It’s California Arbor Day

Posted on : March 7th, 2019

Almond Grove in Bloom
The almond orchards on a rainy late winter day.

We’re celebrating trees on the blog today! We celebrate Arbor Day in California on March 7th in honor of horticulturist Luther Burbank’s birthday. Did you know that Luther Burbank got his start in the field when he chose the almond as the rootstock to fulfill a commission from an investor who wanted to cash in on the “prune boom” of the 1880’s? Burbank shocked the world by being able to produce fruiting plum trees surprisingly quickly by taking advantage of the almond’s ability to sprout readily and produce a seedling suitable for bud grafting in just a few months. He went on to develop hundreds of different varieties of fruit trees and successfully put California into the agricultural spotlight.

A tree lover named Sterling Morton started the tradition of Arbor Day in 1872 by planting one million trees on a once treeless prairie in Nebraska. He believed in the value of the trees in themselves: the beauty as well as the fruit. But, in particular, he wanted to do something for future generations. And we’d do well to emulate that. Studies show that planting trees in urban areas, for example, makes for decidedly more livable communities. Certainly, the foresight of the Bidwell family in planting and preserving the trees here in Chico make this city a particularly special place. What would Chico be without Bidwell Park?

So let’s celebrate! Go on a picnic in Bidwell Park. Plant a tree in your own backyard. Come see the orchards in bloom, and then stop by Maisie Jane’s country store at 1324 Dayton Road in Chico to sample the delights of our local community. Bring home some of the fruits of our local trees—nuts and nut butters. You could even celebrate with a pie!

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
Maisie Jane’s makes the best pies in Chico!

Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products, Inc. was founded on strong beliefs and passion for offering unique, flavorful, top-quality, nut products. We strongly believe in earth-friendly practices that start on our family owned and operated orchards. We use Organic farming practices and continue in the process by using all-natural ingredients with no preservatives or GMOs. We believe in honest, friendly and helpful customer relations at all levels. We take pride in every task, every day, with every person.