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SALT LAKE CITY -- Communities across the state rolled up their sleeves and planted trees for Arbor Day.
Arbor Day started in Nebraska 137 years ago. There weren't many trees in Nebraska or in Utah before settlers arrived.
We know now how important it is to keep planting young trees. Never underestimate the value of a healthy tree in Utah's very dry climate. Elise Hughes, Kidz Kamp 5th-grader, said, "It's gonna show people that we care, that we care about the pollution in the air and that we care about what's going on in the world right now."
More than a dozen youngsters from Kidz Kamp in West Valley City planted 21 trees. These kids know that you can never have too many trees in Utah.
They planted Prairie Fire Crabapples, White Firs and Austrian Pines with federal grant money to beautify the area that had become a weedy wasteland.
West Valley Parks Forester Darin Nerdin said, "They clean the air. They beautify the landscape. They provide shade."
Another group chose Memory Grove because it's been almost 10 years since a tornado destroyed many of the trees there.
New ones are growing and to help out, community leaders, including our own Kevin Eubank, gathered to plant more trees.
"Places like Memory Grove and the open places that surround us here in Utah provide shade, aesthetics and the beauty of the trees, and a lot of fun for everyone," KSL's Kevin Eubank told the group.
Kevin joined Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, a group of elementary kids and even Smokey the Bear to promote planting trees.
At Salt Lake's Lindsey Gardens, Gov, Jon Huntsman and Gayle Miller helped plant a tree in honor of the late Larry H. Miller.
The Fremont Cottonwood tree is one of Utah's largest native trees. It also has heart-shaped leaves, which represent Miller's love for Utah. "What comes to mind about this distinctly native tree is it represents a distinctly native son," Huntsman said.
Not every state honors Arbor Day today, but most states, like Utah, celebrate it on the last Friday of April.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
