It’s time to get excited about the weekend. Trista here, and I’m double excited about this Friday — it’s Arbor Day. 🌳 One of my favorite summer activities is aimlessly wandering around an arboretum, and we have a beautiful, level four (the highest level of accreditation) arboretum right here in Chattanooga — Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center.

Reflection Riding is dedicated to providing an educational hub to Noogans so we can discover local flora and fauna + become advocates for our diverse habitat. Before you get too excited, I have to remind you that Reflection Riding is not currently open for visitors. Bummer, I know. But you can still join in on some arboretum fun from home. 👇

🔍 Take the 2020 City Nature Challenge, which started today and will run through Monday, April 27. The challenge is easy — explore your backyard. To share what you observe, sign up for iNaturalist, follow the project (this is a global challenge, so be sure to join our region’s project) and start exploring.

Bonus: Check out this video on how to take good diagnostic photos of plants. 📸

🌿 Tune in to this webinar — Grounded in Place: How Landscape Architecture & Good Planting Design Is Transforming Chattanooga — happening at 12 p.m. today. Matt Whitaker, owner and founding principal of WMWA Landscape Architects + Mark McKnight, President & CEO of Reflection Riding will host.

🌳 Buy a tree from Reflection Riding’s plant sale, which will run throughout the growing season. If you have questions about which flowers, trees or shrubs will work best in your yard, you can request a phone conference to chat with an expert. Plant pickup is on Wednesdays, and they’re offering free delivery on orders of $300 or more.

DYK — Arbor Day was first celebrated on April 10, 1872. Fast forward 148 years, we’re still dedicating a day in April to planting + appreciating trees. Check out the history of the day here. And if you need more fun ways to celebrate, the folks at the Arbor Day Foundation have some ideas.

Now get out there and hug a tree. ✌️

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