Trees

Ah! They give us shade, they’re fun to climb, and they make excellent last-minute hiding spots. Peek-a-boo! But, did you know that they also clean the air that we breathe, cool our neighborhoods, and give homes to millions and millions of animals? What’s up, everyone? I’m MayNERD, and I’m teaming up with Nat Geo Kids for Earth Month to explore one of Earth’s most important life forms... trees! Trees are all around us. But how many can you actually name? Here are a few easy ways to spot some of the most common trees - right in your own backyard.

First up... the queen of fall colors. Maple leaves are big and wide, kind of like an open hand waving hello. In the fall, they turn bright red, orange, and yellow, like a colorful tree costume. And what are these spinning helicopters, twirling all around? You’ve probably seen these in your own backyard and made a little spin with them. These are actually maple seeds. They spin through the air like tiny, flying toys, so they can travel farther away from the parent tree. But, here’s the sweetest part - maple trees give us... mmm! Maple syrup! Inside the tree is a sap filled with sugar. And when people collect it, it becomes that sticky, delicious syrup you pour on pancakes. Or on pizza, if you’re silly like me.

Next up, the evergreen that looks good all year long. Instead of wide leaves, pine trees have thin, green needles. You can find pine trees all over the world. They grow best in places where there’s plenty of rain, and year-round cooler temperatures, like Canada, northern Europe, and the mountains of Asia. And you probably recognize pine cones. Inside each cone are tiny, winged seeds, waiting to drift away and grow into brand-new trees. And here’s something really cool. Pine needles stay green all year long - even in winter! Their needles have a waxy coating that helps them hold onto water. Even when it’s freezing outside - kind of like wearing a winter coat.

Oh! Excuse me! I was just enjoying our next tropical superstar... They’ve got long, feathery leaves that sway in the wind like giant, green fans. You can actually find palm trees in warm, sunny places all around the world - from tropical islands, to city streets. They love the heat, and don’t mind salty air or sandy soil. And check this out... some palm trees grow fruit, like coconuts. And did you know, a coconut is also a seed? Whoa! Flying coconuts! When it falls into the ocean, it can float for miles before washing up somewhere new, and growing into another palm tree.

Now that you’re an official tree expert, here is your Earth Month Mission. Next time you go outside, see if you can find a What clues help you figure it out? Maybe it’s the shape of the leaves, or the seeds on the ground? To learn more about trees and the wonderful world around you, check out the Wonder List at Happy Earth Month, and see you outside!