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State Representative Carly Melin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0172
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
MELIN CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY
(ST. PAUL) – Rep. Carly Melin (DFL – Hibbing) and Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul) commemorated Arbor Day, today’s nationally-recognized holiday that encourages the planting and caring of trees, by offering a choice of a Bur Oak Tree or a Hybrid Larch Tree to each House member. Reps. Melin and Hansen were joined by Republican Representatives McNamara and Loon in this annual, bipartisan tradition.
"Arbor Day allows all Minnesotans to recognize the historical and economic significance of trees in Minnesota," explained Rep. Melin. "Trees and forest products are not only important economic tools in my district but contribute to the quality of life of all Minnesotans. The tamarack is a really unique species. It thrives in Northern Minnesota because it can withstand temperatures as low as -85 below. It turns yellow in the fall and loses its needles."
The bur oak, quercus macrocarpa, is a native Minnesota tree that has a high timber value and is beneficial to wildlife. The larch or tamarack tree is native to northern Minnesota, and the hybrid does not need to be in water.
“Arbor Day is an important time for us to come together across party lines to recognize how important trees are in our efforts to preserve our soil, air, and water," Rep. Hansen said. “By giving each of our colleagues a tree, we are urging them to contribute to that effort, just like the pioneers who started Arbor Day nearly 140 years ago.”
Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April each year. It was started by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, who was one of many pioneers then settling the state. These pioneers were concerned about the lack of trees in their new land, and Morton organized Arbor Day to encourage the foresting of the state. It is estimated that over a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
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- REPRESENTATIVE MELIN AND SENATOR TOMASSONI SECURE CENTRAL IRON RANGE SANITARY SEWER DISTRICT GRANT - (Posted: 2012-07-31 00:00:00)
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