How many things in your home decor owe their existence to trees? The list is practically endless. Of course there are the obvious things like tables and chairs....but let's think about this for a minute. How about: hardwood floors, cabinets, windows, doors, railings, shelves, bookcases, curios, blinds, beds, chests, lamps, mirrors, trays, decorative balls, sculptures, dried leaves, books, art/picture frames... I think you get the idea. I'd wager a bet that you can hardly complete any decorating project without the help of a tree.
In case it's not on your calendar, today is NATIONAL ARBOR DAY and it's all about trees!
Arbor Day was first celebrated on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician was the brainchild behind Arbor Day. Morton reportedly believed that the landscape and economy of Nebraska would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees. Within the next few years, the idea spread to Kansas, Tennessee, Minnesota and Ohio each establishing their own Arbor Days. Eventually all 50 states would celebrate Arbor Day but the dates vary depending on the local climate. In 1970, President Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day.
Ok...enough history! But since I fancy myself a green decorating guru, I seem to be drawn to such things. Just how many trees have been used throughout history to give us the things we love to decorate with and around? It's mind-boggling! Coming on the heels of Earth Day two days ago, Arbor Day is just another reminder that we're all responsible for the health of our planet and we have to be better eco-stewards.
If you can't go out and plant a tree today, consider donating to the Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org). I also hear that Disney is planting a tree for each person that goes to see their new flick Earth (http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth) this week.
Yea, I'm passionate about it but Johnny Appleseed I'm not! And if this is just a little too "tree hugging" for you, just know that every time you redesign with your existing items, you're helping to save a few trees and that's always a GREEN thing!
HAPPY ARBOR DAY!
Jeffery Rice
Decor Designs, Inc.
www.decordesignsinc.com
Decor Designs, Inc.
www.decordesignsinc.com
3 comments:
Thanks for pointing the day out Jeff, I for one did not know this. We did our small part yesterday by having to move a tree in our yard. Rather than throw it away, we did a transplant. Hopefully it will make it.
I'm right there with you Jeff - on green, trees and history! Love the tree photo! To add to your Arbor Day reminder, I'd like to encourage the readers to consider reusable shopping bags - they're waaaaay better than paper and plastic for the home and the environment. Plant a tree, save a tree, hug a tree ;)