The Yazoo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Four Seasons Garden Club preseted four Natchez White Crape Myrtles to the Martha Coker Green Houses in celebration of Arbor Day. Special to The Herald

The Yazoo Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in conjunction with the Four Seasons Garden Club presented four Natchez Crape Myrtles to the Martha Coker Green Houses on Feb. 10, 2012.
The trees, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Hale, were given in honor and recognition of past and present members of both organizations who have are or presently residing at Martha Coker. On this occasion, recognition of Arbor Day was also observed.
Those representing the Yazoo Chapter NSDAR were Gloria Adcock, JoAnne Collins, Ava Hale, Jo Dale Merrill and Priscilla Harper.
Those representing the Four Seasons Garden Club were Jeanne Santmyer, Nancy Williams, Linda McDonald, Ava Hale and Priscilla Harper.
Two of the DAR ladies are also members of the Four Seasons Garden Club.
The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius S. Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan. He worked to improve agricultural techniques and served as President Grover Cleveland’s Secretary of Agriculture. His most important legacy was Arbor Day in 1872.
The second Arbor Day in Nebraska was in 1884, and the state made it a legal holiday in 1885. Now all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day, although many dates may vary according to the climate.
Arbor Day is also observed in many countries such as Australia, Japan, Yugoslavia, Korea, India and Iceland.
Ava Hale is the Yazoo Chapter Conservation Chairman.