The Grove

Welcome to the home of Georgia's Arbor Day!

Arbor Day History

Arbor Day is a day set aside for schools, civic clubs, and other organizations, as well as individuals, to reflect on the importance of trees in our state and across our nation.  J. Sterling Morton, the father of Arbor Day, initiated the holiday in Nebraska in 1872. He said, “Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.”

The first Georgia Arbor Day was proclaimed by the Georgia General Assembly in December, 1890.  In 1941, the General Assembly set the third Friday in February as the day of our state Arbor Day.   While National Arbor Day is the third Friday in April, it is too warm at that time of the year to plant trees in Georgia. Trees should be planted between November and mid-March so they will have a better chance of becoming established before the onset of summer heat.

Every tree planted on Arbor Day helps clean the air and water, beautify neighborhoods, provide homes for wildlife, conserve energy, and prevent soil erosion, among many other benefits.  Arbor Day gives everyone an opportunity to learn about trees and the environmental, social, economic and health benefits they provide to communities.

The state tree of Georgia is the live oak (Quercus virginiana).  The largest live oak in Georgia, a National Co-Champion, is 77 feet tall, with a limb spread of 140 feet. This Georgia Champion Tree is in Waycross , GA.