Arbor Day in Egypt

The term arbor, an English word, is believed to be derived from the Old French herbere or Anglo-French herbe, meaning herb or grass.

Many of the garden features and planting forms in use today come from the long and rich horticultural histories of countries around the world. The use of garden structures and intentional plant forms originated in the gardens of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, and China (ca. 2000–500 BC). The earliest gardens were a utilitarian mix of flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs with some herbaceous medicinal plants. The earliest use of arbors was in Egyptian gardens. Arbors and pergolas were used for vining plants, and Persian gardens often included reflecting pools and water features. Ancient Romans (ca. 100) were perhaps the first to plant primarily for ornamentation, with courtyard gardens that included trompe l'oeil, topiary, and small reflecting pools.

Arboretum: A collection of trees, or a park where trees are cultivated for scientific or educational purposes for groups or individuals (trees are typically labeled for identification). Egyptian pharaohs were the first to collect and transplant exotic trees in gardens, but the collection of trees for study to illustrate the diversity of species and forms did not become popular until the late eighteenth century.