Celebrities...

Tyra Banks joined New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg in planting an oak tree on Ninth Avenue yesterday. The pair, joined by several of America's Next Top Model's latest contenders will be celebrating "Million Tree Month."

In New York City, April is Million Tree Month, an initiative being launched to encourage New Yorkers to plant one million new trees by 2017. I think this is a wonderful idea. As someone who lived over 30 years in Queens I can attest that beautiful trees are in short demand. The problem is many realtors are encouraging residents to cement over their front gardens and side yards to use as driveways as it raises the property value. Trees are much more beautiful than driveways and they too raise property value.

"They cool the temperature, they create shade, the transferation from the trees cools the ambient temperature. They add real estate value,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Water that's running off the sidewalks goes into tree pits, and into the soil rather than into the sewer system, overwhelming the sewer system. And they make streets and neighborhoods look beautiful.”

The show will air sometime after Earth Day.

Image:PR Photos

HT: Just Jared