By Tom Rusert
While Earth Day celebrated its Golden Jubilee, Arbor Day, officially celebrated throughout America and the world is quietly approaching its sesquicentennial. Trees tangibly symbolize our desire for the need to breathe fresh clean air as we enjoy our daily walks.
It’s interesting that small and large companies are racing to meet deadlines to build thousands of breathing machines to help keep people of all ages alive during this global pandemic. Under our beautiful clear skies that resulted from this current crisis, there are few if any global celebrations that offer more tangible hope than planting a tree for Arbor Day.
This past Friday, Arbor Day was slated to be officially commemorated in hundreds of cities across California including the City of Sonoma. All fifty states plan observances around their growing season.
For over a decade this very unique observance has occurred on the historic Sonoma Plaza where a self-guided tree and bird tour map assists strollers. Several of the species in this beautiful arboretum are well over one hundred years old. This diverse collection of plaza trees stands tall in all its glory during this peaceful spring. No doubt their fragile root systems are very much appreciating a break from being trampled on weekly by human events. Among the amazing plaza collection, is the state tree of California, the Coast Redwood, formalized by law in 1937. The law was amended in 1951 to also include the Sequoia. The California Quail, our state bird, along with dozens of other bird species enjoy with some even nesting on this pastoral eight-acre habitat we share with them. Coincidentally, Roger Tory Peterson, the creator of the famous bird guide, also celebrates his birthday this week. He would be proud of Sonoma’s famous sanctuary in the heart of our community. In a lecture here, Matt Ritter, author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us noted that the Sonoma Plaza’s unique and diverse tree collection is one of the finest in California.
The annual Rotary Conservationist of the Year Award for distinguished volunteer service to our community will sadly not be awarded in 2020, but the wonderful gift of fresh clean air is a great substitute. Perhaps there is no better time to learn about the amazing value of trees to our community than now. The lungs of this planet are hard at work for us. Science tells us that during one year, a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange.
As we “shelter in place” under the beautiful cool canopy of trees why not take a moment to reflect on their value to our community? We were fortunate that our early settlers established this plaza collection for us. Consider teaching children about the trees in your own yard and more importantly consider planting a family tree this spring. We have the time now. Consider it a tangible gift to celebrate good health, clean air, and appreciation for the heroic work of our first responders. Happy Arbor Day!
Tom Rusert is the founder of Sonomanature.org
A beautiful commentary on the importance of trees within a caring community. Yes, planting a tree is a signal that tomorrow will come, that spring is around the corner, that summer yields bounty, that Autumn can be colorful, and that winter holds reflection and renewal in store! Thanks for the suggestion that a planted tree makes a fine gift; it’s such a hopeful gesture and wonderful thought.
Je discutais beaucoup à ce sujet si important au jour le jour dans mon pays. Aujourd’hui encore ça me fais grand plaisir de lire encore une fois un vaillant homme, un homme qui connait bien l’importance des arbres. Sur ce, je dois te dire que ” mon devoir aujourd’hui c’est de planter autant d’arbre que je peux pour ce printemps, je dois aller au delà d’une seule arbre ”
Bon travail Tom Rusert