March 13. Arbor Day was launched in the United States in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, Neb. By the 1920s, each state in the United States had passed public laws stipulating a certain day for observances.

—National Arbor Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April; other states have their own dates.

—North Carolina is celebrating March 22.

—Davidson is celebrating March 23

The customary observance is to plant a tree. On the first Arbor Day in 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska.

What’s happening March 23

The Davidson observance takes place at the Davidson Pump House and South Prong Rocky River Greenway located at 865 South St., just north of the Antiquity Bridge.

In addition to a community tree planting and tree sapling give-a-way from 9 am to noon. TreesDavidson will host the tree planting of 40-50 trees, free tree saplings will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis while supplies last.

Visit Davidson Lands Conservancy for additional details.