There are few things I love more than watching the trees in southwest Michigan earn back their spring green leaves after a long winter, which is why I’m excited to be able to celebrate the trees this week during a national holiday.

This Friday is Arbor Day, which is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April. Started in Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day is now an internationally celebrated holiday, during which individuals are encouraged to plant trees for both cosmetic and environmental reasons.

While Arbor Day may not be a holiday that you gather the family around the dinner table for, it is certainly one worth celebrating if for no other reason than to appreciate the beauty of the trees around you.

Trees do so much for us. They add oxygen into the air and make for pretty scenery. Their roots help protect the soil and fight erosion, while their branches and leaves provide us a cool shade on a hot, sunny day. And, when they are done growing, their wood fuels our fires and keeps us warm throughout the harsh winters. A list of the benefits of having trees in our neighborhoods and cities could go on and on.

Many of our local cities are ahead of the game when it comes to celebrating Arbor Day. The city of Dowagiac, for example, celebrates Arbor Day each year by making an official proclamation. Last year, the city gave out saplings of trees to residents to plant. In Niles, Fernwood Botanical Gardens celebrates the holiday each year with a special event that encourages residents to care for the trees.

If you can’t attend either of these celebrations or one is not hosted in your area, there are several ways to celebrate Arbor Day this year on a smaller, personal scale. You could plant a tree. Maybe you could read a book about trees or attend a class on tree care.

My personal favorite way to celebrate — and the easiest — is to simply spend some time outdoors. Going for a hike or spending some quiet time outside is a great way to take stock of nature and the vital role trees play in our environment.

Arbor Day is about celebrating the earth we live in and appreciating all we have been given. So, while Arbor Day may not be the kind of holiday that you can buy a Hallmark card for, I still think it is one worth celebrating.

SARAH CULTON, is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7712 or by email at sarah.culton@leaderpub.com