
Chicago Botanic Garden- April 26: Earth Day Walk in McDonald Woods
Prairieview Education Center, McHenry County Conservation District, With McHenry County Defenders- April 19

Other Green April Celebrations

• National Garden Month
• Keep America Beautiful Month
• International Plant Appreciation Day- April 13
• National Landscape Architecture Month (ASLA)
• Frederick Law Olmsted's Birthday - April 26