Free Republic

Arbor Day is an opportunity for all Americans to acknowledge the important role that our Nation’s forests and woodlands play in supporting our economy, health, and environment. Today, we celebrate the remarkable contributions that America’s wide variety of trees make to our way of life. Let us also use this day to reflect on the sacrifices that Americans have made during these difficult times, and to look forward to the days—in the near future—when we will once again spend time outdoors with our friends and families. In this spirit, the First Lady and I planted a maple tree on the...

Submitted by the Illinois Tollway. Downers Grove, IL - The Illinois Tollway is partnering with the Morton Arboretum to enhance aesthetics and expand tree canopy coverage along the tollway system as part of its efforts to increase environmental benefits and sustainability. In recognition of the new effort, the Tollway will celebrate Arbor Day on April 29 by giving away 15,000 tree seedlings to customers at the Tollway’s Downers Grove headquarters and at tollway oases. In partnership with the Morton Arboretum, the Illinois Tollway develop a systemwide landscape master plan for trees, shrubs and other native plantings on Tollway property. The...

The federal stimulus may be pumping greenbacks into the economy but it's also making a part of Woodside distinctly less green. Locals are steamed over Amtrak's brush-clearing effort that recently chopped down more than a hundred mature trees along rails running parallel to Northern Blvd. Homeowner George Olt, 69, whose property on 56th Place abuts the land owned by Amtrak, said he began hearing buzzsaws near his lush backyard on April30. By the next day, some 200 trees - more than a hundred of them exceeding about 2 feet in diameter - had been felled, Olt said. "It's not like...

The Iowa State Register praised Nebraska's innovation, calling Arbor Day a holiday "devoted to pleasurable business and happy usefulness." What a contrast to preachy Earth Day with its anti-business overtones and message of guilt and limits.

There is a powerful, natural force in the fall air, and I, for one, cannot turn my back on it. I know the origin of "conservatism" and the pragmatic, rugged individualism logic that drives it and us. As a conservationist, I believe in the wise use of our precious life-giving resources and clearly understand man's critical responsibility to the stewardship of our wild ground and our wildlife. I learned a long time ago that if I wanted to enjoy a fire at Christmas time, that I had to plant trees in the spring. Not to boast, but the Arbor Day...

Today President Bush traveled across the Potomac River for a discussion on Social Security at James Lee Community Center in Falls Church Virginia. He also took part in a Tree Planting on the North Lawn at the White House in honor of Arbor Day.

  © 2005 Observer  Publishing Co.  Washington, PA       For Arbor Day, go plant a tree One gripe against development is that it tends to obliterate trees. Certainly, some developers make a conscious effort to work with the existing landscape, rather than against it. But just as often, the bulldozers roll in and the trees come down. That's nothing new. For example, only a single American elm remained on the once-forested site of Canon-McMillan High School after its construction nearly half a century ago. While that elm lives on in Canon-Mac lore, it's long gone, a victim of the dreaded...