Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April in much of the country, though the date is flexible so that states may choose the best time for tree-planting. For example, New Mexico observes the holiday on the second Friday in March, while Hawaii sets the date for the first Friday in November, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. In Maine, it’s the third full week in May. Other countries on various dates celebrate Arbor Day or similar holidays, such as India’s National Festival of Tree Planting and Bulgaria’s National Forest Day.

One of the qualifications for being considered a Tree City USA municipality — a status Escanaba was granted 26 years ago — is that Arbor Day must be observed. Tree City USA is an Arbor Day Foundation Program in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

This year in Michigan, Arbor Day fell two days after Earth Day. Though the weather was brisk with temperature in the 40s, the City of Escanaba went ahead with their tree-planting as scheduled, and Director of Public Works Kent Dubord seemed optimistic the trees would take.

At 10 a.m. on April 24, Public Works employees and groups of scouts met in a grassy area of the park between Harbor Hideout and the Veterans Memorial.

Brynlee Miron, Taryn Harris and Stella Klusmeyer -- all Girl Scouts from the Rapid River area -- prepare park ground for planting as Escanaba Public Works' Adam Fix watches. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

Girl Scout Troops 4159, a group of five- to nine-year-olds from Wilson; 5067, with fifth-graders from Rapid River; and 5236, another Rapid River troop of seventh-graders, attended the activity.

After a brief chat during which Dubord introduced his crew — Jason Braun, Adam Fix and Jake Gartland — and Scouting America District Commissioner Mark Rose spoke a little about the significance and importance of planting trees, the groups got to work.

The city obtained two linden trees and one oak for the event. One Public Works staffer was sent to work with each of the three troops, but it was primarily for instruction and oversight — the kids did most of the work.

The littlest workers, Girl Scout Troop 5149, were so excited that they wanted to keep digging after the hole was deep enough. When it was time to fill the hole back in, a few of them opted to stick their hands in the dirt rather than use shovels.

In years past, different troops have assisted with Arbor Day planting, and the public is always invited to attend and assist. Rose said that home-schoolers have participated, which he likes to see. He expressed some disappointment that no troops of boys showed up on Friday, but all who did put in good effort and have helped to increase the number of trees in Escanaba.

Mark Rose, longtime District Commissioner for area scouts, speaks at the beginning of an Arbor Day ceremony in Ludington Park on Friday morning. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

Only two other communities in the Upper Peninsula are Tree City USA-confirmed: Marquette, which has held the title for 45 years, and Negaunee, which has been on the list for three.

“Tree City USA is an annual national recognition program designed to raise awareness of the value of community trees, set foundational standards for communities of all sizes, and celebrate community improvement,” states the Arbor Day Foundation. The initiative began in 1976.

According to the foundation, there are 3,636 recognized cities, and 49% of Americans live in a Tree City USA.

To find out more about the Tree City USA program, Arbor Day, tree care and how to get involved, readers may visit arborday.org.

Little hands point out a badge awarded from a past Arbor Day tree planting. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

At the end of an Arbor Day event in which volunteers helped plant three trees in an Escanaba park, participants pose for a picture, a couple proudly showing off dirty hands. (Courtesy of Mark Rose)

Jason Braun from the City of Escanaba's Department of Public Works explains what to do before planting a tree, including measuring and marking the diameter and noting where utilities are. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

Escanaba Public Works Director Kent Dubord, left, stands beside Scouting District Commissioner Mark Rose, who is addressing a group of Girl Scouts before a tree-planting in Ludington Park. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)