A Message from Governor Martin O'Malley

It's been a little more than a year since we first launched our Marylanders Plant Trees program, and now that summer has quickly turned into fall - there is no better time to plant a tree than today.

Families from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, and all points in between have already joined together to plant 22,000 trees to create that greener, more sustainable future for our children and future generations. But we need your help to reach our goal to plant 50,000 trees by 2010.

Will you help us meet our goal and plant a tree today?

Fall is an ideal time to plant a tree for the future - giving newly planted trees the chance to firmly take root throughout the winter, making them stronger and more resilient come spring.

To make it easy for everyone to plant a tree, we're offering $25 coupons for the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more at more than 70 participating nurseries. And now everyone in Maryland has the opportunity to join in, simply visit us online at www.green.maryland.gov and TREE-Mendous Maryland can plant one for you through their Gift of Trees program.

We all know that planting trees benefits us all by creating a greener, more beautiful environment. But planting a tree also has the added benefit of improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink - and those benefits only grow larger over time with our trees, and multiply as we plant more and more trees across our great state.

Finally, please don't forget to register your newly planted tree. Our Department of Natural Resources will be holding drawings every month where you can win overnight stays at beautiful Rocky Gap Resort, yacht tours of the Chesapeake Bay, locally-grown Christmas trees and State Park passes. And when you register a tree, you can add your tree to our interactive website, where you can calculate the environmental benefits of your new tree.

There is no better time to plant a tree than right now. By planting one tree, every Marylander can help keep Maryland Smart, Green & Growing.

Please join us at www.green.maryland.gov

Sincerely,
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