 Iowa’s trees tell a story of resilience, history, and ecological importance over the last 250 years. These towering giants are living landmarks, connecting communities to Iowa’s rich forestry heritage, while highlighting the vital role trees play in our environment. Even the biggest champion trees started out as seedlings.The Big Trees of Iowa program, coordinated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry section, celebrates the largest trees of every species in Iowa. Whether you’re nominating a new champion, exploring past winners, or marveling at the diversity of Iowa trees, we encourage you to discover and appreciate these extraordinary trees. Join in on the search for Iowa’s biggest trees by exploring the Big Tree Viewer.Help shape the next 250 years in Iowa by planting a tree. Join our partners, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa 4-H and Iowa FFA, at a kickoff event for Iowa’s America250 Tree Planting Initiative at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. A bur oak — the state tree — will be planted as the official America 250 tree on the fairgrounds. This statewide, youth-focused tree planting initiative aims to plant 250 trees across Iowa in 2026.Tree City USA Communitiesacross Iowa will host events celebrating 250 years this Arbor Day. Iowa communities will celebrate Arbor Day with various events including tree plantings, nature walks, and more.Thank trees for all they do Get out and enjoy the beauty of April tree blossoms across Iowa neighborhoods. Trees quietly improve our lives in many ways. They’re like superheroes for our health.Neighborhood trees are like natural air filters, cleaning up the air we breathe and making it fresher. They also help us feel less stressed and more focused. Being around trees has been shown to make us feel better both mentally and physically.Here’s some other fun options to celebrate trees near you this Arbor Day and throughout the year.Plant a Tree in your Yard. Follow DNR foresters’ tree planting tips to help it survive and thrive.Visit a Park and Adopt a Tree. Choose a particular tree to observe. Get better acquainted with your chosen tree by using your senses of sight, touch, hearing, and smell to describe the tree. Find more fun family activities to do when visiting on the Project Learning Tree Exploring a Local Park webpage.Read a Book About Trees. Visit your local library and ask for books about trees.Discover what trees are growing around you.Iowa’s 10 Most Common Urban Trees can help you identify trees in your yard or neighborhood and learn more about each kind of tree.Learn how to prevent wildfires. Smokey Bear lives within us all! While at home or on a camping trip, follow these important safety tips. |
You must be logged in to post a comment.