Valentine’s Day is important to lovers. Mother’s Day is important to mothers. But to whom are Earth Day and Arbor Day important? Earth Day and Arbor Day should be important to all of us in the floriculture industry, and especially important to those of us who promote the plant and garden products that add environmental benefits to the earth.

Earth Day, April 22, is celebrated in 192 countries to bring awareness and respect for the environment, and inspire us toward its conservation and protection. It’s reported to be the foundation of the most important environmental legislations of our time — the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Arbor Day, April 25, in a related mission, calls upon all of us to recognize the importance of trees to the environment and inspire us to plant, nurture and celebrate them.

Cindy HanauerOff the beaten path of asphalt on old Highway 101 in Northern California is a 31-mile path called the Avenue of the Giants, leading through 51,000 acres of the mighty (and giant) redwood trees — the largest continuous growth of redwood trees in the world. Mature trees average 150-250 feet tall, and some of the tallest trees exceed 350 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 12 feet to 20 feet. Indeed, these trees are 44 times the average human’s height and would tower over the Statue of Liberty. They survive over 200 years, and many have lived in excess of 2,000 years. Coastal redwoods, found only in the United States, are the tallest tree species on earth.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an acre of average-sized trees absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide from our environment annually, and converts it to four tons of oxygen — a human’s lifeblood. Their output of oxygen is relative to the size and density of the tree. Thus, one single redwood tree converts toxic carbon dioxide into 18,000 pounds of oxygen annually, and the entire redwood forest in the United States produces 315 billion pounds of oxygen every year.

Trees also protect humans, and all other living organisms, from the harmful effects of the sun’s heat. The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.

So, this Earth Day and Arbor Day, make it a point to advertise the many environmental and personal health benefits our trees and plants provide for us. By promoting trees and plants in our floral departments, we should all be proud of the small part we play in the tangible values that make Earth Day and Arbor Day important to the world. Spread the word.

Cindy Hanauer is the founder of Grand Central Floral. She can be contacte at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-844-MYFLORAL (693-5672), ext. 700.