Look for An Evergreen Day: History And Interesting Facts

Look For An Evergreen Day is commemorated every year on Dec. 19 to remind one to get a Christmas tree.

Originally established by the National Arborist Association, the day aims to appreciate the beauty of these trees, sans all the lights and ornaments. It also celebrates the fact that these trees keep the foliage even in the depths of winter.

Even if you have got the trees, the day serves as a reminder to go out and learn about the other types of Evergreens in your neighborhood.

To mark the occasion, here are a few facts about evergreen trees:

1) More than just green: Evergreen trees come in different shades other than green. The blue spruce, for example, is an evergreen tree with silver-blue needles. There are some junipers with subtle blue-green foliage. The Golden Euonymus is a standout evergreen shrub and has gorgeous yellow and green variegated leaves.

2) Can thrive anywhere: Evergreen trees are found everywhere in the world except Antarctica. There are a few varieties of drought-tolerant evergreen trees like shortleaf pine and pitch pine. Gray pine is another variety that grows both in both moist and dry soil.

3) Not just protection and shade: During the winter, they can enhance comfort and cut heating expenses by protecting homes from brisk winds while they offer shade during summer. But, there is more to evergreen trees as they are also used for medicinal uses. Trees like Western Red Cedar are edible and the wood is favored for smoking salmon.

4) Evergreens are the tallest: The tallest trees in the world are evergreens. The California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) commonly grows up to 328 feet tall. As of 2011, the tallest living specimen stood 379 feet tall.