Earth Day comes every year on April 22. It’s a time to celebrate nature and the earth, commemorating the modern environmental movement that started in 1970. On April 22 of that year, people who had been fighting for other causes throughout the 1960s put their energy into fighting for the environment. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson encouraged people to engage in teach-ins throughout the nation, which turned into 20 million people demonstrating in rallies and protests for the environment across the United States, bringing together people and groups who believed in the same cause. This effort resulted in the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency and was the catalyst for the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.

It’s important to remember this history and to celebrate Earth Day each year. Be active and do something positive for the environment on this anniversary, such as planting a tree, volunteering for an environmental organization or teaching children about respecting nature. Another way to keep the history alive and to continue the holiday is to spread awareness of the day while sharing the beauty of the earth by giving Earth Day gifts. A great way to do this is to attach a note to the gift, giving some information about the earth and how to help it.

What kinds of gifts can you give for Earth Day? Flowers and plants make perfect Earth Day gifts, since they celebrate the beauty of the earth and act as a symbol for it. What better way to get people to care about the earth than to show them something natural they can love about it? Choose beautiful, colorful spring flowers since Earth Day falls during spring time. Perfect spring choices include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and irises, which are all bright and cheery flowers that anyone will love. Another great option is to send potted plants that your gift recipient can keep and even grow in the garden.

If you want to move away from flowers, think about a basket of fruit, coffee or other natural food to show off the earth’s harvest, unique gifts made of recycled or sustainable materials, or something that depicts the beauty of nature like a book of nature photography or a painting.