Downtown Chicago Going Green for Arbor Day

In honor of the 137th anniversary of National Arbor Day on Friday, the Morton Arboretum brought a "Triumph Elm" to Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, IL.


The Morton Arboretum chose an elm tree for a very particular reason. Each year, Chicago loses approximately two percent of their susceptible elms to disease. The Triumph Elm is one of five Arboretum-bred elms that are highly disease- and pest-resistant, as well as drought tolerant.


The 25,000-pound tree is also decorated with approximately 3,000 green ribbons. Each ribbon contains a message inscribed by Chicago Public School children stating why trees are important to them. Read and learn from some of the children's wise words.


The tree was ceremonially planted in Grant Park's Hutchinson Field to commemorate the site where President Barack Obama addressed the nation upon his election night. The transplanting project is expected to educate the public regarding the benefits and important roles trees have in our social, physical and environmental health.


Learn more ways to celebrate trees in your community .


(Source, TreeHugger)



- Alisa Manzelli, Move Staff Writer
E-mail: Alisa Manzelli@Move.com