<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587701805568.jpeg" alt="An Eastern Redbud tree. Photo courtesy Jason Graves" />
 <figcaption>An Eastern Redbud tree. Photo courtesy Jason Graves</figcaption>
 </figure>In celebration of Arbor Day, Kansas Wesleyan University will be planting two new trees on campus.&nbsp; Two redbud trees will be planted to mark the occasion. Redbud is an adaptable small tree recommended for Kansas landscapes.&nbsp; It proudly announces spring with lavender/purple blooms each April in Kansas.In light of the current stay at home orders, the tree planting will be done by Steven Hovey and staff of KWU and pictures of the event will be shared and promoted via social media and email.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension Horticulture Agent Jason Graves who is a part of the KWU Tree Advisory Committee said that despite not being able to gather as a group to celebrate Arbor Day this year, it is still a great time to promote tree planting and the benefits of trees.&nbsp; Trees without a doubt provide many benefits to our farms, homes, and cities that we often forget about such as the biodiversity they create, the ecosystem services they provide, and even the improvement of our quality of life and health.&nbsp; Planting a tree is a very strategic investment in the future.Kansas Wesleyan takes its trees seriously and the KWU Tree Advisory Committee composed of students, community members, and faculty worked to inventory and identify and begin tagging more than 230 trees on campus last year.Kansas Wesleyan earned Tree Campus USA recognition for the first time in 2018 and this week's Arbor Day tree planting observance fulfills one of five standards Kansas Wesleyan must meet to continue recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA in 2020.&nbsp; Currently, seven universities and colleges in Kansas hold Tree Campus USA status.&nbsp; The city of Salina is also recognized as a Tree City USA Community.

KWU to celebrate Arbor Day at a distance