Five Things You Need to Know About Arbor Day

1. The annual celebration began in Nebraska after pioneer J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday to the state's Board of Agriculture in 1872. Morton was a major advocate of planting trees and other greenery.

2. Many states, including New Jersey, celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday of April. But, some states celebrate on other dates, to coincide with planting seasons in January and February in the South, and May in the North. 

3. The purpose of Arbor Day is to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. The national Arbor Day Foundation distributes and plants about 15 million trees each year. 

4. Planting trees in urban and suburban areas helps clean the air, curb stormwater runoff, raise property values, sequester carbon, and reduce energy costs, according the the Arbor Day Foundation. 

5. New Jersey's official state tree is the northern red oak, a shade tree that can grow as tall as 60 to 75 feet, and is commonly found on residential streets.

For more information about Arbor Day, visit the Arbor Day Foundation's web site.