Several years ago, when speaking with one of our customers on the phone (The Gifted Tree has a toll-free telephone number where one can speak to a live person for help), she mentioned that she was so glad to find us because she no longer wanted to send flowers as a sympathy gift. Why I asked? She explained that her husband had passed recently, and she received a number of flower arrangements at the house. While they were nice, she continued, less than a week later she had to gather them all and toss them in the trash. That process brought back to the surface her sorrow of losing her loved one, a reminder of such a sad occasion.
The Problem with Flowers
Not only do flowers not last very long, cut flowers are also not a very sustainable option.
1. High water usage: contributes to water scarcity especially in arid environments
2. Pesticide use: Many cut flowers are treated with pesticides and other chemicals to protect them from pests and diseases, which can pollute water sources and harm ecosystems.
3. Carbon emissions: many cut flowers are grown outside of the United States requiring long transportation routes to get them to where they are sold. Airplane fuel and truck diesel leave a harmful carbon footprint.
4. Refrigeration – many cut flowers require refrigeration to help them last longer before they are sold, further impacting on the carbon footprint.
5. Unsustainable packaging – most fresh cut flowers are wrapped in plastic or held in place in a vase by foam, neither which are good for the environment
6. Thrown in landfill – even though flowers can be composted, most are thrown in a landfill, increasing methane gas production, because most people don’t realize they can be composted or don’t have access to composting. One light band and one dark band together represent one year of growth. By counting these rings, you can determine the tree’s age.
Trees Last Longer
Even the freshest cut flowers won’t last longer than 10 days. Trees, on the other hand, can last for many generations. While it is difficult to determine the exact age of a living tree, you can measure the circumference, calculate the diameter, and then use a growth factor specific to the tree species to estimate the age. If a tree is cut down, the most common method is to count the growth rings on a cross-section of the trunk. Trees produce new growth rings each year, typically appearing as alternating light and dark bands in the trunk’s cross-section.
Treehugger.com has a list of the ten oldest trees, a number of them have lived for thousands of years, including:
Prometheus, growing in Nevada, was the oldest known tree, thought to be around 5,000 years old. Unfortunately, it was cut down for research purposes in 1964.
Sarv-e Abarqu cypress tree
Sarv-e Abarqu, is a cypress tree in the Yazd province of Iran. The tree is estimated to be at least 4,000 years old. It is considered an Iranian national monument and is most likely the oldest living thing in Asia.
Llangernyw Yewi is an incredible yew residing in a small churchyard of St. Dygain’s Church in Llangernyw village, North Wales, United Kingdom. About 4,000 years old, the Llangernyw Yew was planted sometime in the prehistoric Bronze Age—and it’s still growing!
Olive Tree of Vouves
Olive Tree of Vouves is an ancient olive tree located on the Greek island of Crete and is one of seven olive trees in the Mediterranean believed to be over 3,000 years old. Incredibly, it still produces olives, and they are highly prized. Olive trees are hardy and drought-, disease- and fire-resistant—part of the reason for their longevity and their widespread use in the region.
Chestnut Tree of One Hundred Horses, located on Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy is the largest and oldest known chestnut tree in the world. Believed to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old, this tree’s age is particularly impressive because Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The tree has survived its eruptions even though it sits only five miles from Etna’s crater. The tree’s name originated from a legend in which a company of 100 knights was caught in a severe thunderstorm and all of them were able to take shelter under the massive tree.
Finally, the General Sherman Tree is one old tree you might be more familiar with. Believed to be around 2,500 years old, General Sherman is the mightiest giant sequoia still standing. The volume of its trunk alone makes it the largest non-clonal (not developing from a single cell) tree by volume in the world. The General Sherman tree is located in Sequoia National Park in California (a planting project area of The Gifted Tree), where five of the 10 largest trees in the world exist.
General Sherman Tree
Trees a Clear Winner Versus Flowers
This is not to say that the trees planted by The Gifted Tree will last that long, but it is safe to say they will be here for many generations, and that cannot be said for flowers. The Gifted Tree plants both memorial and celebration trees in one of our 80+ projects around the world. You pick the project, the tribute design and personalize your message. We send the card to the recipient (or to you) and have the tree planted by one of our non-profit planting partners who then provides care for your tree. If you have questions or need help, feel free to call and talk to a real person at 800-984-2101, or order online 24/7 at TheGiftedTree.com.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Glorious-Trees.jpg7951200Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2025-06-27 16:16:532025-06-30 16:28:32Memorial Tree vs Flowers: Which Lasts Longer
The Gifted Tree has planted over 250,000 trees since 2013. These trees have been planted in memory of a loved one as well as to celebrate a happy milestone occasion such as a birthday or wedding. With over 80 planting project locations worldwide, many planting locations are in United States National Forests. Many of the planting projects in these national forests are to help reforest areas after fires have devastated a large swath of land.
One question I have received a lot is: “I want to plant my memorial tree in a National Forest, but not all of your projects are in National Forests.” To better understand the answer to this question, it is helpful to understand the history of the National Forest system. The United States national forest system began with the Forest Reserve Act of 1891. This act authorized the President, at that time, Benjamin Harrison, to set aside forested public lands for preservation and management. The first forest reserve, the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve, was established in 1891, and the United States Forest Service was created in 1905. As is explained on its website, the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the nation’s foremost federal forestry organization. The agency is a world leader in forest research, providing leadership in the sustainable management, conservation, use, and stewardship of natural and cultural resources on national forests and grasslands in the United States.
If you happen to look at a map of the locations of the National Forests in this country, and there are 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, the majority are concentrated in our great West. Why is that? The Eastern United States has relatively few national forests compared to the West primarily because most eastern forestland was already privately owned by the time national forests were established. In the western states, many western national forests were created from land already owned by the U.S. government, making it easier and less expensive to establish them. In the East, unlike in the West, the federal government had to purchase land to create national forests.
The Weeks Law of 1911, also know as the Forest Purchase Act and named after John Weeks , a Massachusetts Congressman, authorized the federal government to acquire land for national forests, specifically to protect watersheds of navigable streams. It paved the way for the establishment of national forests in the East by allowing the government to purchase land from private landowners. It has been one of the most successful pieces of conservation legislation in U.S. history. To date, nearly 20 million acres of forestland have been protected by the Weeks Act, land that provides habitat for hundreds of plants and animals, recreation space for millions of visitors, and economic opportunities for countless local communities. As one historian has noted, “No single law has been more important in the return of the forests to the eastern United States” than the Weeks Act. The Weeks Act significantly expanded the national forest system, particularly east of the Mississippi River, where many new forests were established. But there were far fewer opportunities for these acquisitions in the East. Eastern states generally had less public domain land compared to western states, which further limited the opportunity for creating national forests on land already owned by the government.
With the Weeks Act in place, and the subsequent founding of the United States Forest Service, a framework was established for federal, state, and private cooperation in forest and forest fire management. Over time, much was learned about forest fire management including if the fires are not too severe, areas can regenerate on its own. In fact, in fire-adapted ecosystems, fire has historically played an integral role in shaping and maintaining the landscape. As a result, many native plants and animal species have developed unique strategies to withstand blazes. One Tree Planted in a recent blog, describes some of the ways that trees and nature have adapted to fires in order to regenerate. Fire is a natural and necessary part of the life cycle of these forests and over thousands of years, many species of trees and ground vegetation have developed adaptations to fire where it occurs naturally. If a fire is too severe for natural regeneration, and of course in reforestation situations that don’t involve forest fires, tree planting management focuses on healthy establishment and long-term success.
One important factor to keep in mind is that tree planting projects in the East have the same goals as those in the west that take place in National Forests. Even though your memorial or celebration tree might not be planted in a National Forest, it is planted in a State Forest or other public (and occasionally private) land, all with these same goals:
· Speed recovery in areas where natural regeneration is not enough to restore past tree loss.
· Planting species of trees indigenous to the area which can provide qualities such as fire resistance and and the ability to withstand the effects of climate change.
· Planting in areas that help stabilize the soil and help prevent future landslides.
· Help restore habitat for animals and insects that depend on these trees.
· Help mitigate the effects of climate change by providing carbon sequestration.
· Help restore the natural balance of forest ecosystems, including biodiversity.
· Help prevent runoff which helps reduce water pollution and improve water quality.
Keep in mind while planting a tree in memory of a loved one, planting in a National Forest isn’t always possible. But, our planting projects still provide the same great results and benefits no matter where planted, in United States National Forests and beyond. If you need help planting a memorial or celebration tree, contact us through this link or call, 800-984-2101 and talk to a real person.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/U.S.-National-Forest-Colorado.jpg601900Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2025-06-10 14:35:092025-06-10 15:18:08Plant a Memorial Tree for a Loved One Beyond United States’ National Forests
As Earth Month winds down, and Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations are complete, a lot has been written about the benefits of tree plantings and sustainability. We get a lot of frequently asked questions at The Gifted Tree, and one I will try to answer in this blog: How does planting trees achieve sustainability goals?
Before I delve into the answer, let me summarize how trees and the planting of trees help benefit the environment in general.
How Trees Benefit The Environment
Improve Air Quality and Carbon Sequestration
Trees reduce air pollution and help to purify the air by absorbing carbon and other pollutants. Trees act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Trees absorb a lot of air pollutants which are released into the air by automobiles and industrial facilities. The more mature the tree, the more pollutants absorbed. By filtering pollutants, trees improve air quality and reduce respiratory problems in humans and animals.
Benefit Wildlife
Trees provide essential habitats for a wide range of wildlife, and other understory trees and plants, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Provide Economic Benefits
Trees can increase property values, improve the tax base, and enhance neighborhood appeal by making streetscapes more pleasant. Surveys show that consumers prefer to shop and live where there are an abundance of trees, and thus, trees can also have a positive impact on the price and desirability of homes. Property values for unimproved lots usually rise based on the amount and density of tree cover.
Reduce Energy Use and Costs
Trees can reduce heating and cooling costs and counteract the “heat island” effect in urban environments by providing shade and windbreaks. Urban areas with little vegetation can experience temperatures of up to seven degrees higher than those with tree coverings. Thus, properly planted trees can cut heating and cooling costs and reduce overall power demand.
Help Improve Water Quality
Trees help anchor soil and reduce storm water runoff. Their roots help bind soil thereby preventing erosion and landslides. Reducing runoff also decreases topsoil erosion and the amount of silt and other pollutants washed into streams, rivers, and lakes. Trees can intercept rainwater, reduce runoff, and improve water infiltration into the soil, which helps recharge groundwater supplies.
Mental Health Benefits
Forests and other areas rich with tree coverage provide recreational opportunities. Being out in nature improves people’s mood and general well being.
Icons – United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals
Sustainability Goals and How Planting Trees Help Reach Those Goals
In 2017, the United Nations established a a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help businesses and governments build a more equitable and sustainable world. The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a plan to create a better and more sustainable future for all. They represent key benchmarks to addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change. The planting of trees, and reforestation in general, help to get us closer to reaching each one of those 17 goals. This blog will touch on and explain the first five of the 17 goals. A future blog will explain the remaining 12 goals. For more detailed explanation of these goals, please visit the United Nations site.
1. No Poverty
Goal #1 recognizes that poverty is a multi-dimensional issue, with factors ranging from unemployment to social exclusion, vulnerability to natural disasters, susceptibility to disease, and more. Most of the world’s population that live in poverty depend almost entirely on productive land for their livelihoods. Reforestation can improve human lives by providing short and long-term employment, increasing the land’s ability to produce food and building materials over time, and protecting infrastructure from extreme weather events. Any efforts to reduce poverty need to include the planting of trees to build up healthy, well-managed forests, watersheds, and soils.
2. Zero Hunger
While the number of undernourished people worldwide has dropped significantly in the past several decades, still a significant number of the world’s population go to bed hungry every night, and remain a huge barrier to advancing developing countries. Working with experts, the planting of trees can provide nutritious food for everyone, generate sustainable income, support rural development, and protect the environment. Investments in agriculture are crucial to increasing productivity and supporting the sustainable food systems necessary to alleviate hunger. Restoring degraded forests by planting trees in agricultural areas can address hunger by improving economic well-being and protect the livelihoods of farmers in developing nations. Additionally, when sustainable agroforestry is incorporated into larger tree planting projects, they can help to protect new plantings and native forests from over-harvesting and extraction that can occur when people are dependent on forest resources for survival.
3. Good Health and Well-Being
Good health is essential to sustainable development and advancement of mankind. Much progress has been made in this area, but it is uneven and there is a wide gap among countries. Planting trees can improve health in humans by providing sustainable, high quality supplies of food and water over time, modulating temperatures, absorbing rainwater during storm events, providing a buffer against powerful storm systems, and reducing the incidence and transmission of diseases. One overlooked benefit provided by trees is its medicinal benefits in many cultures as well as improving mental health by spending time amongst the trees and just being in the forest.
4. Quality Education
Receiving a quality education is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development and advancement. Providing agroforestry education is one of the overlooked benefits in many of The Gifted Trees tree planting projects. In addition to planting trees in underserved areas of the world, there is an educational component, teaching communities techniques to create living fences and alley crops that will protect their lands and increase soil fertility and crop yields, reduce erosion, and improve water infiltration. In addition to providing jobs and restoring landscapes, many of our partners educate communities about sustainable agroforestry, land use practices, site monitoring, and micro-economics. We have seen that planting trees and maintaining them directly promotes education by increasing incomes and reducing the time spent securing basic necessities such as food and fuelwood. This gives parents more time and money to educate their children, and exposes them to opportunities they may not otherwise have had access to. Most of these individuals have no knowledge of proper land management techniques, but this training will be a significant factor in the fight against deforestation.
5. Gender Equity
This goal is related to the last goal. It is vital to understand that in many parts of the world, especially developing countries, the brunt of the family work falls on the women. Women take care of the children and cook all the meals. They don’t have access to stoves and ovens so they have to build fires to cook. These fires are fueled by collecting wood but with a shrinkage in sources, women can spend hours a day to travel by foot to collect this wood so that they are able to cook. Planting trees can increase gender equity and empower women by increasing their access to quality nutrition and other essentials of life. Planting trees to restore local landscapes can increase incomes by growing productive and sustainable agricultural crops.
We will explore more of the Sustainable Development Goals in future blogs, but in the meantime, you can be part of the solution by planting trees. The Gifted Tree works with non-profits around the world to plant memorial and celebration trees in order to achieve these goals. .
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/planting-trees.jpg475900Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2025-04-30 17:21:202025-05-06 11:09:04Planting Trees and Sustainability
As discussed in our last couple blogs detailing planting a memorial or celebration tree in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona and Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, planting a tree in a national forest in the United States or elsewhere around the world has become quite popular. Besides being a gift to a grieving family member or friend, or to celebrate a milestone event, these tree plantings are also a gift to the earth. The benefits range from helping reforest an area decimated by forest fire to aiding in improving the water quality of nearby rivers and lakes. The Gifted Tree has planting projects in many United States National Forests, and this blog will focus on the project comprising many acres in and around Pike San Isabel National Forest, Colorado.
Pike San Isabel National Forest is a large forest in north central Colorado comprising well over a million acres including many of the state’s tallest mountains. When one thinks of Colorado, one thinks of lots of snow, but the environment in this area is actually quite dry, which makes it a prime location for forest fires. There have been several fires in this area over the past few years burning through Lodgepole pines and Spruce Fir forests. The intensity of these forest fires has made it difficult for these areas to naturally regenerate trees and other flora. By reforesting this area, our project that you help make possible, seeks to restore biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and mitigate the impact of future forest fires, ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the landscape for both wildlife and communities alike.
Longleaf Pine Strand
While most of our planting projects around the world include several different tree species to be planted, this Colorado National Forest planting project only planted Lodgepole Pine trees. A number of tree experts determined collaboratively, in assessing the fire’s damage, that planting only Lodgepole pine trees was the best way to move forward to facilitate the ecosystem recovery of the area. The presence of other plant species in the understory (the vegetative layer and especially the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the ground cover) and adjacent habitats contributes to overall ecosystem diversity. Thus, focusing on only the Lodgepole pine for reforestation ensures the restoration of a vital component of Colorado’s forest ecosystems without excluding the presence of other species.
The Lodgepole Pine is a tree that is native to North America primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. This tree stands out with its paired needles, ranging from 1 to 3 inches in length, often twisted, giving it its distinctive appearance. In terms of bark, young lodgepole pines feature smooth, thin, grayish brown bark, while mature trees develop thick, deeply furrowed, and scaly bark with a reddish-brown hue. They are known for their towering heights, reaching between 50 to 100 feet tall, with a straight, slender trunk and a conical crown.
Pine cone of a Lodgepole Pine,
Ecologically, Lodgepole pine trees serve a vital role in their native habitats. It offers various ecosystem services, such as:
Biodiversity Enhancement: By reintroducing Lodgepole pine saplings into areas affected by the fire, the reforestation project supports the recovery of vital habitat for a diverse array of fauna and flora species. Lodgepole pine forests are known to harbor numerous species, including birds, mammals, and insects, which rely on these habitats for shelter, nesting sites, and food resources. The re-establishment of these forests thus facilitates the return of biodiversity to the landscape, promoting ecosystem stability and resilience.
Carbon Sequestration: Lodgepole pine forests play a significant role in mitigating climate change through the process of carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, one of the costs of forest fires is that all the carbon stored in the old-growth trees is released and permanently lost when the trees burn. As the newly planted trees grow, they will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass and in the soil. By replanting Lodgepole pine seedlings, the reforestation project again allows the capacity of the landscape to sequester carbon, helping to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change.
Soil Stabilization and Erosion Control: The establishment of Lodgepole pine forests contributes to soil stabilization and erosion control, particularly in mountainous regions prone to slope instability and erosion. The deep root systems of Lodgepole pine trees help anchor the soil, reducing the risk of landslides and sediment runoff into waterways. Through the reforestation project, the restoration of Lodgepole pine forests enhances soil stability, safeguarding valuable ecosystems and downstream water quality
Fire Resilience and Adaptation: Lodgepole pine forests are well-adapted to fire prone ecosystems, and their presence contributes to the natural fire regime of the landscape. By replanting Lodgepole pine saplings, the reforestation project restores the fire-adapted ecology of the area, enhancing its resilience to future wildfires.
Monitoring the planting project is accomplished via drone and satellite imaging as well as site visits, all with the goal of long-term growth achieving a multitude of ecological benefits that are even greater than just the reforesting of the area burned by the fire. By enhancing biodiversity, sequestering carbon, stabilizing soils, promoting fire resilience, and supporting water resource management, the project contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the landscape, safeguarding its ecological integrity for future generations. As one of the project managers stated: “This project’s impact will be critical in ensuring the future mitigation of severe wildfires, thereby safeguarding an array of ecological and social benefits for the community. It is an honor to participate in such vital restoration work, and we look forward to assessing the trees’ progress in the upcoming years.” Thanks to your foresight, these projects in United States National Forests are getting funded. And The Gifted Tree makes it easy to plant trees to celebrate an important milestone or to plant a memorial tree in memory of a loved one, in Colorado, or in 80+ locations around the world.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Pike-San-Isabel-NF.jpg601900Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2025-02-28 16:58:192025-03-03 15:49:11Plant a Tree In U.S. National Forest – CO
As discussed in our last blog detailing planting a memorial or celebration tree in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona, planting a tree in a national forest in the United States or elsewhere around the world has become quite popular. Besides being a gift to a grieving family member or friend, or to celebrate a milestone event, these tree plantings are also a gift to the earth. The benefits range from helping reforest an area decimated by forest fire to aiding in the water quality of nearby rivers and lakes. The Gifted Tree has planting projects in many U.S. national forests, and this blog will focus on the project in Chippewa National Forest, a forest comprising almost 700,000 acres in north central Minnesota.
Plant a Tree in Chippewa National Forest – Objectives
Chippewa National Forest was established in 1902. It was named in honor of the Chippewa tribe of Native Americans from whose land the forest was created. Approximately 44% of the Forest’s land is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Water is abundant in Chippewa National Forest, with over 1,300 lakes, 923 miles of rivers and streams and 400,000 acres of wetlands. The Forest has more lakes and wetlands than any other National Forest in the nation, boasting approximately 13% of all surface water within the entire National Forest system.
As a consequence of logging activity, forests in this part of the state have become less complex over time and resulted in a not so favorable mix of tree species resulting in less biodiversity and carbon storage than could be achieved with a better mix. Our project in Chippewa sought to restore the mix of trees in the forest and increase the range of climate-adapted trees species to improve the landscape around the headwaters of important watersheds, including the forest alongside lake shores and trout streams, and degraded forest along the north shore of Lake Superior. With so many lakes in the national forest and also the fact that it borders Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, our planting project has helped improve watersheds. In doing so, the new trees help improve water quality as they grow and foster the removal of sediment into these waterways.
The objective of our tree planting project in Chippewa National Forest was to restore vital tree species and introduce new tree species that will help the forest maintain and improve its resilience to threats brought about by climate change. Our planting project is helping provide a wide range of ecological benefits including improved water quality in streams and lakes, reduction of sediment in these water sources, improved habitat to improve biodiversity, helping soil stabilization needed in the face of increased heavy rainstorms, and improved carbon storage by changing forest composition to add species that live longer and grow larger. Not only will the reforestation improve the diversity of tree species in Chippewa National Forest, but also improve wildlife habitat conditions, improve soil and water quality, along with carbon storage.
Eleven native species were planted across the forest project including white spruce, white pine, red pine, red oak, jack pine, black spruce, tamarack, white cedar, bur oak, swamp white oak, and yellow birch. As mentioned previously, planting sites and species selection were made within a strategy of climate change solutions and improving biodiversity and habitat through improving tree species diversity. Using technology such as drones and remote sensing devices, ideal planting locations were recognized and restored, helping vital wildlife habitat, improving resilience to global warming threats, and protecting and improving a range of services and benefits the forest provides. It is comforting to know that these forest locations chosen within Chippewa National Forest will produce the highest and longest-term ecological benefits.
Chippewa National Forest Benefits
Thanks to you, your gift of planting trees in Chippewa National Forest has tremendously benefited Minnesota’s tree diversity and strengthened its forest against future issues. The planting of your trees in this deforested area helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through this reforestation, the tree canopy is restored, ecosystems are reinvigorated, and biodiversity can thrive. This project is an excellent example of proving the many ways in which forests benefit wildlife, local communities, and their landscapes, and the project’s impact is critical to enhancing the resilience of this forest ecosystem and safeguarding the benefits they provide now and in the future.
Biodiversity Benefits
With the forest cover that dominates the Minnesota landscape, Chippewa National Forest occupies an area close to the geographic center of the North America continent where three major biomes converge: the prairie, the boreal forest, and the deciduous forests of the east. Our planting projects will help improve the pristine wilderness and abundant biodiversity. Among the noteworthy animal species benefiting are moose, elk, Canadian lynx, burrowing owl and the spotted salamander. The forest is also home to a large gray wolf population, which will also benefit from the new tree plantings. Their living conditions will be enhanced with our tree plantings which will aid the processes that sustain life.
Community Benefits
The communities that are in and surround Chippewa National Forest will benefit from the reforestation project through multiple avenues including enhanced recreation availability, improved water quality, and carbon storage. The reforested areas will be used for school field trips. A scenic highway along the shores of Lake Superior was also improved, as a result of the project, opening up a spectacular part of the lake to citizens of Minnesota and beyond. Furhermore, by shifting forest plantings to species that live longer and grow taller, the project not only helps safeguard recreational activities for the future, but augment carbon storage capacity that will benefit the surrounding communities long term.
Conclusion
None of these benefits would be possible without your generosity and foresight in planting a memorial or celebration tree in a U.S. National Forest. The Chippewa United States National Forest in Minnesota is now beginning its renaissance for generations to come thanks to you. As the project director for this project stated: “This project is an excellent example demonstrating the myriad ways in which forests benefit wildlife, local communities, and their landscapes. The forests restored through this project will bring about vital ecological services while serving as a natural oasis for years to come.” The nice thing is that The Gifted Tree makes it easy to plant a tree to celebrate an important milestone or to plant a memorial tree in memory of a loved one, in Minnesota or in 80+ locations around the world.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Chippewa-National-Forest-Blog1.jpg600900Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2025-01-24 17:00:362025-03-18 17:29:16Plant a Tree in U.S. National Forest – MN
The Gifted Tree plants a lot of trees in memory. In fact, since we started doing so in Ireland in 2013, we have planted over 150,000 trees in United States National Forests and in projects around the world. Most people think that we plant trees to help reforest areas after devastating forest fires. And we do so, especially in planting projects out west and in Florida. But a number of planting projects’ goals are to help improve water quality in areas in the vicinity of the planting projects as well as further down stream.
Before zeroing in on how planting trees can improve water quality, it is important to understand nature’s water flow. When it rains or snow melts, water runoff is created. The water moves over the surface of the land and is absorbed into the ground or continues on its natural course into streams, rivers, lakes, and other water tributaries. Runoff can occur on natural surfaces like soil, grass, or forest floors, as well as on impermeable surfaces like roads, rooftops, and sidewalks. Runoff can carry pollutants such as chemicals, sediments, and debris into nearby water bodies, which has a profound impact on water quality. Managing water runoff is important in urban planning, agriculture, and environmental protection to prevent issues like flooding, soil erosion, and contamination of water sources.
The planting of trees in the right location can help manage the runoff of this water, acting as a natural filter. Over time, tree loss has harmed water sources by not filtering the pollutants and sentiments that can flow into water sources after rain and snow melt. Trees can help absorb this runoff and thus play a crucial role in the water flow ecosystem.
How Do Trees Help Manage Water Runoff?
1. Canopy Interception
Trees intercept rainfall with their leaves and branches, slowing down the rate at which water reaches the ground. This reduces the volume of runoff and allows more time for water to infiltrate the soil rather than flowing directly into storm drains or water bodies.
2. Root Absorption and Infiltration
Tree roots absorb water from the soil, helping to reduce the amount of water that becomes runoff. Roots also help improve soil structure, creating channels for water to infiltrate deeper into the ground. This enhances groundwater recharge and decreases surface runoff.
3. Soil Stabilization
Tree roots bind the soil together, reducing erosion caused by runoff. By stabilizing the soil, trees prevent sediments from being washed away into nearby water bodies, which helps maintain water quality and reduce sedimentation in rivers and lakes.
4. Evapotranspiration
Trees release water back into the atmosphere through a process called evapotranspiration. This helps reduce the overall amount of water that becomes runoff, contributing to a balanced water cycle.
5. Shading and Cooling
Trees provide shade, reducing soil temperature and evaporation rates. Cooler soil temperatures and reduced evaporation mean more water is available to infiltrate the ground, decreasing runoff.
6. Reducing Impermeable Surface Impact
In urban areas, trees planted along streets and in parks can help reduce the impact of impermeable surfaces (like concrete and asphalt) by absorbing water and preventing excess runoff from these hard surfaces. By managing water runoff, trees help mitigate flooding, reduce pollution in waterways, and promote healthier ecosystems.
The Gifted Tree’s Water Improvement Projects
The Gifted Tree has a number of planting projects around the country whose stated goal is to help stabilize soil around streams and thus help improve water quality. Several of these projects are listed below:
Oregon
This planting project is along the Willamette River Valley south of Portland. Our memorial and celebration trees filter excess sediment, nutrients and toxins before they enter this vital water source. The trees also provide shade for streams, making them healthy environments for fish, such as Oregon’s rainbow trout, steelhead and Chinook salmon.
Pennsylvania
This The Gift Tree planting project is along the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania and it exists to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The collective goal of the planting project is to buffer the approximately 6,250 miles of Pennsylvania streams within the watershed, the main one being the Susquehanna River which delivers half of the freshwater entering the Bay. As a result, drinking water sources are cleansed and native water habitat is improved which makes the fish and other wildlife in the area very happy.
Maryland
This Gifted Tree planting project is along the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties, Maryland. The overall goal of the project is similar to our other water improvement projects: through the planting of trees, improve the water quality of the stream water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.
These are three examples of The Gifted Tree’s planting project whose main goal in planting memorial trees and celebration trees is to improve water quality for millions of people who reside in their watershed districts. Tree root systems play an amazing filtering role in the soil and these new plantings will help reduce the levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment that exist in the Chesapeake Bay, Willamette River, and other water sources. These are problems that affect many natural areas in the face of intensive agricultural practices and increasing human development. The reforestation effort will also aid in erosion control, flood mitigation and storm water management, and help promote population rebounds of vulnerable and threatened wildlife. Be sure to contact us with any questions you might have. Or better yet, plant memorial trees or celebration trees to show a loved one or a friend that you care, as well as to start helping improve water quality today.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Water-Blog.jpg505900Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2024-08-27 15:44:492024-09-03 15:21:35Plant a Tree In Memory To Help Improve Water Quality
I dare to say that all of us have heard the word “sustainability,” making one think that its definition is quite simple. But to the contrary, the definition of the word “sustainability” is quite complex, not only due to the fact that not everyone can agree on its definition, but due to the fact that it encompasses a wide range of ideals.
In 1987, the United Nations defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations. The Cambridge dictionary defines sustainability as the quality of being able to continue over a long period of time. As you can see, while there is a common thread among the definitions, there certainly is a degree of variation.
3 Pillars of Sustainability
Overall, sustainability aims to create a harmonious balance between environmental health, economic viability, and social equity as it encompasses three main pillars:
Environmental Sustainability: Protecting and conserving natural resources and ecosystems, reducing pollution, and mitigating climate change to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.
Economic Sustainability: Promoting economic growth and development that provides jobs and prosperity without depleting resources or causing ecological damage. It involves creating a balanced approach that supports long-term economic health.
Social Sustainability: Ensuring social equity, access to resources, and opportunities for all individuals, fostering community well-being, and respecting cultural diversity. This includes addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and human rights.
While economic and social sustainability are great goals, I will let other experts tackle those areas. I will focus on environmental sustainability as that is what we attempt to help by planting trees at The Gifted Tree. Let us delve into why the planting of trees is a sustainable endeavor. Planting trees can help sustainability in many ways, including:
Environmental Sustainability
Climate change Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, store carbon in the soil and trees, and release oxygen through photosynthesis. A single mature tree can absorb around 21 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. Reforestation projects can sequester millions of tons of carbon annually.
Air quality Trees act as natural filters, absorbing harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide, and trapping dust and smoke in their leaves and bark. They also absorb odors and other gases like ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and ozone.
Water quality Trees trap and absorb excess nutrients and sediments before they reach waterways, helping to reduce contamination of freshwater resources.
Biodiversity Trees provide food, cover, and places to raise young for wildlife, such as birds, insects, squirrels, and bees. A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of insect, fungi, moss, mammals, and plants, whereas forests create a wonderfully balanced system where soil, plants, and animals all depend on each other to thrive as a diverse ecosystem.
Conclusion
In summary, forests support human life all over the world as they regulate our climate, clean the air we breathe, and filter the water we drink. They also provide habitat for more than two-thirds of terrestrial wildlife and plants. They are one of our most important resources, offering a renewable supply of the materials and the goods we need for a more sustainable future. While plating memorial trees and celebration trees with The Gifted Tree helps one connect on a personal level with loved ones and friends by expressing your feelings and showing you care, on a macro-level, our tree planting supports vital reforestation efforts around the world, helping to improve our planet’s health and giving a gift to the world.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Sustainability-Blog2.jpg5521200Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2024-07-30 16:21:432024-07-30 16:49:03Planting Trees and Sustainabilty
Trees are special and provide a plethora of benefits both environmentally and economically. But did you also know that your birth tree can determine your personality? According to some, especially the Celtic druids, the date of your birth is tied to the lunar calendar and is related to the formation of one’s personality and behavior.
Before we delve into the meaning of each tree, first a little history. Trees have always had a special place in Celtic history. Living trees have played a central role in the practical daily and spiritual lives of the Irish people for centuries. Irish myth, story and music abound with references to trees and their being the home of fairies and spirits. Traveling the Irish countryside, as I have done many times, one is sure to find hand-crafted fairy homes scattered about the forest, always bringing a huge smile to my eyes.
Trees served as landmarks and icons of family and clan identity, and their importance can be measured by the great number of tree-based places named in Ireland – of the 16,000 towns in Ireland, 13,000 are named after trees! All this demonstrates the degree to which trees were understood and valued by the culture.
Celtic Birth Trees
The Celtic druids had a profound connection with trees and believed they were vessels of infinite wisdom. They felt the entire universe existed in the form of a tree. The roots grew deep below, representing the past. The trunk sat in everyday life, representing the present. The branches reached up high into the heavens, representing the future and afterlife. They developed Celtic tree astrology based on the lunar calendar, so it has thirteen astrological signs rather than twelve. Accordingly, the Druids designated a tree to each of the thirteen moon phases in their calendar and associated each tree with a type of personality. They even determined which signs were most compatible with.
Birth Trees by Month
Take a little time and discover more about your birth tree and the personality traits associated with it and with what other birth trees you are most compatible.
Send a Birth Tree by Month gift card package. Includes seeds of the birth tree so the recipient can grow their own. Learn more about the birth tree gift card package.
January Birth Tree
The Rowan Tree: January 22 – February 18
Rowans are the philosophical minds in tree astrology. Rowans can be planted near doors and ward off evil and were thought to guard the gateway to the spirit world. Rowans are keen visionaries with high ideals. You are highly influential in a quiet way and others look to you for your unique perspectives. Their inner passion and burning creativity will get them noticed if they are patient in expressing what is inside them. Others will be impressed by their unique perspective and Rowans are highly influential.
Best match: Rowans pair well with Ivy and Hawthorne signs.
February Birth Tree
The Ash Tree: February 18 – March 17
Ash are free thinkers. Imaginative, intuitive, and naturally artistic, they see the world in water-color purity. Ash tend to be moody and withdrawn at times, but that’s only because their inner landscape is in constant motion. They are in touch with their muse, and are easily inspired by nature. Likewise, Ash inspire all that they associate with and people seek them out for their enchanting personality. Art, writing (especially poetry), science, and theology (spiritual matters) are areas that strongly interest Ash. Others may think they are reclusive, but in all honesty, they are simply immersed in their own world of fantastic vision and design. Ash are in a constant state of self-renewal and rarely place a value on what others think about them.
Best match: Ash pair well with Willow and Reed signs.
March Birth Tree
The Alder Tree: March 18 – April 14
Alders are pathfinders. They will blaze a path before anyone else with a burning passion. Alders are outgoing, have buckets of charm and mix well with different types of people. Not only do they get along well with everybody, others are attracted to them. Alders have faith in themselves and this makes them an attractive person to be around. Alders really hate waste and are uncomfortable with superficial people who aren’t the real deal.
Best match: Alders pair well with Hawthorns, Oaks and Birch
April Birth Tree
The Willow Tree: April 15 – May 12
Willows are highly creative, intuitive and intelligent. They have a keen understanding of cycles, and inherently know that every situation has a season. This gives them a realistic perspective of things, and also causes them to be more patient than most tree signs. With their intelligence comes a natural ability to retain knowledge and impress their company with the ability to expound on subjects from memory. It is Willow’s powers of perception that ultimately allow their true nature to shine, and what leads them to success in life.
Best match: Willow pair well with the Birch and the Ivy.
May Birth Tree
The Hawthorn Tree: May 13 – June 9
Hawthorns have a split personality. On the outside, they present themselves as a normal neighbor, but on the inside, they are wildly creative and passionate. They are good at adapting to changing life situations. They are good at making themselves content and making others content as well. Hawthorns are naturally curious, great listeners, funny, and have a good sense of both irony and silliness.
Best match: Hawthorns pair well with Ash and Rowans.
June Birth Tree
The Oak Tree: June 10 – July 7
Oaks have a special gift of strength. They are protective people and often become a champion for those who do not have a voice. In other words, the Oak is the crusader and the spokesperson for the underdog. Nurturing, generous and helpful, they exude an easy confidence and naturally assume everything will work out to a positive outcome. They have a deep respect for history and ancestry, and a love to impart their knowledge of the past to others, and thus, many Oaks become teachers. Oaks live long, full, happy lives and enjoy large family settings and are likely to be involved with large social/community networks.
Best match: Oaks pair well with the Ash and Reed, and are known to harmoniously join with Ivy too.
NEW! Send a Birth Tree by Month gift card package. Includes seeds of the birth tree so the recipient can grow their own. Learn more about the birth tree gift card package.
July Birth Tree
The Holly Tree: July 8 – August 4
Hollys are regal, noble and often take on positions of high status and leadership. Hollys have perseverance and never shy away from a challenge. They are hardly ever defeated simply because they keep trying until they get what they want as well as being competitive and ambitious even in the most casual settings. They are very intelligent and breeze through intellectual challenges. Hollys are very kind and generous to a fault.
Best match: Hollys pair well with Ash and Elder for balance and partnership.
August Birth Tree
The Hazel Tree: August 5 – September 1
Hazels are highly intelligent, organized and efficient. Like the Holly, they are naturally gifted in academia, and excel in the classroom. They have the ability to retain information and can recall, recite and expound on subjects they have memorized with amazing accuracy. Sometimes they appear as a know-it-all to others, but they can’t help that; they are genuinely smart and usually know the right course of action because of an impressive knowledge base. Hollys have a gift for numbers, science and subjects that call for analytical skills. Although they like rules, they are typically making them rather than playing by them.
Best match: Hazel pair harmoniously with Hawthorns and Rowans.
September Birth Tree
The Vine: September 2 – September 29
Vines are born within the autumnal equinox, making their personality unpredictable, full of contradictions and often indecisive. This is due to their ability to see both sides of the story and empathize with each side equally. It is hard to pick sides because they can see the good points on each end. That being said, Vines are certain about enjoying the finer things in life such as food, wine, music, and art. Vines, while seemingly aloof and detached, are very romantic inside.
Best match: Vines pair well with Willow and Hazel.
October Birth Tree
The Ivy: September 30 – October 27
The Ivy’s most cherished quality is the ability to overcome all odds. They have a sharp intellect, but more obvious is their compassion and loyalty to others. They have a giving nature and are always there to lend a helping hand. Ivys endure troubling times with silent perseverance and soulful grace. Indeed, Ivys have a tendency to be deeply spiritual and cling to a deep-rooted faith that typically sees them through adversity. They are soft spoken, but have a keen wit, are charming and charismatic
Best match: Ivys pair well with Oak and Ash.
November Birth Tree
The Reed: October 28 – November 24
Reeds are great at keeping secrets. They can dig deep to find the real meaning of things and discover the truth. People born under this Celtic tree sign love a good story, gossip and scandals. This makes them perfect historians, journalists, detectives, and archaeologists. They have the ability to find the core of things and strip every layer of the story. However, they tend to be a bit manipulative at times, but still have a strong sense of truth and honor.
Best match: Reeds pair well with other Reeds, Ash or Oak.
December Birth Tree
The Elder Tree: November 25 – December 23
The Elder is a wild child, loving freedom. Elders are thrill seekers for the majority of their lives. They are also outspoken and refuse to be pressured by others into anything. They need constant mental and physical challenges. Furthermore, Elders are very thoughtful and considerate of others and genuinely strive to be helpful.
Best fit: Elders pair well with Alder and Holly.
New Year Holiday Birth Tree
The Birch Tree: December 24 – January 21
Birch are high energy, highly driven, and often motivate others. They become easily caught in their zeal, drive and ambition. They are always reaching for more, seeking better horizons and obtaining higher aspirations. Birch (just like the tree) are tolerant, tough, and resilient. They are cool-headed and are natural-born leaders, often taking command when a situation calls for leadership. They also bring beauty in otherwise barren spaces, brightening up a room with their guile, and charming crowds with a quick wit.
Spring is here and April provides a wonderful opportunity to plant trees as we celebrate two tree-related occasions: Earth Day and Arbor Day. A great time to give a gift to our planet while remembering a lost loved-one with a memorial gift tree or celebrating a momentous life event by planting a celebration tree. Both these holidays have been in existence for a while and have interesting historical beginnings. As climate change and its consequences become more prevalent, the messages of these two days ring louder and louder.
Earth Day History
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. In the decades leading up to that event, Americans were consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through massive and inefficient automobiles. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of the consequences from either the law or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. Until this point, mainstream America remained largely oblivious to environmental concerns and how a polluted environment threatens human health. Then in January 1969, a junior United States senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, witnessed the devastation of a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and along with other officials organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues.
The first Earth Day occurred on April 22, 1970, as rallies were held across the country. Mayor John Lindsay closed off a portion of Fifth Avenue in New York City to traffic for several hours and spoke at a rally in Union Square with actors Paul Newman and Ali McGraw. In our nation’s capital, thousands of people listened to speeches and performances by singer Pete Seeger and others, and Congress went into recess so its members could speak to their constituents at Earth Day events. By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act. A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act and soon after the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws have protected millions of men, women and children from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction. By 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe.
Now, each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national, and local policy changes. Now, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more and more apparent every day. By taking part in activities like picking up litter and planting trees, roughly 15 billion trees in the world are cut down each year, we’re making our world a happier, healthier place to live.
Arbor Day History
While Earth Day’s purpose is to pay attention to the condition the environment is in and what we can do to help it, Arbor Day’s purpose is to plant more trees. Arbor Day actually came into existence many years before Earth Day. As the History.com website explains, the origins of Arbor Day date back to the early 1870s in Nebraska City. A journalist by the name of Julius Sterling Morton moved to the state with his wife, Caroline, in 1854, a little more than 10 years before Nebraska gained its statehood in 1867. The couple purchased 160 acres in Nebraska City and planted a wide variety of trees and shrubs in what was primarily a flat stretch of desolate plain.
Morton also became the editor of the state’s first newspaper, Nebraska City News, which was a perfect platform for Morton to spread his knowledge of trees and to stress their ecological importance to Nebraska. His message of tree life resonated with his readers, many of whom recognized the lack of forestation in their community.
On January 7, 1872, Morton proposed a day that would encourage all Nebraskans to plant trees in their community. The agriculture board agreed, and after some back-and-forth about the title, Morton convinced everyone that the day should reflect the appreciation of all trees, and “Arbor Day” was born. With the seeds of interest already planted in the minds of devoted Nebraska City News readers, the first ever Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 and was a wild success. Morton led the charge in the planting of approximately 1 million trees. The tradition quickly began to spread. In 1882, schools across the country started to participate, and more than a decade after its introduction, Arbor Day became an official state holiday in Nebraska in 1885. April 22 was initially chosen because of its ideal weather for planting trees and in recognition of Morton’s birthday.
Within 20 years, Arbor Day had reached a large swath of the nation and was celebrated in every state except for Delaware. The holiday spread even further with the help of fellow agriculturalist Birdsey Northrop. In 1883, Northrop introduced the concept of Arbor Day to Japan, and continued to influence the creation of Arbor Days across Europe, Canada, and Australia. In 1970, at the same time Earth Day was bringing environmental issues to the forefront, Arbor Day became recognized across the United States. Its observance now falls on the last Friday in April. And although Julius Morton died in 1902, well before the holiday was given a formal day of observance across the country, he is still commemorated in Washington D.C. in a statue dedicated to the “Father of Arbor Day” in the National Hall of Fame.
Plant a Tree – Make An Impact
Trees provide tremendous benefits to our society, and all of us can honor Morton’s memory by planting trees and caring for them as a way to sustainably protect our planet’s natural resources as well as the best way to help combat climate change. As Julius Morton commented: “Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.” These two spring holidays, Earth Day and Arbor Day, serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of taking care of our planet and the crucial impact we can make as individuals.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Mountain-Forest-Scene.jpg483724Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2023-04-18 17:01:372023-05-15 17:03:23Earth Day and Arbor Day – Two Tree-mendous Reasons To Plant Trees
This Friday, March 17th, millions around the world will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. When we think of Ireland, we think GREEN. After all, Ireland is referred to as the Emerald Isle, an enduring and endearing name. Ireland is called the Emerald Isle for good reason, as it’s covered by lush green grasses that are fed by its mild climate and plentiful rainfall. We would think it is covered with trees, but believe it or not, Ireland is the least tree-covered country in Europe! I bring this fact up as a reason to plant a tree in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day this year. Better yet, make this a start of what should become a St. Patrick’s Day tradition. As important as living trees have been in Ireland’s cultural history, the fact is Ireland needs trees, lots more trees.
The Importance of Trees In Ireland
Living trees have played a central role in the practical daily and spiritual lives of the Irish people. Trees served as landmarks and icons of family and clan identity, and their importance can be measured by the great number of tree-based place names in Ireland – of the 16,000 towns in Ireland, 13,000 are named after trees. Irish myth, story, and music abound with reference to trees, demonstrating the degree to which they were understood and valued by the people. Reference is also made to trees being the home of fairies and spirits. Traveling the Irish countryside, as I have done many times, one is sure to find hand-crafted fairy homes scattered about the forest, always bringing a huge smile to my eyes.
Celtic Birth Trees By Month
The degree to which trees were understood and valued by the culture even goes back centuries. The Celtic druids had a profound connection with trees and believed they were vessels of infinite wisdom. They felt the entire universe existed in the form of a tree. The roots grew deep below, representing the past. The trunk sat in everyday life, representing the present. The branches reached up high into the heavens, representing the future and afterlife. They developed Celtic tree astrology based on the lunar calendar, so it has thirteen astrological signs rather than twelve. Accordingly, the Druids designated a tree to each of the thirteen moon phases in their calendar and associated each tree with a type of personality. They even determined which signs were most compatible. Take a little time and discover more about your birth tree and the personality traits associated with it and with what other birth tree(s) you are most compatible with in our blog about birth trees by months. If you are so inclined, The Gifted Tree offers a birth tree package which includes a package of tree seeds of that particular birth tree, allowing the recipient to plant his or her birth tree in their own yard.
County Wexford, Ireland Planting Project
The Gifted Tree makes it easy to plant both memorial and celebration trees in Ireland this St. Patrick’s Day, or anytime of the year. Our planting project is located in County Wexford in the southeast part of the island. This planting project will make it possible to create a real forest ecosystem with all its potential for biodiversity, a refuge for wild fauna and flora. The species of trees to be planted in this project include oak, birch, alder and other various hardwoods. The planting of dynamic species in this area will help recreate a functional forest ecosystem providing various ecosystem services. The growth of this new sustainably managed forest will capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, thus combating global warming. The diversity of tree species will give this forest greater resilience to the natural hazards such as storms, droughts and diseases that the forests of Europe are more and more regularly subjected to. This project will also bring a forest atmosphere to this agricultural plain landscape with a new landscape layer.
It is possible to visit the planting project virtually on your computer. It is best to view on your PC as opposed to a mobile device. View the general area of your planting by clicking on the following link: https://binged.it/2HSxCjf. Once connected to the map, feel free to zoom in and out to get a feel of the general planting area as well as its location in Ireland, Europe, and the world.
A St. Patrick’s Day Tradition
Now that you know that Ireland needs more trees, go ahead and start a new tradition for St. Patrick’s day, as well as any time of year, and plant a memorial tree or celebration tree in Ireland. A beautiful, majestic tree is a living memorial of life-changing events. Its strength, long lifespan, and regal stature give it a monument-like quality and make it a powerful tribute to a life well lived or an occasion worth of celebration. And that is no blarney.
https://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/Ireland-1.jpg600900Doug Bellhttps://www.thegiftedtree.com/wp-content/uploads/TGT-logo-header.pngDoug Bell2023-03-16 17:34:032023-03-20 13:50:24Plant a Memorial Tree In Ireland – Start a Saint Patrick’s Day Tradition
