With all the Hallmark holidays now in existence, such as Sweetest Day—or my favorite politically correct holiday, Administrative Professionals' Day—it's refreshing to know that some very worthy members of our natural world get their own day of recognition, Arbor Day. This day of tree planting was first observed in 1872 in Nebraska, thanks to the efforts of homesteader and writer J. Sterling Morton (father of Joy Morton, founder of The Morton Arboretum), who understood the importance of trees to humans and the wider ecosystem. Anyone who has visited Nebraska will likely recognize why this realization occurred to Morton. We "flatlanders" should have the same appreciation.

Illinois observes Arbor Day on the last Friday in April. This year the city of Chicago is celebrating with the planting of a 30-foot 'Triumph' elm tree in Grant Park  in a collaborative effort between The Morton Arboretum, the Chicago Park District and the Grant Park Conservancy. This tree will commemorate the location of President Obama's primary victory speech and also the development of elms resistant to Dutch elm disease. Hopefully many more of us will make similar gestures by planting trees (likely much smaller ones), which is a simple way to reduce carbon emissions and beautify our landscapes. Happy Arbor Day, everyone!

—Rose Rankin