With half a million trees, Salt Lake City's arboreal residents outnumber its human ones three-to-one. Yet almost no trees populated the Salt Lake Valley when pioneers arrived 160 years ago.
Cottonwoods and poplars lined creeks and a magnificent juniper became a gathering spot on what became 600 East. Human hands planted the rest, and despite the ravages of road expansions and of a 1999 tornado and other destructive wind events, trees continue to enhance the city, providing shade, erosion control and a sense of place, mystery and heritage. A image of the Virgin Mary is said to appear in the oval trunk scar of one Salt Lake City tree.
On Friday, Red Butte Gardens hosts a variety of Arbor Day activities without charging admission. On Saturday, Tree Utah holds a tree planting at its ecogarden near the Day Riverside library, 1575 W. 1000 North in Rose Park at 10 a.m.
Hogle Zoo hosts its Party for the Planet, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Brian Maffly
