Arbor Day: The city digs deep to plant trees

The City of Idaho Falls celebrates Arbor Day Thursday, as volunteers along with students from American Heritage Charter School dig deep to plant more than 20 trees.

Talmage Potts, a student at American Heritage Charter School, said holidays like Arbor Day inspire people to work together.

“I think we all like to take part in building our city and helping the economy and it’s also pretty fun to plant trees, too,” Potts said.

Idaho Falls Power donated the trees, along with more than 70 plants and flowers.

A Tree City USA Award was presented by the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands.

Horticulturist & Urban Forester for the City of Idaho Falls Delbert Lloyd, said planting of trees has many benefits to a community including the reduction of wind and water erosion of topsoil, as well as heating and cooling costs.

Lloyd also said, “Trees also moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife.”

The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska since then many states have kept up the tradition of planting trees in honor of the day.