News
Editorial: Being friends to us
Scott Wagar
05/08/2012
Over the weekend, the North Dakota Forest Service celebrated Arbor Day in one of the nicest locations in North Dakota to celebrate trees – the International Peace Garden.
When it comes to trees and plants, the Peace Garden has its own little niche in the state, which symbolizes their love for foliage in the most beautiful and graceful manner.
On Saturday, the Forest Service started off their Arbor Day celebration in the Interpretive Center and Conservatory, the Garden’s newest building which holds a number of vibrant trees and plants, along with a cactus arboretum that is truly fascinating and educational.
Joining the Forest Service and Peace Garden for Arbor Day were over 200 Girl Scouts from America and Girl Guides from Canada, who are currently celebrating their centennial year. The Girl Scouts came to the Arbor Day celebration in their 100th year because in 1932 the Girl Scouts were part of the dedication ceremony of the Peace Garden.
With the Girl Scouts celebrating its centennial, the Forest Service and Peace Garden, along with the Girl Scouts, planted a grove of trees in the Garden, which was named “The Girl Scout Grove.”
Arbor Day was originated by J. Sterling Morton on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska City, Neb. On that day, about one million trees were planted amongst parades, music and the happy sounds of school children taking part in the event.
Morton, who was a newspaper editor, came up with the idea of Arbor Day to provide Nebraska with a more beautiful landscape, while at the same time provide windbreak and erosion protection for the land.
Since that time, Arbor Day has grown to become a worldwide event, and it has become a day to teach the world about planting trees, plant life and the importance of forests on our earth.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees provides oxygen, fights global warming, provides protections, keeps homes or neighborhoods cool in the summer and cuts heating cost in the winter, and provides food and protections for animals. The list goes on and on.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Who leaves the pine trees, leave his friend, unnerves his strength, invites his end.”
What amazing and true words, and with Emerson’s words I am thankful for the North Dakota Forest Service and the International Peace Garden for the work they do each day (and during special times like Arbor Day) by making the world a much better place to live, enjoy and feel protected.
Over the weekend, these two organizations brought Arbor Day back in its true tradition by planting trees, providing music, and allowing over 200 school kids to echo their happiness through the Garden as they planted a grove of trees.
The North Dakota Forest Service and International Peace Garden are true friends to us all.