Believe it or not, the
United States does not have a
National Tree. I thought we had a national everything, but apparently not. There were efforts in
Congress to make the
oak the National Tree back in the early 1990s, but they died in committee. We do have a National Flower – the
rose, chosen in
1986 – and every state has their own
state tree, but still we are lacking a National Tree.
Since there is obviously nothing else of importance going on in US politics right now, the people at the
National Arbor Day Foundation have decided now is the right time to make this crucial national decision. The Foundation is the group responsible for making
Arbor Day rank right up there with
Secretary’s Day on the list of important national holidays. They’re holding a popular vote to decide which tree the nation’s citizen’s want for the top pick. There’s nothing to make Congress acknowledge the results of the vote, but what the hell, vote anyway. I’m voting for the oak.
To vote, surf over to arborday.org. There are twenty one trees on the ballot, but you can write in your own picks. Make sure those
chads are fully punched people!
•
Baldcypress
•
Birch
•
Buckeye
•
Cottonwood (
Poplar)
•
Dogwood
•
Douglasfir
•
Elm
•
Hemlock
•
Kukui
•
Magnolia
•
Maple
•
Oak
•
Palm
•
Paloverde
•
Pecan (
Hickory)
•
Pine
•
Redbud
•
Redwood
•
Spruce
•
Tuliptree