April is one of the most important months of the year for our Northeast Ohio community and the health of our planet. It is the month where we observe the national Arbor Day holiday on Friday, April 30. It translates to “tree” day from the Latin origin of the word.
All month long, Holden Arboretum is celebrating the planting, care and preservation of trees. And on April 30 it’s offering free admission day at the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum.
Here’s what’s happening:
Anytime – Take the People for Trees Pledge!
Online at holdenfg.org
Friday, April 30 – Jesse Owens Oak tree planting at Rockefeller Park Lagoon
Rockefeller Park Lagoon on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Friday, April 30 – Arbor Day of Giving at Holden Forest & Gardens
Online at holdenfg.org
Friday, April 30 – Free admission and Arbor Day redbud seedling giveaway at Holden Forests & Gardens and the botanical gardens
You must make a reservation at holdenfg.org. Regardless of reservations, free tree seedlings will be distributed at both campuses between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or while supplies last. The seedling is an Eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis). This popular flowering tree can grow to a height of 20 feet and is perfect for all yards, from urban to rural. Bright purplish flowers bloom late April to early May and the heart-shaped leaves turn yellow before falling in October.
Saturday, May 1 at 1 p.m. – Mentor Public Library Tree Planting
8215 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060
Saturday, May 8 – Home Repair Resource Center Tree Giveaway
2520 Noble Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44121
To further celebrate, visitors will receive limited-edition People for Trees sticker art created by artist Julia Kuo. Kuo is a Taiwanese-American illustrator, currently based out of Cleveland. She has worked with The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Google. She is a nature lover and is passionate about the People for Trees movement.
In honor of Arbor Day, please consider pledging to plant a tree on your property. Join People for Trees, which aims to have 15,000 new trees planted in Northeast Ohio by 2025. People for Trees currently has more than 700 people who have joined the movement. To support Holden Forests & Gardens’ Arbor Day of Giving, and to pledge to plant your tree, go to holdenfg.org.
Learn more about trees this month:
Mapping Residential Landscapes
Part I: Tuesday, May 11 from 6 – 8 p.m. Part II: Tuesday, May 18 from 6 -7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Greg Wright, Nursery Supervisor. Full course: $30 per member, $45 per non-member; Part II only: $10 per person. Whether you are building a new home or planning to improve an existing garden or landscape, landscape mapping is an important tool for assessing your property and ensuring the long-term success of your project.
Photo courtesy Holden Arboretum
