We all know that trees purify the air and that the more trees you have in an urban area the better. But more and more, cities across the country are putting extra focus and funding into their urban forests. 

If you want to be happy, living near a park could be a good idea. More and more research shows a relationship between green space and higher levels of mental health.

The latest comes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in which researchers looked at survey data that asked 2,500 residents about depression, anxiety, and stress. They next analyzed 229 neighborhoods for vegetation cover. Those places with more trees tended to be happier, and the association was "significant and sizable," according to a paper discussing the results.

Nancy Buley, communications director at J Frank Schmidt & Sons Co. is the recipient of the 2014 Arbor Day Award. Nancy, a good friend of America in Bloom, received the "Frederick Law Olmsted Award" in honor of her lifelong commitment to tree planting and conservation at the state level. Nancy is one of 13 individuals, organizations, and companies recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation during their annual Arbor Day Awards last month. J Frank Schmidt & Son Co. is a premier tree growing nursery in Oregon specializing in a wide selection of large bare root trees. They have been the sponsor of the America in Bloom Urban Forestry Outstanding Achievement Award for the past 10 years.

Nancy Buley is an advocate for trees both in her home state of Oregon as well as nationally. She serves on the Policy Committee for the National Alliance for Community Trees and has been to Washington DC lobbying for tree planting. Nancy will be a featured speaker at the 2014 America in Bloom Symposium and Awards Program in Philadelphia, October 2-4. She will be sharing her passion for trees, especially native tree varieties that work particularly well on our streets and in our parks. 

As most growers know, they could not produce quality plant material without the use of fertilizers. From seedling to finished potted plant, fertilization is the key to their success. But the benefits of fertilizing don't have to stop when the plants leave the warm, comfy greenhouse. Find out how municipalities and homeowners can use fertilizers to grow magnificent gardens. 

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Cigarette butts are the cockroaches of the litter world: their numbers 

are massive, and you're rarely more than a few feet from one in the urban environment. In America, butts are the most prevalent form of litter on the roadways; worldwide, they're the number one item found uglifying beaches and waterways. But one company is tackling the problem by rewarding smokers for properly containing their cigarette butts. 

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