Happy Arbor Day, everybody! Actually, April 24th is the day that arborday.org choose to celebrate trees, but it is one of many national arbor days and national tree planting days dotted throughout the calendar year depending upon what part of the planet you inhabit. The very first Arbor Day in history dates back to 1805 in the Spanish village of Villanueva de la Sierra, but the idea caught on and spread across the planet. So today is as good a day as any to celebrate the glorious lungs of our planet. Plant a tree if you can, hug a tree if you like, and pick out some of your favourite tree photos while you’re at it. Here are some of mine. Blue trees with an environmental message in Seattle’s Westlake Centre, raising awareness of the dangers of global deforestation.

The regenerative power of nature on display in Lava Canyon; these fresh young trees are repopulating the ravaged slopes of Mount St. Helens volcano after the devastating eruption in 1980.

The once famous shoe tree near Utah’s Zion National Park. Rumour had it that hikers would hang up their hiking boots here upon completion of the legendary Angels Landing hike. Sadly, shortly after I snapped this photo, the tree was burned down by person or persons unknown.

Orange trees in Rome, oh the romance, I can smell the spicy citrus notes just looking at this photo.

A giant ceiba, the Tree of Life, in Tikal in Northern Guatemala. Try as I might there was no way to fit the entirety of this massive tree into frame.

And last but not least, a very unexpected Christmas tree in the middle of an Irish bog.

I’m going to make like a tree and leave you to come up with your own interpretation of this week’s theme.  If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:

• Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Trees
• Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
• Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
• Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!

xxx Ailsa

I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. – John Muir

You can’t be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. – Hal Borland