When some people envision Oklahoma's 100th birthday in 2007, they think of 100 candles on a cake. The Tree Bank Foundation in Oklahoma City thought 100 trees were far better than 100 candles and is successfully encouraging communities to plant their own "Centennial Groves" in time for the celebration.

Already, six such groves in four communities have been completed and another eight already are confirmed in the planning stages. A Tree Bank booklet guides the development of each 100-tree grove and a professional forester provides additional skilled help.

The judges applauded the foresight used in starting this project in time to have a greatly beneficial impact statewide. For an important and creative way to say "Happy Birthday," the Tree Bank Foundation's Centennial Groves is an ever-growing story of good news for restoring Oklahoma's woodlands.