Magnificant Trees and Our Environment

When Mark and I travel to new places, we investigate the local trees and try to locate some of the areas biggest trees. We went to the sequoias in CA and stood by General Sherman, an amazingly huge and beautiful ancient sequoia supposedly between 2300 and 2700 years old;

Mark with General Sherman sequoia

A giant sequoia

we saw one of the largest oak trees in the state of Kansas; Santa Barbara, CA, has an incredible huge old Moreton Bay Fig tree that is now standing nearly under a freeway overpass but at least it still stands with roots coming out of the ground taller than me;

We're standing at the base of the fig tree

Mark and young Kelsey standing between the roots

The full canopy of the fig tree in Santa Barbara

and below is a picture of me standing with the old Angel Oak tree we saw on Johns Island in South Carolina. They say it's 1400 years old. It left us speechless. See if you can see me standing near one of the huge branches of the tree on the left. I'm wearing a yellow top. Click on the picture to enlarge it. Magnificent tree, isn't it? This too started out as a mere twig sapling.

We are planning to visit the Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, NE this spring. I'm sure you've heard of the Arbor Day Foundation which has been responsible for planting millions of trees in our country. Are you living in a Tree City? That program was originated by the Arbor Day Foundation. Arbor Day Foundation partnered with Duke Energy in NC with a goal to have 100,00 more of its customers switch from traditional billing to paperless online billing in 2010. Duke Energy exceeded its goal and has fulfilled its pledge to the Arbor Day Foundation to donate $100,000 for trees to be planted on public land in the states it serves - North and South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Isn't that wonderful news?

When you become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, you are offered ten free trees. They are small but all trees begin small, right? We have planted many new trees on the ranch from Arbor Day for the future. I have to admit, that feels really good.

If you are looking for a place for a business conference, you should check out Lied Lodge & Conference Center at the Arbor Day Farm where recently participants of 32 nations came together for the Connecting Children With Nature Action Forum.

The Arbor Day Farm is definitely a place for people who love trees. Check out their website:    http://www.arborday.org/
                          

SkyBluePink --- right outside our windows