Plant a tree to celebrate Florida’s Arbor Day

Rick Patrick ECB Publishing, Inc. Although the national recognition of Arbor Day is still a few months away, the statewide recognition of Florida’s Arbor Day is the third Friday in January. This year that's Jan. 19. The original Arbor Day was the brainchild of Julius Morton, of Nebraska. Morton was the Secretary of Agriculture in the Grover Cleveland Administration and is credited for helping to improve agricultural techniques throughout the United States. The first Arbor Day took place in 1872 and Florida followed soon after in 1886. Arbor Day has been celebrated in the Sunshine State since. Florida recognizes the state Arbor Day in January because many trees are not actively growing