Arbor Day is a holiday for individuals, schools, civic clubs, and other organizations to reflect on the importance of trees. Arbor Day was founded in Nebraska in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. Quoting Morton, "Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future." Each state has its own Arbor Day depending on the best time to plant trees. In Georgia, our ideal planting season runs November to March, and we celebrate Georgia Arbor Day each year on the third Friday in February. National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April.

"Georgia Arbor Day is a time for us to pause and recognize that trees are an important part of our lives and communities," said Trees Atlanta's Co-Executive Director, Greg Levine. He added, "Planting or caring for a tree is a fitting way to celebrate, but you can also get creative and think of all sorts of tree-themed ways to celebrate."

This year, Trees Atlanta's Georgia Arbor Day activities focus on reforestation and celebrating the important history of some of Atlanta's most majestic older trees. The public is encouraged to participate in the following activities:

• Saturday, Feb. 11th, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm: Trees Atlanta participates in the Nalley Tree Festival, sponsored by Nalley Decatur, on Decatur Square. This second-annual festival is part of the Nalley Tree Campaign, an initiative to plant 10,000 trees throughout the City of Decatur and DeKalb County. Nalley will be distributing free tree seedlings during the festival, which will also feature a live band, children's activities, and educational literature from local municipal and environmental organizations. Visit the Trees Atlanta table for information about trees and to register as a Trees Atlanta volunteer!

• Friday Feb. 17th, 10 am: Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta City Council join Trees Atlanta in a tree planting at Thomasville Elementary School to kick off PLANT 2012 (Protecting the Legacy of Atlanta's Native Trees). PLANT 2012 is a new tree planting campaign to plant 10,000 trees in public spaces throughout Atlanta, funded by the City of Atlanta Tree Trust Fund.

• Friday, Feb. 17th, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm: Trees Atlanta volunteers will plant hundreds of tree seedlings along Freedom Parkway. Click here for location and to register. This project is in collaboration with Trees Atlanta media partner and project sponsor, WABE 90.1 FM,and honors the 1,479 contributors to WABE's Earth Day pledge drive in 2011. Trees Atlanta will have a special guest at this planting: our costumed-friend from the Dr. Seuss movie "The Lorax"! He will be on hand with giveaways and photo opportunities in celebration of Arbor Day and in anticipation of the premiere of the movie "The Lorax" on March 2nd.

• Saturday, Feb. 18th, 9:00 am to 12 noon: Trees Atlanta volunteers will plant the remaining few hundre tree seedlings along Freedom Parkway. Click here for location and to register. The Lorax will join us again for more tree-loving help.

• Trees Atlanta is accepting nominations for the Atlanta Champion Trees registry. Each year, Trees Atlanta and its Arbor Day partners recognize the largest known trees of each species within I-285. The Atlanta Champion Trees registry grows every year. Interested citizens may view the list of current winners and nominate new trees. New additions to this prestigious list will be announced in our spring newsletter and website, as well as through guided Trees Atlanta Spring Tree Walks, so please check our website regularly for details.

"We are offering something for everyone this Arbor Day whether you enjoy digging in the dirt or simply appreciating trees from afar," Levine concluded. Each tree planted and cared for on Arbor Day helps clean our air and water, connect and beautify our communities, provide homes for wildlife, conserve energy, prevent soil erosion, and more. So let's get planting!

For more information about Trees Atlanta's Georgia Arbor Day programs and events, please call 404-522-4097.