Arbor Week at The Morton Arboretum, running through Sunday, April 26, is packed with family events that bring to life the many and varied benefits of trees. The events build on the Arboretum’s 87-year commitment to greening by helping people appreciate and interact with trees and plants.

Visitors can enjoy the inspirational life story of one of the country’s most famous naturalists in “Mountain Days: The John Muir Musical.” The show, featuring poetic lyrics and a sweeping score, reveals the early founder of the national park system as a conflicted man, trying to balance his love of family with his compulsion for the outdoors, while being unwillingly drawn into the politics of preservation.

“Mountain Days” has book and lyrics by Mary Bracken Phillips, with music and orchestrations by Craig Bohmler. The performance is from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Tickets cost $10 to $25 and include Arboretum admission. To order, call (630) 968-0074.

A cherished event is the Arbor Day Plant Sale. One can choose from a variety of high quality plants hardy for this environment. The all-ages sale is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26, in the Visitor Center parking lot. The preceding days, it is open to members only.

Share your thoughts with others about the importance of trees in the “Treewhispers” project. Help create cards from recycled paper, and then write an environmental message on them — incorporating leaves, grasses or other natural items. Completed cards will adorn trees in the Visitor Center. The project continues from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24 to 26.

Kids make all sorts of discoveries about spring trees, and pot a seedling to take home (while supplies last) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 and 26 in the award-winning Children’s Garden. Kids also can make a plant container out of newspaper and plant a tree seed in it to grow at home during “The New Tree Times” in the Children’s Garden, happening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends in April, weather permitting.

Show your support for trees in the traditional Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 24. Check the Visitor Center for location.

Meet Jim Ballowe, author of “A Man of Salt and Trees: The Life of Joy Morton.” He will sign copies and answer questions about his book documenting the life of Joy Morton, founder of the Arboretum and the Morton Salt Company, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25.

Those visiting The Arboretum Store will receive the gift of nature: free with every $25 purchase, a free acorn planting to celebrate Arbor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 24.

Arbor Day admission on April 24 is free to all. Otherwise, unless a fee is specified, all Arboretum events and destinations including the Children’s Garden are free with Arboretum admission. The 2009 rates are: $11/adult, ($7 on Wednesday), ages 18 to 64; $10/senior, ($6 on Wednesday), ages 65 and up; and $8/child ($5 on Wednesday), ages 2 to 17. Parking is free.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum’s natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission — the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier and more beautiful world.

Located at I-88 and Route 53 in Lisle, the Arboretum is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time or sunset, whichever is earlier. The Children’s Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through February.

Visit www.mortonarb.org.